Minister Kaneko Briefs on Logistics and Transport Issues

On July 10, 2026, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kaneko presented reports and views on statutory white papers, logistics efficiency, the Shizuoka section of the Chuo Shinkansen, the Middle East situation, and transportation gaps. The conference addressed multiple matters related to land, infrastructure, transport and tourism administration, ranging from Cabinet approval of white papers to individual survey findings, safety measures and local transportation policy.

The conference presented logistics-efficiency figures, the planned conclusion of an agreement for the Shizuoka section, the transit status of Japan-related vessels, and the scale of transportation gaps' impact. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will continue working with relevant parties and ministries on efficiency, safety, conditions for early construction, and eliminating transportation gaps.

In logistics, truck drivers' average duty time and time spent waiting for and handling cargo declined. Parcel delivery has also seen increased use of non-face-to-face receipt methods, including parcel lockers and unattended delivery, improving the redelivery rate.

EY Strategy and Consulting Co., Ltd. estimated that the economic and social impact of transportation gaps amounts to approximately 10 trillion yen annually. The minister views this estimate as a valuable reference indicator for deepening and accelerating efforts to eliminate transportation gaps.

The minister said he had received reports that the Japan-related vessels that transited the Strait of Hormuz had no problems with crew health or vessel condition. For the remaining vessels, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will continue gathering and providing information to relevant parties, while coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries to ensure safety.

The Cabinet approved the FY2026 White Papers on the National Capital Region, Land, Tourism, Transport Policy, and the Water Cycle. Under the respective relevant laws, the government will report them to the Diet.

The logistics survey found that the average duty time per truck-driver trip in FY2025 was 10 hours 13 minutes, a reduction of 1 hour 33 minutes from the previous fiscal year. Time spent waiting for and handling cargo fell from about 3 hours to about 2 hours. The minister said these results show that efforts under the revised Logistics Efficiency Act, in force since April 2025, are steadily advancing. Based on the Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline approved by the Cabinet in March 2026, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will pursue further efficiency improvements.

For the Chuo Shinkansen, Shizuoka Prefecture and Central Japan Railway Company are scheduled to conclude a natural-environment conservation agreement on July 18, 2026. The minister explained that this would provide a prospect for addressing a long-standing issue toward the early opening of the Shinagawa-Nagoya section and mark a major milestone. However, Central Japan Railway Company has said that the timing for starting tunnel excavation work remains undecided. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will create conditions for early construction and coordinate with relevant local governments and Central Japan Railway Company.

Regarding the Middle East situation, 22 additional Japan-related vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz from July 7 to 9, 2026, including 6 large crude-oil tankers bound for Japan. There were no abnormalities in crew health or vessel condition, and the number of remaining Japan-related vessels fell from an initial 45 to 4. As preparations for transit differ by vessel, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will refrain from commenting on individual vessels while continuing to ensure the safety of those remaining.

For transportation-gap measures, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will strengthen coordination with local governments, private-sector stakeholders and relevant ministries under the 2026 Action Policy, looking beyond the intensive-measures period. The minister expressed a commitment to make every effort to eliminate transportation gaps and achieve sustainable local public transportation.