[SECProto]

In the case of Japan, it's because they don't want to restart any nuclear plants post-fukushima. Similar to Germany coal usage increasing as they phased out nuclear plants. This is the most important reason for these two countries.

[cygx]

The increase in Germany was only temporary, though.

We hit a low point in '09, and a high point in '13 (but still below levels of '07). Coal usage has gone down ever since, and we're currently at a new low.

[SECProto]

Thanks! I wasn't sure on the details.

Germany also has (or at least had) huge incentives for renewable energy production, so it wasn't meant as a critique. Just wanted to note one source of increase that OP hadn't mentioned