Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## ○Development of city parks, etc

The MILT promotes the development of government-managed parks and the preservation of historic temples along with the improvement of the functions that contribute to comfortable lifestyles.

## ○Stable supply of water resources

The MLIT is making efforts in ensuring constant water availability, revitalizing water resource areas and recycling water after it has been treated in sewerage systems.

## ○ Promotion of road planning prioritizing pedestrians/bicycles

The MLIT is promoting easy to follow street guides, while taking measures to build up safe, secure and high-quality pedestrian space and to develop an environment for bicycles. The amended Road Transportation Law has facilitated flexible road management that makes full use of the diverse functions of roads and satisfies the needs of the residents who live beside them.

## (4) Realizing more convenient transportation

The MLIT is making efforts to revitalize public transportation and to promote Traffic Demand Management (TDM) with the aim of easing congestion. The MLIT is promoting the improvement of urban railway networks and the development of urban railways, urban monorails and automated guideway transit and light rail transit (LRT) systems as well as the improvement of bus and taxi accessibility. Furthermore, efforts are being made to make highway functions more convenient for the sake of highway users, through an introduction of pilot programs to realize diverse and flexible toll policies.

## Details of Pilot Programs conducted in FY2007

## (1) Revitalization of Regions

Program to introduce reduced tolls for highways running parallel to conventional national roads in provincial areas to encourage further use of the highways and solve or ease the problems existing in the national roads.

○Program to introduce reduced tolls by time zones to encourage further use of the highways in provincial areas.(Total 50 locations in Japan)

## (2) Higher Efficiency in Distribution

Program to introduce reduced tolls to facilitate improved efficiency in distribution

Program to expand time zones when discounted night tolls are applicable.

Tomei Expressway (Susono IC—Tokyo IC), Meishin Expressway (Ritto IC—Nishinomiya IC, etc.),

Higashi-Meihan Expressway (Mie-Kawagoe IC — Kameyama IC, etc.)

## (3) Solution of Serious Congestion in City Areas

Program to introduce reduced tolls to encourage the full utilization of highway networks in metropolitan areas

Program to introduce distance-based tolls in Tokyo and Hanshin Metropolitan Highways

Program to introduce reduced tolls for ring roads (Ken-ou Road, Aqua Line, Higashi-Kanto Road, etc.)

* Pilot program conducted on the Honshu-Shikoku Highway to improve efficiency in distribution and promote revitalization of the district.
# Chapter 5: Forging an Open Economic Society with a Competitive Edge

## (1) Improvement in transportation networks

## ○Developing arteries

Highway networks, including high-standard highways and high-standard regional roads, constitute a very important infrastructure for our country that extends far into the north and south and has its connections between regions hindered by mountain ranges and the straights separating the major islands. It is vital to build highway networks and secure their functions for the development of safe and secure national land.

Comparison of Japan and Germany in Highway Development

Japan	Germany
Population	(10 thousand)	12,756	(2006)	8,241	(2006)
Area	(1000 km^{2})	378	(2006)	357	(2006)
GDP	(in trillion JPY)	505	(2005)	338	(2005)
The extension of service roads	(km)	9,047 *1	(as at the end of FY2006)	12,363	(as at the end of FY2005)
The average distance between cities *2	(km)	491	261

Notes: 1) The extension of service roads and in general national road sections of bypasses will be included

2) With urban populations of more than 600,000 people

Source: Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan, Statistics of the World 2007

## ○Developing the trunk railway network

The MLIT has been committed to the construction of new Shinkansen lines, based on an agreement between the government and ruling parties, while promoting increasing the speed of conventional artery railways through an improvement of railroad bends and the partial introduction of double tracks as well as the technological development of superconducting magnetically levitated and variable gauged trains.

