Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
# Building a Competitive Economic Society

## Section 1 Developing Traffic Networks

## 1 Developing Highways

Since the First Five-Year Road Development Plan formulated in 1954, Japanese highways have been steadily developed to date. For example, the development of a national network of highways, including expressways, has not only provided a major impetus in the rejuvenation of regional economies, as by encouraging plant location in the vicinity of expressway interchanges, but helped enhance the quality and safety of national life by making broad-area medical services accessible to rural areas, and allowing broad rerouting to avert highways disrupted by natural disasters. In the meantime, the speed of interurban transportation, an indicator of the speediness of interurban travel, tends to lag in the areas in which expressways are underdeveloped. The speediness of interurban travel remains lower as a whole than in foreign nations. Since China opened its first expressway back in 1988, 26 years later than Japan, the nation has already laid 74,113 km of expressways, at a pace 56 times higher than Japan.

Graphic II-6-1-1 Speeds of Interurban Transportation

Speed of interurban transportation: The shortest distance of the road between cities divided by the shortest time required.

Target cities: Core cities, and cities housing a population of 50,000 or more remote from a core city by a certain distance or more and key ports and harbors.

Core cities: Japan: Prefectural capital (Hokkaido: Subprefecture), Germany: Bundesland, France: Location of Prefecture de Région, U.K.: Regional Development Agency (RDA), China: Provincial capital and municipality, Korea: Special municipality, metropolitan city, etc.

Required time: Based on the required time path finding system (Google Maps) (for Japan and Korea, based on real speeds, such as private program data).

Source) MLIT

(Note) Comparisons of to what extent countries have developed their expressways in relation to 1987 as a reference year (zero) Japan: End of each fiscal year

China, France, Germany: Year-end data

Source) Highway Statistics, France: Memento de transport, Germany: Verkehr in Zahlen, Japan: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism literature (National Expressways), China: China Statistical Yearbook

## 2 Developing Arterial Railway Networks

## (1) Development of Shinkansen railways

A rapid transit system of vital importance to Japan, Shinkansen significantly cuts the time spent moving from region to region and helps greatly boost regional activity and rejuvenate local economies. Shinkansen also features safety (no record of passenger death accidents since the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964) and eco-friendliness (the railway $ CO_{2} $ emissions per unit of energy (g- $ CO_{2} $ /passenger-kilometer being one sixth of aircraft and one ninth of
automobiles). As New Shinkansen, Note Tohoku Shinkansen (between Hachinohe and Shin-Aomori) opened in December 2010 and the Kagoshima Route (between Hakata and Shin-Yatsushiro) of Kyushyu Shinkansen opened in March 2011. The construction of Hokkaido Shinkansen (between Shin-Aomori and Shin-Hakodate (provisional name)) and Hokuriku Shinkansen (between Nagano and Kanazawa) is in stead construction to near completion and inauguration on time.

Pending plans to launch the construction of Hokkaido Shinkansen (between Shin-Hakodate (provisional name) and Sapporo), Hokuriku Shinkansen (between Kanazawa and Tsuruga) and the Nagasaki Route (between Takeo-Onsen and Nagasaki) of Kyushu Shinkansen were authorized on June 29, 2012 after due procedures in accordance with “Handling of New Shinkansen” (a matter confirmed between the government and ruling parties on December 26, 2011) since all the requirements for the commencement of the works were fulfilled.

The Transport Policy Council, which had debated Chuo Shinkansen since March 2010, came up with recommendations in May 2011 to affirm the appropriateness of Central Japan Railway Company as an entity of its sales and construction, the superconducting maglev method of train operation and the Southern Alps of Japan route. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism responded to name Central Japan Railway Company as an entity of sales and construction for Chuo Shinkansen in accordance with the Nationwide Shinkansen Railway Development Act, and decided on a development program and directed Central Japan Railway Company to embark on construction. Central Japan Railway Company expects to open its Shinkansen railways between Tokyo and Nagoya in 2027 and between Nagoya and Osaka in 2045. Procedural actions pursuant to the Environmental Effect Assessment Act are underway with regard to the railway between Tokyo and Nagoya.

Graphic II-6-1-3 Present Status of New Shinkansen Development

## (2) Developing existing arterial railways

To accelerate the formation of a rapid transit system that helps consolidate wide-area inter-regional linkage and boost regional activity, the Ministry seeks to speed up the existing trunk railways through improvements on the curves of railway tracks, partial double tracking and so on by making maximum use of the existing railway facilities. In FY2012, the Sassho Line (between Soen and Health Sciences University of Hokkaido) run by Hokkaido Railway Company was fully electrified and opened to speed up train service times mitigate congestion, improve the ratio of cooling installation and more.
transport demand in the Tokyo metropolitan area and to reinforce its domestic and international hub function of the metropolitan airports by leveraging its rich domestic networks.

