For airports, in addition to serving as the base of emergency transport when earthquakes and other disasters occur, airports considered important from the perspective of maintaining air transport to maintain the aviation network and ensure the continuity of hinterland economic activity, seismic strengthening is being carried out for government facilities critical to ensure necessary control functions as well as basic facilities that are absolutely essential. Also, in preparation for a large-scale tsunami disaster due to great earthquakes along the Nankai Trough, tsunami evacuation plans were created for major airports at risk of being affected by tsunami disasters to stipulate evacuation procedures for airport users in the event of a tsunami. In addition, a plan was formulated for rapid recovery of airport functions following a tsunami disaster and initiatives to establish a cooperative framework with relevant organizations based on the plan will be promoted.

## (4) Building a Logistics System Resistant to Disaster

The Great East Japan Earthquake highlighted the importance of utilizing the expertise and facilities of private sector logistics companies from the perspective of ensuring the smooth transport of relief supplies. In light of this lesson, the establishment of a logistics system that is resistant to disasters through the coordination of central government, local government, and logistics companies was evaluated and private logistics facilities that could be used as a base for supplies in the event of an earthquake were listed up (1169 locations nationwide, as of March 14, 2014) and for applicable facilities, support was given to implement emergency power supply, communication, and other facilities to promote the establishment of a cooperative framework for coordination between the public and private sectors across the nation.

## Section 3 Ensuring the Safety of Architecture

## (1) Securing Trust for the Production and Supply System for Housing and Buildings

After the amended “Building Standards Law” went into effect in 2007, the building confirmation process became backlogged, leading to a large decrease in the number of building confirmations; therefore, in light of this, the operation of building confirmation procedures was improved on two occasions in 2010 and 2011 to speed up the building confirmation review and simplify the application documentation among other improvements.

In August 2012, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism consulted the Panel on Infrastructure Development regarding the “ideal for future standards policies” and in September of the same year, the Building Standards Sub-commission under the Building Subcommittee of the Panel is conducting a review, giving priority to categories that are most requested for review. Of this, regarding the scheme for promoting the seismic resistance of housing and buildings, the first findings were compiled in February 2013 and based on this the revised “Law for Partial Amendments to the Act for Promotion of Renovation for Earthquake-Resistant Structures of Buildings” was enacted in November 2013.

Also, regarding the “ideal standards regarding wood structures” and “ideal efficient and practically implementable confirmation inspection regulations” the second report was compiled in February 2014. In accordance with this, the “Law for a Partial Revision to the Building Standards Law” was enacted May 2014.

For measures concerning kenchikushi, in accordance with the “The Kenchikushi Law” amended in 2008, initiatives are being taken toward the course material and encouraging completion for the periodic training made mandatory for registered kenchikushi.

Additionally, when defects are discovered in new houses the defect warranty will be reliably fulfilled so that consumers can purchase housing with peace of mind and in accordance with the “Act on Assurance of Performance of Specified Housing Defect Warranty (Housing Defect Warranty Performance Act)”, requiring construction companies and real estate transaction agents to secure funds (house defect warranty security deposit or a valid housing defect warranty liability insurance contract), the insurance underwriting system of housing defect warranty liability insurance entities will continue to be improved and initiatives to raise awareness among consumers and other measures to publicize the system are being carried out.

## (2) Ensuring the Safety of Elevators and Play Facilities

To ensure the safety of conveyors (elevators and escalators) and play facilities, investigation into accident causes will continue to be done and the views of the "Interim report of the unintended car movement accident in Ishikawa Prefecture" will be incorporated into the initiatives promoted to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents. Additionally, local