Extreme heat is straining Europe’s economy, with drought forcing Hungary’s sole nuclear plant— supplying up to 40 per cent of its electricity—to shut down and prompting electricity rationing. Similar weather‑driven disruptions are emerging elsewhere, highlighting the region’s growing energy‑security concerns.

Japan’s fusion ambitions are accelerating as the country remains more than 90 per cent dependent on Middle Eastern oil. Starlight Engine, a Japanese start‑up, has unveiled a prototype plant costing up to $5bn and revising its budget to ¥800bn, aiming for operation by 2035. Chief operating officer Yuto Yoshioka says the energy crisis and rising nationalism have created a “real sense of urgency,” while Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s personal enthusiasm may unlock public funding. Tokyo has designated fusion as one of 17 strategic fields, yet Japan’s fusion investment of €1.2bn between 2022‑2025 lags far behind the US (€7.3bn) and China (€6.9bn).

Globally, fusion firms are seeking political credibility alongside capital. Germany’s Proxima Fusion partners with Bavaria for majority backing, mirroring Japan’s semiconductor revival strategy. Meanwhile, oil giants report blockbuster earnings. Chevron posted net income of $12.2bn and Exxon Mobil $14.5bn in the second quarter, drawing criticism from Donald Trump, who called the profits “too much money” and urged price cuts.

Overall, Japan’s push for fusion funding reflects a broader quest for energy independence amid climate stress and geopolitical volatility.