The yearly number of slots at Narita International Airport was expanded up to 270,000 as of the end of FY2012 and the airport realized the Open Sky, with the taxiway on the west side of Runway B and the Yokobori District Apron commenced operation in March 2013.

As the main international airport to accommodate the strong international air transport demand of the Tokyo metropolitan area, Narita International Airport plans to expand the number of slots up to 300,000 by the end of FY2014, with the consent of local residents, by installing an advanced air traffic control system to streamline the simultaneous parallel independent departure. Narita International Airport is intended to take the position as a major hub airport in Asia by enhancing up the international aviation network mainly through implementation of the Open Sky and by developing exclusive terminals for LCCs $ ^{Note 1} $ and business aviations, in addition to reinforcing the domestic and international passenger transfer functions through expanded and improved domestic feeder routes.

## ② Driving the Open Sky strategically

Since 2007, the Ministry has pursued the Open Sky, $ ^{2} $ except for the metropolitan airports with tight airport capacities, to

## Graphic II-6-1-7 Number of Arrivals and Departures at Narita International Airport

When parallel runway commenced preliminary operation in 2002, the number of slots increased from 135,000 to 200,000 (1.5 times larger).

The commencement of operation of 2,500-meter long parallel runways, stretched northward in 2009, increased the number of slots to 220,000 in March 2010.

☐ The introduction of a simultaneous parallel independent departure increased the number of slots to 235,000 in October 2011, to 250,000 on March 25, 2012 and further up to 270,000 at the end of March 2013.

respond to changes in the competitive environment resulting from the global trends towards aircraft deregulation while accommodating vigorous economic leaps in Asian and other overseas nations. Since a deal was reached with local residents on increases in the arrival/departure capacities at Narita International Airport in October 2010, along with a globalized Haneda Airport, by December 2012, the scope of the Open Sky was expanded to metropolitan airports and agreements were reached on a total of 23 countries and regions $ ^{Note3} $ – the U.S., Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Macau, Indonesia, Canada, Australia, Brunei, Taiwan, the U.K., New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Finland, France, China, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Thailand.
## 4 Facilitating Traffic Access to Airports

The world’s major airports (London, Paris, Hong Kong and else) are located within a railway reach of about 30 minutes from downtown. In contrast, Japan’s Narita International Airport used to take about a 50-minute train ride to reach from downtown Tokyo. With the opening of the Narita Rapid Transit Railway Access Line in July 2010, which connects Hokusho Railway trains to Narita International Airport, the time required to travel from downtown Tokyo was reduced to around 30 minutes. In parallel with this, Keisei Electric Railway Nippori Station was improved to augment the convenience of transferring passengers.

To reinforce car access to the airport, the development of an expressway network has been driven, including the development of the area on the eastern side of the Tokyo Outer Ring Road. An improvement to Keikyu Kamata Station completed in October 2012 boosted the capacity of the Keikyu Kamata Line, reinforcing railway access to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), coupled with the addition of extra through lines from Shinagawa and Yokohama.

Furthermore, a project that connects downtown Tokyo directly to Tokyo Metropolitan Airport (Haneda) and Narita International Airport and that connects downtown Tokyo directly to suburban areas has been studied and pursued as a “Downtown Tokyo-to-Suburban-Area Through Railway (Downtown Tokyo Through Line)” project from a viewpoint of reinforcing the international competitiveness of the Tokyo metropolitan district.

In addition, ways to improve access to Kansai International Airport have been surveyed and explored.

Graphic II-6-1-9 Bolstering Traffic Access to Metropolitan Airports
## ② Chartered bus business

Since deregulations in February 2000, the chartered bus business has sponsored low-cost, diversified bus tours in its effort to deliver better user services, but competition is stiffening with increased in the population of operators in play. Further, as group tours continue to get downsized and travel goods are lower-priced, transportation revenues have been declining. In addition, upsurges in the fuel charges continue to toughen the business climate surrounding the chartered bus business.

## ③ Taxi business

Changes in the Number of Chartered Bus Operators, Number of Passengers Carried, Number of Vehicles and Operating Revenues

The taxi business is faced with a deteriorating revenue base, worsening driver working conditions and along with other problems in some areas due to increases in the fleet of taxi vehicles while the demand follows a long-term path of reduction, making it difficult for the taxi business to fully demonstrate its utilities of regional public transportation. As a solution to these problems, pursuant of the "Act on Special Measures concerning Regulation and Revitalization of Common Taxi Business in Specified Regions" enacted in 2009, a framework for driving the normalization and reactivation of the taxi business, focusing on voluntary efforts

Graphic II-6-3-3 Changes in Per Day-Vehicle Reviews of Hires and Taxes

made by regional stakeholders, has been set up in those areas afflicted with a progressive oversupply of taxi vehicles and other problems (those areas designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) and has been pursued by the stakeholders.

