(2) Measures against road disaster prevention

Regarding the disasters caused by heavy rain, earthquakes, tsunamis, heavy snows etc., measures for disaster prevention against earthquakes and snow-related disasters are being carried out in order to ensure a safe and highly reliable road network. Additionally, the convenience of road users should be maintained even during disasters. Therefore, disaster information for roads is being provided via the Internet in order to secure safe and smooth road transportation.

## (3) Disaster prevention measures taken by every transportation organization

For railways, in order to secure strong, safe and secure railway transportation against disasters, as part of disaster prevention, part of the cost is subsidized for projects against rock falling, snowslides and coastal preservation carried out by passenger corporations, and projects on repairing earthquake detectors for functional preservation of Seikan Tunnel carried out by the railway construction and transportation facility development support organizations.

For ports, in order to provide assistance on quick and efficient recovery projects and emergency transportation assurance, the government and port administrators are strengthening the system of delivering and sharing collected damage information during disasters.

For aviation, Rescue and Fire Fighting (RFF) system is enhanced and strengthened based on the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Moreover, cooperation is strengthened according to the “Airport Emergency Plan” and the support agreements between airport administrators, fire service institutions, medical institutions and business operators in the airport.

## Section 3 – Safety assurance of buildings

## (1) Reliability assurance for the production and supply system of residential housing and buildings

For preventing the recurrence of incidents similar to the problem of fake building structure statements disclosed in November 2005, fair construction activities are ensured by thorough ordinance observance and architects. In order to facilitate the anxiety-free acquisition of housing and usage of buildings for citizens, the "Act on the Partial Revision of the Building Standards Act for ensuring building safety" was executed in June 2007. The revised content is to increase the strictness of building verification and inspection through obligating the judgment of the appropriateness of structural figures for buildings above a certain scale that need sophisticated structural figures.

After the execution of the revised Building Standard Act, the construction verification procedures have become tied up and as a result there has been a great decrease in residential housing constructions. However, the new construction verification procedure has been fixed to a certain extent by providing detailed information and technical support to the related parties for both the design and the building certification inspection side. Moreover, the revised system of construction verification procedures was implemented in March 2010 in order to speed up building certification inspections and simplify application drawings.

In addition, part of the “Act on the Partial Revision of the Architect Act” established in December 2006 has been implemented since 2008. However, in terms of obligating the involvement of a level-1 architect of structural design in the design of buildings above a certain scale, it was newly implemented in May 2009. Accompanying this change, the measures are being taken for smooth implementation including widening publicity and the support provided by the Construction Design Support Center.

Furthermore, in order to ensure defect guarantee liability, “The Act for Execution of Defect Warranty Liability under HQAA” was executed in October 2009. This Act obligates new housing builders and realtors to deposit foundations or complete defect warranty insurance. In order to operate this Act smoothly, MLIT is developing a reception system for insurance corporations, and is carrying out seminars and distributing pamphlets for builders, realtors and consumers to popularize this Act in all prefectures.

## (2) Ensuring the safety of elevators and recreation facilities

On the basis of fatal accidents related to elevator happened in Minato District of Tokyo Prefecture in June 2006, the Committee on Elevator Accidents etc was established under the Committee on Building Accidents and Disaster Measures of the Social Infrastructure Council in February 2009. Accident and abnormal information analysis, the inspection of accident causes from the viewpoint of preventing reoccurrence and the inspection and review of reoccurrence prevention measures are being performed; and the revision of necessary technical standards are being carried out. Additionally, MLIT revised the technical standards of elevator safety devices in September of the same year.