construction of international marine container terminals and international physical distribution terminals in an international marine transportation network or at regional core ports and harbors, plus approaches designed to accelerate the implementation of ICTs and otherwise add to user convenience.

## ⑥ Developing a maritime transportation environment

Among all international trunk routes, those that could interfere with navigation in the bay because of shallow waters, etc. have been improved and Aids to Navigation have been renovated to develop a maritime transportation environment that combines the safety of maritime traffic with the efficiency of maritime transportation.

## (3) Developing advanced aviation logistics functions to pursue increased international competitiveness

In recognition of the sluggish growth of Japan’s international airfreight transportation business under the influence of domestic businesses seeking relocation overseas, the recent European sovereign debt crisis, a rising yen and so on, the Ministry has been driving efforts to turn Japan’s core airports, such as Kansai International Airport and Chubu Centrair International Airport, into freight hubs and streamlining the transport process, as well as upgrade the capacities and functionalities of metropolitan airports, to take freight arriving at and departing from Asian nations, which promises further leaps.

## (4) Strategic development and utilization of a logistically important road network

Building an efficient logistics network is of prime importance in the scheme of motor truck transportation that commands about 80% of total domestic transportation. Out of this recognition, the Ministry has pushed forward with the development of high-standard highways that interconnect major cities with one another, metropolitan ring roads, airport and port access roads and more. At the same time, it seeks to build a network of roads accessible to international marine container cars without needing transshipment. Efforts are also underway to utilize and upgrade existing road networks, including the construction of smart ICs.

## (5) Other measures that help reinforce international physical distribution functions

While the urgent formation of a logistics in which international logistics is efficiently combined with the domestic transport modes of land, sea and air is sought, the realization of the mutual passage of chasses (trailing trucks without a drive power) to and from Korea and China and the use of a sea & rail scheme under which marine transportation is coupled with railway transportation are propelled.

## 2 Measures Aimed at Building an Efficient Logistics System at Home

In addition to the approaches mentioned in 1, additional approaches are underway to build an efficient logistics system at home to toughen Japan’s industrial competitiveness while easing environmental loads.

## (1) Streamlining the flow of interregional physical distribution

The Ministry proceeds to build up freight transport capacities and develop nodal points of physical distribution, such as ports and freight stations, to drive combined multimodal transportation. In March 2013, the construction of new Suita Freight Terminal Station completed, along with an improvement on Kudara Station and an enhancement to the railway freight transport capacity at Sumidagawa Station, as part of the effort to build up railway transport capacities by introducing longer container trains and additional train services. In addition, the development of combined multimodal transport terminals is under way at Hakata Port and Elsewhere to consolidate coordination between marine transportation and other transport modes. Key road networks will also be refurbished to streamline the flow of truck transportation.