## (2) Replacement driver service

The replacement driver service is expected as a workaround means of transport for drinkers. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is driving the implementation of measures aimed at normalizing the replacement driver service and add to users convenience and ease of mind. As of the end of December 2012, a total of 8,838 replacement service driver service operators are accredited and in service.
## (3) Motor truck freight forwarding business

Although the number of motor truck freight forwarding entities had been on the rise for quite some time, the number of new businesses and those withdrawing have been in contention since 2008 and the number of entities reamin at around 63,000.

The management environment surrounding motor truck freight forwarding entities continues to toughen due to the influence from factors such as declining cargo movements amid economic recessions, and

Graphic II-6-3-4 Changes in the Number of Truck Operators

(Note) The number of retiring operators includes the operators that have terminated due to a merger or transfer. Source) MLIT

light oil prices. Under such circumstances, the support of the diffusion of eco-friendly vehicles has been escalated for this year while pursuing safety in the operators' operations. Debates that had been iterated at a working group of the Study Conference on the Future Vision of the Trucking Industry were compiled into a report released in October.

In response to recommendations by the report, MLIT now works to enhance safety standards for new entities, promote the exchange of contracts in writing with the cargo owners, and implement enhancements to the motor truck freight forwarding normalization projects.

## 3 Trends in Maritime Industries and Measures

(1) Securing stable maritime transport

## ① Securing Japanese-flagged vessels and Japanese seafarers

As Japan is a resource-poor nation surrounded by seas on all its sides, international shipping performs an extremely significant role as an industrial infrastructure or lifeline of vital importance to Japanese economy and national life, because it accounts for 99.7% of the export and import of goods. Japan has jurisdiction over and is responsible for protecting Japanese-flagged vessels and Japanese seafarers in support of international shipping. It is necessary to secure the number of Japanese-flagged vessels and Japanese seafarers at certain levels or higher in ordinary times from a viewpoint of economic security.

Graphic II-6-3-5 Number of Japanese seafarers, Japanese merchant fleet

Source) MLIT

assurance, but both Japanese-flagged vessels and Japanese seafarers are on a noticeable decline due to a lack of cost competitiveness.
same time, the Study Council on Substitutional Shipbuilding Measures for Coastal Shipping compiles guidelines for the measures designed to promote Substitutional shipbuilding for coastal shipping, such as reinforcing competitiveness, expanding into environmentally adaptive industries and responding to an evolving demand structure. In July 2012, approaches to activating coastal shipping through leveraging ship management companies were compiled and published as “Guidelines Relating to Ship Management Activities in Coastal Shipping.” Further, the smooth and steady implementation of Transitional Business for coastal shipping $ ^{Note} $ is also supported.

Graphic II-6-3-8 Changes in the Number of Coastal Ships

## ⑷ Port forwarding business

The port forwarding business plays a vital role as a nodal point between marine transportation and land transportation. From viewpoints of streamlining business workflow and offering diverse services, the port forwarding business has been deregulated by converting the entry procedures from a licensing system to an approval system since November 2000 for nine major ports and by converting the rates and charges from an approval system to a prior notification system since May 2006 for other ports. (On April 1, 2012, 39 new licenses were granted, with 229 changes to the scope of work and 1,122

## (3) Shipbuilding and ship machinery industries ① Present status of shipbuilding and ship machinery industries

Japan’s shipbuilding and ship machinery industries are extremely important industries that contribute to local economy and employment by providing stable supply of quality vessels tailored to ship owner’s various needs. Japan possesses the marine cluster in which the marine transportation business, shipbuilding business and ship machinery business are closely tied to one another.

Gaining impetus from the shipbuilding order booms until the summer of 2008 backed mainly by increase in the volume of marine transportation following a buoyant global market, China and Korea stepped up their shipbuilding capacities rapidly, pushing the world’s amount of new shipbuilding for 2012 to 95,270,000 gross tons (against 17,430,000 gross tons for Japan, accounting for 18% of the global market). Since the slowdown in the world economy
## 4 Trends in Air Transportation Business and Measures

The number of domestic air travelers in FY2011 in Japan slipped for the fifth consecutive year to reach 79,050,000 (about 3.8% down from the previous fiscal year) mainly under the influence of global economic recessions and the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the number of international air travelers also registered a fourth consecutive yearly decline with 12,590,000 (about 8.1% down from the previous fiscal year), suggesting a harsh business climate surrounding Japan’s air transportation business.

Japan Airlines was relisted on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on

## Graphic II-6-3-12 Changes in the Number of Air Passengers (Japanese Airliners)

Source) Developed by MLIT from: Annual Statistical Report on Air Transport

September 19, 2012 to wrap around the support of Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation of Japan following completion of the corporate reorganization proceedings on Mach 28, 2011 as a result of its withdrawal from nonprofit-making routes as provided in the rehabilitation plan, its steady pace of corporate downsizing and more. The FY2011 settlement report released on May 14, 2012 registered a record-high operating profit of 204.9 billion yen.

