Japan ordered nuclear reactors back online on Saturday, June 16, defying public sentiment against atomic power following last year's meltdowns at Fukushima sparked by a huge quake-tsunami disaster.

According to AFP, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Saturday received approval for the restarts from Issei Nishikawa, the pro-nuclear power governor of central Fukui prefecture, which hosts the plant.

The premier then met three ministers - the minister of economy, trade and industry, the minister in charge of the nuclear accident and the chief cabinet secretary.

The controversial move comes amid fears that electricity demand will outstrip supply as temperatures soar and air-conditioners get cranked up, further crimping Japan's wobbly economic recovery.

About 500 hundred people rallied outside Noda's official residence in central Tokyo to protest against his approach to nuclear power generation despite the on-going nuclear accident.