Activists in Tokyo said Thursday they had collected enough signatures to demand authorities in Japan's capital hold a referendum on using nuclear power to supply the megalopolis with electricity.

Some 250,000 people in Tokyo have signed a petition circulating since December 10 -- more than the 214,000 threshold, one fiftieth of all electors, required to request a poll.

The campaign follows the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power plant after the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. Many Japanese now want to abandon atomic energy or reduce its share of electricity generation.

In Japan nuclear power stations need approval from local authorities to operate, and voters would cast ballots for or against giving such permission to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which operates two power stations at Fukushima and one at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa.

The three complexes have a total of 17 reactors, but currently only one is online.

According to reports all Tokyoites aged 16 or over, including permanent resident aliens, would be able to take part in a referendum.