Minister Kaneko Briefing: Environmental Measures and Policy on Three Shinkansen

The briefing covered three projects with different development stages and consensus-building situations: the Shizuoka construction section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, the Saga section of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, and the Tsuruga–Shin-Osaka section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

The minister explained that preparations for construction in the Shizuoka section were proceeding subject to environmental conservation, consultations toward an environmental impact assessment were advancing for the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, and he was withholding comment on how discussions within the ruling party should proceed for the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

The briefing was held on July 21, 2026, in the MLIT briefing room, with Minister Yasushi Kaneko providing the explanation.

In the Shizuoka construction section, the steady implementation of environmental conservation measures under the agreement will affect local understanding and the advancement of construction. The national government stated that it would verify implementation from scientific and objective perspectives and advise JR Central as necessary.

For the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, the agreement with Saga Prefecture moves the development discussion into the concrete procedural stage of an environmental impact assessment. Going forward, the need for and importance of the project will be explained to local communities, and discussions with Saga Prefecture and other stakeholders will proceed.

Regarding the Hokuriku Shinkansen, questions were raised about the legal basis and transparency of the route proposal, but the minister avoided assessing the ruling party's discussion process; therefore, the government's final decision cannot be inferred from the briefing.

A signing ceremony for the natural environment conservation agreement between Shizuoka Prefecture and JR Central was held at the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Office, with MLIT Administrative Vice-Minister Masayuki Mizushima participating. JR Central is expected to implement the environmental conservation measures developed through the discussions in accordance with the agreement and advance construction while securing local understanding and cooperation.

JR Central has explained that the construction and opening dates for the Shizuoka construction section remain undecided at this time. MLIT will maintain the framework of the Shizuoka Section Monitoring Meeting, coordinate with the subcommittee to be newly established by Shizuoka Prefecture, verify the implementation of conservation measures, and advise JR Central as necessary.

Minister Kaneko said that he plans to meet JR Central President Niwa on July 24 to directly confirm the outlook for construction and opening.

On the Shin-Tosu–Takeo-Onsen section of the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen, Administrative Vice-Minister Mizushima and Saga Governor Yamaguchi held repeated exchanges of views on the premise of full-standard construction and reached an agreement on matters including conducting an environmental impact assessment. MLIT will advance the preparations and coordination necessary for the assessment.

For the Tsuruga–Shin-Osaka section of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, the question was asked on the premise that discussions had advanced in the ruling party's development committee and that the Katsuragawa proposal for the Obama–Kyoto route had been compiled. The minister withheld comment as the ruling party determines how discussions within the party should proceed, stating that he was doing so in his capacity as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.