Reduction of Travel Time through Improvement of Seibi-Shinkansen

Improved sector	Approximate travel time	Present	Improved sector	Approximate travel time
Tohoku ShinkansenHachinohole ~ Shin-Aomori	Tokyo ~ Shin-Aomori3 hours 59 minutesAbout 3 hours 12 minutes	Kyushu Shinkansen(Kagoshima Route)Hakata~ Shin-Yatsushiro	Hakata ~ Kagoshima-Chuo2 hours 11 minutesAbout 1 hour 20 minutes	Reduced by about 51 minutes
Hokkaido ShinkansenShin-Aomori ~ Shin-Hakodate	Tokyo ~ Hakodate5 hours 58 minutesAbout 4 hours 6 minutes	Kyushu Shinkansen(Nagasaki Route)Takeo-Onsen~ Isahaya	Hakata ~ Nagasaki (Variable-gauged train)1 hour 47 minutesAbout 1 hour 19 minutes	Reduced by about 28 minutes
Hokuriku ShinkansenNagano ~ Hakusan Grand Rail Yard	Tokyo ~ Toyama3 hours 10 minutesAbout 2 hours 10 minutes	Reduced by about 1 hour	* Present travelling times are based on October 2004 schedules.* Maximum speed in the improved sectors estimated to be 275km/h for Tohoku and Hokkaido Shinkansens, 260km/h for Hokuriku and Kyushu (Kagoshima Route) Shinkansens, and 200km/h for Kyushu Shinkansen (Nagasaki Route).* Plan of JR East Japan (announced in November 2007) estimates the travelling time from Tokyo to Aomori by Tohoku Shinkansen to be reduced to about 3 hours 10 minutes at the end of 2010.
Tokyo ~ Kanazawa3 hours 44 minutesAbout 2 hours 28 minutes	Reduced by about 1 hour 16 minutes
## ○ Developing airline networks

The MLIT has been engaged in improving the international and domestic airline networks, by implementing measures for the development of the structural aspects of airport facilities and enhanced competition among the service providers through deregulation in nonstructural aspects, as well as entering into additional aviation contracts with other countries.

To be more specific, various projects, including the redevelopment of Tokyo International (Haneda) Airport, the extension of the parallel runway at Narita International Airport to 2,500m, and the 2nd phase construction of Kansai International Airport have been promoted. Furthermore, the MLIT is committed to urging for the construction of a strategic international aviation network through deregulation and further internationalization of Haneda Airport based on the Asian Gateway Initiative while implementing non-structural measures to formulate and improve the regional aviation network.

Number of Domestic Airline Passengers at Tokyo International (Haneda) Airport

Capacities, and Number of Aircraft Flights and Passengers at Narita International Airport

☐ The capacities increased by 50% from 135,000 to 200,000 after the introduction of the interim parallel runway in 2002.

○ Agreement reached with the local communities to increase the maximum number of aircraft flights to 220,000 / year when the parallel runway is expanded and put into service at the end of 2009.

Note: The numbers of passengers indicated are gross figures (transit passengers doubly counted in arrival and departure).

## (2) Improving coordination among different transportation modes

## ○ Developing multi-modal transport systems

The MLIT is working to improve the speed and facilitation of transit/transshipment by prioritizing the improvement of coordination among key transportation facilities and the functional enhancement of such facilities, which include airports, ports, train stations, high-standard highways, etc. as well as the roads and access railways that connect these key facilities.

## ○ Improving access to airports

The MLIT aims to improve rail access to Narita International Airport to reduce the travel time from central Tokyo to less than forty minutes by supporting the construction of Narita Rapid Rail Access, and also to improve road access to the airport through the development of a highway network. In addition, MLIT is working to further improve railway access to Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport)
## (3) Promoting comprehensive and integrated logistics policies

In order to address the various issues related to logistics, including the quasi-domestication of logistics within the East-Asian region, the environmental measures required following the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, and the increase in logistics security measures necessitated by the terrorist attacks in the USA, comprehensive and integrated promotion of logistics is being implemented based on the “Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline (2005-2009)” adopted at a Cabinet meeting in November 2005. The MLIT also proceeds with policies to promote the “Asian Gateway Initiative,” formulated in May 2007.

