In a 2016 interview with Nikkei, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol outlined four expectations for Japan’s energy policy: energy efficiency, nuclear power, renewables, and LNG. He emphasized that nuclear energy remains essential to the energy mix, requiring safe operation and a robust regulatory framework.

2016-09-15
The following is a continuation of the previous section.
This is an article in which International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol responded to an interview by the Nikkei newspaper.
Emphasis within the text is mine.
“Expectations for Japan’s Promotion of Energy Conservation” Investment in Renewables to Continue Increasing
[Preface omitted]
The United States and China have ratified the Paris Agreement, a framework for global warming countermeasures after 2020.
“What surprised me was that global investment in energy efficiency increased by 6 percent year on year in 2015. Despite sluggish energy prices and low oil and gas prices, government policies in each country are leading this trend. Of course, further promotion is necessary to achieve climate change goals, but China is a good example. It is strongly promoting solar power, wind power, and nuclear energy.”
—What do you expect from Japan.
“There are four points. First, Japan is still a global leader in energy efficiency, but I would like it to push this further. The second point is nuclear power, which is extremely important to the energy mix. Safe operation of nuclear power plants and a regulatory framework are indispensable. Third, renewable energy will be promoted as costs decline. The fourth point is liquefied natural gas (LNG), whose trading volume will increase over the next four to five years due to the start of exports from the United States. As a major importing country, Japan should take advantage of opportunities such as reviewing existing contracts.”