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Tiny Nuclear Reactor Hoax Sweeps Social Media
2 Dec
Summary
- False social media posts claimed Japan tested box-sized nuclear reactors.
- The National Institute for Fusion Science denied developing such technology.
- Hokkaido Electric Power Company also confirmed no knowledge of the reactors.
Social media platforms have been abuzz with false claims about Japan developing and testing "truck-sized" or "box-sized" nuclear reactors, capable of powering small towns. These posts, which gained traction in late 2025, suggested that Japan's National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) was behind this innovative technology, with some alleging units were deployed in Hokkaido. These narratives often included fabricated details and even manipulated images to appear credible.
NIFS has firmly refuted these claims, with a spokesperson stating that the institute is not engaged in any research or development of such reactors. They clarified that the "YOROI Reactor" mentioned in the posts is fictitious and they are unaware of the misinformation's origin. The regional utility provider, Hokkaido Electric Power Company, also confirmed it has no knowledge of any such existence or testing of portable nuclear reactors in the region.
This wave of misinformation follows Japan's broader efforts to revive its nuclear energy sector, aiming for it to supply about 20 percent of its electricity by 2030. Despite the nation's nuclear ambitions and the recent approval of restarting a major nuclear plant in Niigata, the existence of tiny, mobile reactors remains a fabrication spread online.