Among the issues taken up in the “International Logistics Competitive Edge Partnership Committee” established in 2006, the MLIT has been participating in a substantial running test using the “East-West Economic Corridor” in the Mekong region. Furthermore, the MLIT is going to sponsor the 2nd Meeting of the China-Japan-Korea Ministerial Conference on Maritime Transport and Logistics in Tokyo in May 2008 for the purpose of exchanging opinions to realize seamless logistics in Northeastern Asia.

## ○ Measures to strengthen international logistics functions

Efforts are being made for the comprehensive and strategic promotion of international logistics measures based on the Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline and decisions made by the MLIT Headquarters for Promotion of International Logistics Policies, while practical policies corresponding to front line needs are put into practice through the “International Logistics Strategy Team” organized in ten areas nationwide and joined by a wide variety of concerned parties.

The MLIT also enhances the foundation of the international maritime transport network by promoting the “Super-hub Port” project while at the same time upgrading airborne freight functions and promoting international inter-modal transportation.

Next Generation Container Terminal to be Developed in Super Hub-Port Project

## ○ Measures to develop an efficient logistics system

The MLIT has been promoting the wider application of IT in logistics, including the development of more convenient electronic application systems for the administrative procedures required for import and export processes at ports, as well as the formulation of EDI standards based on international standards.

The MLIT is also addressing efficiency improvement in interregional logistics by boosting the transportation capacities of freight railways, developing ports, railway freight terminals and other distribution nodes as well as access roads connecting airports and ports with highways, and by supporting the improvement of logistics bases located in the areas along the highways. The “Total Plan for Urban Area Logistics” has been formulated with the aim of improving the efficiency of logistics in urban areas.

The MLIT is supporting the development and training of the human resources needed to promote a new logistics service called 3PL (3rd Party Logistics).
## ○Rejuvenating construction industry

While investments in construction are drastically decreasing, the MLIT has put together the “2007 Policy for Construction Industry—Structural Reform at Major Turning Point —(June 2007),” focusing on the “Conversion of Industry Structure,” “Reformation of Construction and Production Systems” and “Promotion of Human Resource Development to support Construction Industries,” and has also reviewed the examination of management items with the aim of promoting structural reform of the industry.

In the policy for construction industry, there are five measures recommended; building a basis for fair competition, promoting an activity to reorganize such as a merger and an advance to new fields, improving tendering and contracting systems so as to enhance the growth of business operators with excellent engineering and management capabilities, building the construction and production systems with fairness and transparency, and promoting the human resource development for construction industry.

Shifts in Total Construction Investment Amounts (Nominal), Number of Licensed Contractors and Workers

○ Amount invested in construction: Estimated amount for 2007 accounts for about 60% of that of the peak year (1992).

○ No. of construction firms: Remains nearly the same (about 530,000 at the end of 1992 — about 520,000 at the end of 2006).

○ No. of employees in the industry: 5.52 million in 2007, about 10% less than in 1992, accounting for about 10% of all workers in Japan. (Parentheses contain the percentage decrease from the peak value of investment in construction)

Notes: 1) The investment amounts are the actual values for FY2004 and earlier, interim values for FY2005 and FY2006, and estimated value for FY2007.

2) The number of licensed contractors represents the figure at the end of each fiscal year (the end of March of the following calendar year).

Sources: Estimate of Construction Investment and Survey of the Number of Licensed Contractors, MLIT, Labour Force Survey, MPHPT
# Chapter 6: Building a Safe and Peaceful Society

## (1) Measures against natural disasters

## ○Building a more disaster-resistant nation

The extremely severe natural conditions due to Japan’s location render the protection of life and assets from natural disaster a fundamental challenge. Accordingly, the MLIT is committed to integrated structural improvements and non-structural measures, including: flood control measures, such as provisions to mitigate damage in case of floods, measures against flood disasters in urban areas involving entire communities as the basis; measures against sediment-related disasters; measures against earthquakes, such as the improvement of earthquake resistance and the overall safety of homes and buildings, and urgent improvements in built-up areas (environmental axis for disaster prevention); measures against tsunamis, storm surges, and coastal erosion; measures for avalanche; and work for erosion and sediment control in volcanic areas.

