Safe disassembly and storage of radioactive components of JT-60U torus

•We describe the results of the JT-60U disassembly activities, including treatment of the radioactivated materials and safety work during 2009–2012.•This disassembly was required to newly install the JT-60SA torus at the same position in the torus hall.•About 13,000 components cut into pieces with measuring the contact dose were removed from the torus hall and stored safely in storage facilities.•The total weight of the disassembly components reached up to ∼5,400 tons.•We expect that the project of the JT-60U disassembly has provided the valuable data which will be useful for the disassembly of other fusion devices.