Ministerial Briefing on Maglev, Transport Gaps, and Liability Insurance

The briefing addressed three transportation policy issues: the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, transportation gaps, and compulsory automobile liability insurance. For the maglev line, it outlined the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's efforts to advance coordination between relevant local governments and Central Japan Railway Company toward early construction. On transportation gaps, it explained progress in public-private partnerships connecting local governments and transport operators with companies and organizations possessing technology and know-how. For compulsory automobile liability insurance, assessments and countermeasure reviews are under way to maintain access to enrollment, against a backdrop of agency closures and consolidation.

Throughout the briefing, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism indicated that it will continue addressing railway construction, the sustainability of local transport, and insurance enrollment conditions related to victim relief through cooperation with stakeholders.

For the maglev line, once an opening schedule outlook is presented, municipalities along the route and related businesses will be able to make their preparations more concrete. Meanwhile, smoothly advancing construction, including in the Shizuoka construction section, depends on gaining local understanding and cooperation.

Transportation-gap measures are expected to make it easier for local governments to access the technology and resources of companies and transport operators, helping create sustainable services suited to each region's mobility challenges. They expand public-private collaboration options for areas facing shortages of local transport providers and transportation means.

For compulsory automobile liability insurance, a decline in agencies could affect enrollment procedures for motorcycle users. Whether an accessible enrollment environment can be maintained is directly linked to deterring uninsured vehicles and ensuring victim relief.

On July 24, 2026, Minister Kaneko met with President Niwa of Central Japan Railway Company and requested that the opening outlook for the Shinagawa–Nagoya section be clarified promptly. President Niwa said that, although consideration would require time, the company intended to present it by the end of the year. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will coordinate with relevant local governments and Central Japan Railway Company while requesting that construction, including in the Shizuoka construction section, proceed appropriately and steadily.

The transportation-gap elimination public-private partnership platform was established in November 2024. Membership rose from 167 at launch to 1,907 as of the end of June 2026, an increase of more than 11 times. About 60% of all municipalities participate, and three meetings have been held to date. The platform shares advanced examples and initiatives by relevant ministries, holds presentations on technology and know-how, supports related events, and matches local governments and transport operators with companies.

Matching business meetings were held in six cities nationwide in the previous fiscal year and are planned in nine cities nationwide from August onward in fiscal 2026. Public-private partnership pilot projects are also advancing. Through the coordination promotion organization system established under the amended Act on the Revitalization and Regeneration of Regional Public Transportation, the knowledge and resources of companies and organizations will be used to solve challenges with local governments.

Motor vehicles, including motorcycles, cannot be operated without compulsory automobile liability insurance. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has conducted a questionnaire survey from June 30, 2026, through July 31, targeting motorcycle dealers and maintenance facilities that have voiced concerns about continuing insurance handling. After compiling the results, it will consider measures with the Financial Services Agency and organizations related to general insurance. In January 2025, One-Jibai, which enables online applications for certain motorcycles, was launched.