“Measures against external water”: Measures against overflow caused by a break in the river bank “Measures against internal water”: Measures against floods caused by urban area rainwater not able to be properly removed

Disaster Prevention Axis

* Three rivers specified: Tsurumi River (Kanagawa Prefecture), Shinkawa (Aichi Prefecture) and Neyagawa River (Osaka Prefecture)
## Better disaster prevention arrangements

Aside from the promotion of non-structural measures, including the information and public relations activities concerning safety and security, promotion is implemented for more sophisticated information for disaster prevention. Such promotion includes the following measures: improved hazard maps; the transmission of Earthquake Early Warning; improvement in the disaster prevention capacities of regional communities, such as measures to care for the elderly, small children, and others with special needs during emergencies; arrangements to boost emergency responsiveness, such as the preparation of the MLIT business continuity plan (BCP); reinforcement for monitoring earthquakes and volcanic activities; and upgrading of existing stock by introducing ICTs.

Hazard Map Development Status

Note: The number of municipalities where the map, in whole or in part, is scheduled to become available by the end of March 2008 as at the survey conducted in October 2007

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Japan

## ○Ensuring disaster-resistant transportation system

The development of a disaster-resistant transportation system with ensured multiple access and substitutability is promoted to secure passenger safety, traffic functions, the transportation and evacuation of citizens, the sick and wounded and emergency supplies in the case of large-scale disasters. Disaster prevention is also promoted for roads, railways, ports and air transportation.

## (2) Ensuring safety of building structures

Efforts to ensure the reliability of the construction and supply systems of houses and buildings are taken following the enactment of the “Act to partly amend the Building Code and, others to ensure safety of building structures,” the “Act to partly amend the Act on Registered Architects and others” and the “Act on securing performance of warranty against defects of specified houses.” Efforts are made also to ensure proper response to accidents involving elevators and play facilities.

## (3) Reinforcing safety measures in the transportation sector

## Coordinating safety management system for public transportation

The “Act to partly amend the Railway Business Act and Others to Improve Safety of Transportation (Comprehensive Transportation Safety Act)” entered into force as of October 2006, in response to the repeated occurrence of accidents and problems presumably attributable to human error, including the derailment of the JR West Japan Railway Fukuchiyama Line. The Act requires transport business operators to prepare and submit a “Safety Management Manual,” and elect a “Safety General Manager” and notify the MLIT. The MLIT has started conducting “Transportation Safety Management Assessments” and suggests improvement measures to the operators.
Conceptual Diagram of New Transportation Safety Management System Implementation

## ○Railway safety measures

Based on the lessons learned from the JR West Fukuchiyama Line Derailment, the MLIT has obliged business operators to install ATS(automatic train stop) or other speed control devices over narrower curves, and in September 2007 instructed them to improve the ways to identify and utilize the cases of incidents (events that could lead to accidents). In consideration of the JR East Uetsu Main Line Derailment, deliberation concerning measures for railways against wind blasts is under way, which includes reinforced wind blast observation by the railroad operators. Efforts are further taken for the preventive measures against accidents at railroad crossings.

## ○Maritime safety measures

The MLIT is making efforts toward improvement in the safety of vessels, including a review of the domestic safety rules and regulations in line with entry into force of the amended SOLAS convention (The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1914) between 2008 and 2010. The MLIT is engaged in securing the safety of navigation through measures including an amendment to the “Ordinance for Enforcement of Seamen’s Act” as well as the promotion of safety measures for crew and passengers on board, the enhancement of the rescue system, an investigation into maritime accidents and the prevention of recurrences.

