Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi will push for the accelerated revival of nuclear power with reactor restarts key to reducing costly fuel imports, report in Japan have said.

Takaichi, who was elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) earlier this month, has pushed to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear technologies such as fusion and has previously called for making the country 100% energy self-sufficient by deploying next-generation reactors.

She has appointed Ryosei Akazawa, who was Japan’s point person in its recent tariff deal with the US, as trade and industry minister – a portfolio that includes energy – signalling a willingness to engage with Washington, including on liquefied natural gas purchases, analysts said.