Minister Kaneko's Press Conference Summary
Overview
A summary of the departure press conference of Yasushi Kaneko, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. He reviewed policies undertaken during approximately one year in office under three pillars: ensuring public safety and security, achieving strong economic growth, and developing regions that leverage their individuality while building a sustainable and vibrant Japan. He also reviewed disaster prevention and mitigation, social infrastructure development, eliminating transportation gaps, tourism, and the revitalization of the shipbuilding industry. Regarding the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, he described efforts to restore roads, water services, and railways, provide push-type assistance, and disseminate information, and stated that support for recovery and reconstruction and underpass measures would continue.
Key points
- During his tenure, he pursued the administration of land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism based on three pillars and a field-oriented approach.
- Following the Kumamoto Earthquake, he advanced phased infrastructure restoration and support, prioritizing people's daily lives.
- He expressed his expectation that the next minister would advance administration by leveraging the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's field capabilities and comprehensive strengths.
- To prepare for torrential rains, measures for underpasses on roads managed directly by the national government and by local authorities will be advanced.
Overview
Minister Yasushi Kaneko worked for 332 days from taking office on October 21, 2025, on land, infrastructure, transport, and tourism administration supporting people's lives and livelihoods, the economy, and regional livelihoods and businesses.
The policy pillars were safety and security, economic growth, regional development that leverages local individuality, and the creation of a sustainable and vibrant Japan. Efforts advanced disaster prevention and mitigation, social infrastructure development, work-style reform, automated driving, the elimination of transportation gaps, dual-region residence, and sustainable tourism.
Impact
In the Kumamoto Earthquake, the restoration of two major arteries, the expressway and the Shinkansen, was expected to accelerate recovery and reconstruction throughout the disaster-affected areas and the revitalization of the regional economy.
Support for recovery and reconstruction was to proceed so that disaster victims could rebuild their lives and livelihoods and return to normal life as soon as possible.
Details
Following the 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake, the government held 15 emergency disaster countermeasures headquarters meetings from immediately after the disaster, conducting damage assessment, lifesaving operations, water-supply assistance, push-type assistance without waiting for requests, and information provision through social media and other channels.
Support teams were established within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and at the Kyushu Regional Development Bureau to manage progress by indicating recovery and reconstruction goals, response policies, and outlooks. Support was also advanced for home repairs, travel and accommodation costs, public facilities, wells, and railways.
For roads, railways, and water services, the adopted approach was to first carry out emergency restoration needed to maintain daily life, followed by full restoration. At underpasses, measures such as advance traffic restrictions, fences, and signs will be advanced on roads managed directly by the national government and on roads managed by local authorities.