## O $ ^{○} $ Aviation safety measures

In consideration of the repeated occurrence of aviation safety troubles in and after 2005, the MLIT is working on the enhancement of measures for aviation safety, including imposing an obligation on airlines to report safety related troubles as well as to establish safety management systems. An aviation safety system for safer and smoother aviation traffic is being constructed, through such efforts as introducing full-scale Area Navigation (RNAV) and improving the functions of the Air Traffic Management (ATM) system.

## ○Establishing the Japan Transport Safety Board

For the purpose of improving investigative functions with regard to the diverse and complicated accidents involving aircraft, railways and vessels and ensuring the prevention thereof, the MLIT decided to establish the “Japan Transport Safety Board” by integrating the investigative functions of the Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission and the Japan Marine Accident Inquiry Agency, and presented a bill to that effect at the 169th session of the Diet.
## ○Road traffic safety measures

We are presently in a serious situation where the number of those killed or injured in traffic accidents in 2007 still exceeds one million; therefore, the MLIT is taking focused measures to reduce traffic accidents on arterial roads, including systematic maintenance of bridges to ensure secure and safe road services. The ministry's comprehensive automobile safety initiative involves expanding and strengthening safety standards, providing safety information through automotive assessments, developing and disseminating Advanced Safety Vehicles (ASV), and enhancing and improving the automobile recall system.

Out of the total of about 150,000 bridges (of 15m or more in length) across the country

Brakes automatically activated when a collision is considered highly likely to happen

## (4) Crisis management and security

## ○ Promoting measures against crime and terrorism

Besides working to materialize the agreements reached in the “Ministerial Conference on International Transport Security” held in Tokyo in January 2006, the MLIT is promoting measures against pirate attacks, attacks on port facilities and terrorism on the sea. Measures in line with PSI (Proliferation Security Initiative) are also promoted by the MLIT as well as anti-crime and terrorism measures in areas including railways, vessels, ports, aviation, motor vehicles and other important facilities. The MLIT is further working on coping with both security and efficiency in logistics and measures for information security.

“Risk management poster” posted in the premises of stations

Patrol by employees and guards

“Antiterrorism supporter badge” of kiosk attendants.

Explicit posting of messages such as “Warning: monitored by surveillance camera” or other warning messages.

Caption message on train platforms requesting cooperation regarding the discovery of suspicious articles

Utilize train communicators upon discovery of suspicious articles (by adding notes clearly expressing “When any suspicious article is found” as a reason to report)
## ○ Establishing responsiveness to incidents

In preparation for incidents or disasters on vessels, aircraft or railways, the MLIT has established disaster headquarters to implement prompt and adequate measures. Effective from April 2007, ship owners are obliged to take preventive measures against hazardous liquids, etc, and the MLIT is striving to establish a system that is capable of prompt and effective response to noxious liquid substances.

## ○ Enhancement of maritime safety system

The maritime safety system has been enhanced through the promotion and improvement of operation structure, and measures against terrorism, suspicious ships, spy boats and maritime crimes.

## ○Protecting Japan’s interests in the oceans

Holding the view that maintaining order on the oceans is vital for the protection of Japan’s interests therein, the MLIT is implementing strict security measures against vessels of other countries violating Japan’s interests. Efforts to prepare appropriate nautical charts of the sea area in the vicinity of Japan will be continued, while prioritized and intensive oceanographic investigation will be conducted in the waters on which sufficient data has not been obtained yet. The MLIT is working with other government ministries and offices concerned to conduct surveys necessary to establish the outer limit of the continental shelves as well as to implement efforts to conserve Okinotorishima Island.

## ○National security and protection of lives and property of Japanese citizens

The “Plan on Protection of Citizens” has been formulated through the joint efforts of the MLIT, the Geographical Survey Institute, the Japan Meteorological Agency and the Japan Coast Guard with the aim of addressing possible armed attacks on the country. In response to the launching of ballistic missiles by North Korea in July 2006 and the statement on nuclear tests issued by the same country in October of the same year, measures have been taken to put all North Korean vessels under embargo and to verify information on the entry of any North Korean vessel into Japanese ports.