From now on, the Ministry will call upon Japan Airlines to report on its status of corporate rehabilitation periodically or from time to time during the JAL Group Mid-Term Management Plan period (FY2012 to FY2016) to confirm that corporate rehabilitation has been carried out properly and positively and that the airliners' competitive environment has not been unfairly impeded by public aids and will also supervise its status of corporate rehabilitation and provide supervision and advice as appropriate.

Peach Aviation came into service on March 1, 2012 at Kansai International Airport as a base airport, followed by Jetstar Japan Co., Ltd. coming into service on July 3 of the same year and AirAsia Japan Co., Ltd. on August 10, each at Narita International Airport as a base airport. Al these airlines are expected to create new demand by driving an LCC project featuring a low airfare tariff derived from low-cost air operations.

## 5 Trends and measures in consigned freight forwarding business

The consigned freight forwarding business $ ^{Note} $ is combined with multiple means of transport to provide services specific to varied user needs. Recent years have witnessed growing entry into the aircraft- and ship-based segments of international shipment to reflect the cargo owners’ needs for globalization.

Further, as internal trade takes on an increasingly important tone, global shipment gets more streamlined than before, urging safety assurance during transportation. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism works to ensure the availability of safe and secure logistics services, as by conducting audits, etc. to consolidate thorough operator code compliance.

## 6 Trends in the Warehousing Business and Measures

Commercial warehouses play a vital role as nodes of physical distribution. After the requirements for entry into the
Moreover, international agencies worked together to draft Handbook on Residential Property Price Indices (RPPI Handbook) to build an Early Warning Signal System by taking lessons from the subprime and other crises and came up with a final version of RPPI Handbook in May 2011. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism responded to RPPI Handbook to prepare Japan Residential Property Price indices and put into trial service in August 2012. It now debates their full-scale implementation.

Graphic II-6-3-13 Land General Information System

○Since April 2006, trade price information collected from questionnaire surveys conducted among the parties to real estate deals has been released at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Web site every quarter, with due care taken to avoid easy identification of individual properties.

○The Website offers a collection of 1,614,213 records of information, attracting about 340,000,000 accesses (about 7.2 million access per month) [FY2012 results].

辞檔表示	所在地	地域	最書類	土地	前面道路	都市計画	建⼊⼊率	容積率	取引時間
名称	距離	數引賠額	堺數個	面積	m2單個	形状	幅員	種殖	方位
1	千代田区 岩本町	商業地	岩本町	7分	3,800万円	230万円	55m²	71万円	徳沢县方形	8.0m	区道	南西	商業	80%	600%	H23/10-12月
2	千代田区 岩本町	商業地	小伝書町	2分	44,000万円	740万円	195m²	220万円	徳沢县方形	22.0m	区道	北東	商業	80%	700%	H24/07-09月
3	千代田区 岩本町	商業地	小伝書町	4分	61,000万円	560万円	360m²	170万円	不整形	22.0m	区道	北西	商業	80%	600%	H24/04-06月
4	千代田区 岩本町	商業地	黑磡町	3分	3,500万円	260万円	45m²	79万円	徳沢县方形	8.0m	市道	南東	商業	80%	600%	H24/04-06月
5	千代田区 岩本町	商業地	黑磡町	4分	4,600万円	280万円	55m²	85万円	徳沢县方形	8.0m	区道	南西	商業	80%	600%	H24/01-03月

Source) MLIT

## ③ Tax system utilization

The FY2013 tax reform has stretched the expiry dates for the preferential measure (registration and license tax) for the registration of transfer, etc. of the ownership of land upon its trading and also the preferential measure for the real estate circulation taxes (registration and license tax and real estate acquisition tax) that are imposed on the acquisition of real estate by J-REIT and special-purpose companies.

## ⑷ Pursuing the emergence of a new real property market tailored to the needs of a new era

The Scope of Work Standard has been formulated that implement the concept of “Scope of Work” in the procedural flow of appraisal to address diversified needs for real property appraisal and reflect the progress of the practice of real property market value evaluation in corporate accounting. Efforts are in progress to broaden public recognition of the Standard. At the same time, On-Site Inspections were made of real property appraisal firms to ensure the legitimacy of their work of re-appraising securitized real property and also at their appraisal for financial reporting. In addition, the Real Property Appraisal Subcommittee of the Lands Policy Committee, The National Land Development Council has set into a debate into motion to review The Real Property Appraisal Standard, etc. to catch up with the pace of globalization of the real property market and diversified needs for appraisal.

The presence of many seismically inadequate buildings and concerns over tight power supplies, such as those triggered