Research Reports Topic Area Reset Civil Aviation May 2026 U.S. Trends in AAM Policy and Related Developments ~Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy 2025 ~ By Kotaro Yamamoto Maritime Transportation April 2026 America’s Maritime Action Plan: Policy Overview and Key Measures By Hiroyuki Yamagami & Yosuke Yamashita Tourism & More February 2026 Basic Policy Directions of Transportation and Tourism under the Second Trump Administration: Key Characteristics of Policy Management in the First Year after Inauguration By Kazuya Fukuhara Civil Aviation February 2026 Trends in Decarbonization Policies for the Aviation and Airport Sectors in the United States By Yukiko Nakamura Maritime Transportation February 2026 Recent Developments in the Revitalization of the U.S. Maritime Industry: Application of Section 301 under the U.S. Trade Act By Kazuya Fukuhara & Hiroyuki Yamagami Civil Aviation January 2026 U.S. Policy Trends on Advanced Air Mobility: Part 5 ~ Development of the Roadmap for AAM TC, Issuance of the AC on Powered-Lift TC, and Final Rule of MOSAIC ~ By Shinichiro Tsuri Maritime Transportation January 2026 U.S. Response to the IMO Net Zero Framework and Its Background By Yosuke Yamashita 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 ... 14

Welcome to our website! Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI USA), is an independent research institute which studies various kinds of US-Japan and... Research Reports U.S. Trends in AAM Policy and Related Developments ~Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy 2025 ~ Videos on Demand VIEW ALL VIDEOS Events JITTI-APTA Rail Symposium 2026 : Enhancing Economic Impact, Innovation and the Customer Experience through Major Projects and Mega Events Thursday, March 26th | Hybrid Event: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and Held Virtually in English and Japanese In both the United States and Japan, railways are a vital foundation supporting economic activity. In the U.S., major projects such as modernization along the Northeast Corridor are underway, and investment in rail-centered public transportation is accelerating ahead of mega events including the FIFA World Cup 2026. Meanwhile in Japan, alongside ongoing advancements in rail development and station-centered urban development in major metropolitan areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, network enhancements and customer-experience initiatives linked to international events have already been implemented. Investment by Japanese rolling stock manufacturers in the U.S. has also contributed to local communities. Against this backdrop, the railway sector has become a key area for sharing expertise and strengthening bilateral relations. This symposium will bring together government officials and railway operators to discuss expanding the economic impact of railway investment and leveraging mega events to enhance the customer experience. VIEW ALL EVENTS Research Reports U.S. Trends in AAM Policy and Related Developments ~Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy 2025 ~ Author: Kotaro Yamamoto | Civil Aviation America’s Maritime Action Plan: Policy Overview and Key Measures Author: Hiroyuki Yamagami & Yosuke Yamashita | Maritime Transportation Basic Policy Directions of Transportation and Tourism under the Second Trump Administration: Key Characteristics of Policy Management in the First Year after Inauguration Author: Kazuya Fukuhara | Tourism & More VIEW ALL REPORTS JITTI JOURNAL March 2026 Volume 13 Issue 2 | Feature: Naoki Sato | Cultural Article: Mamiko Kim Rail in the Greater Tokyo Area will be easier to ride with new Tap-to-Pay turnstiles. Read all about it in this month's Feature Article. Meanwhile, with spring just around the corner, the Cultural Article introduces Japan's sakura treats and how you can enjoy them in the D.C. area, through grocery store finds or making it at home. January 2026 Volume 13 Issue 1 | Feature: Yosuke Yamashita | Cultural Article: Suzannah Nevas In this journal's Featured Article, discover how Japan, along with it's strategic alliance with the U.S., is reshaping global shipbuilding and what it means for the future. Furthermore, find how Sapporo, Japan finds delight in the winter season in their annual Yuki Matsuri (snow festival). November 2025 Volume 12 Issue 6 | Feature: Yuta Arai | Cultural Article: Tomomi Dodd Read our Feature introducing a world-leading Coast Guard graduate course and have an intimate look at a Shinto-style wedding in our Cultural Article. VIEW ALL OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Rulemaking Activities for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Japan Rulemaking Activities for Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) in Japan By Shinichiro Tsuri 1. Background As mentioned in my previous article , Advanced Air Mobility or AAM is the next-generation of air mobility that is expected to operate in the near future, and in Japan, the Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) was published in March 2023. In parallel, under the activities of Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility, the direction of rulemaking was discussed at each working group (Airworthiness WG, Personnel Licensing WG, and Flight Operations WG etc.), and the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), within the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), established and amended related rules from November 2023 to March 2024, in order to realize AAM operation at the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. In this article, I will introduce the major examples of these rulemaking activities for AAM in Japan. 2. Examples of Recent Rulemaking for AAM in Japan General Definition In order to cover emerging technologies such as VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) capability and electrification, the following amendments regarding aircraft and engine classification were made in Ordinance for Enforcement of the Civil Aeronautics Act (CAR: Civil Aeronautics Regulations). “VTOL airplane”, which means an airplane with the vertical takeoff and landing function such as vectored thrust or lift & cruise type AAM, was specified under “airplane.” “Multi-rotor”, which means rotorcraft with more than two rotors, was specified under “rotorcraft.” An electric engine (in CAR, the term “electric engine” is not used but it is described as “VTOL airplanes powered by electricity” etc.) was specified under “engine.” Amendments on Aircraft Classification (Reprinted and translated from Overview of Rulemaking Activities for AAM ) Amendments on Engine Classification (Reprinted and translated from Overview of Rulemaking Activities for AAM ) Aircraft Certification Design features such as VTOL, electrification, and pilotless operation are not assumed in the existing airworthiness standards (Airworthiness Inspection Manual Part II, which provides performance-based requirements for normal category airplanes, equivalent to 14 CFR Part 23 in the US). Therefore, Special Conditions for eVTOL (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) aircraft were established in JCAB Circular No.1-031 in order to standardize type certification processes. For example, the following special conditions for energy storage and distribution systems are prescribed in § eVTOL 23.2430. (b) In an energy storage and distribution system, the following functions shall be provided: (1) The battery cell balancing function; (2) The function to estimate the battery’s state of charge; (3) The function to estimate the battery’s state of degradation; and (4) The BIT function for the entire battery system including the control section. Flight Standards Aircraft operating under certain conditions (e.g. multi-engine rotorcraft flying over water at a distance from land corresponding to 10 minutes or more at normal cruise speed etc.) are required to be equipped with life jackets or equivalent devices by CAR. As for AAM, since the flight time is generally short and the time to find a suitable location for an emergency landing is limited, CAR was amended so that VTOL airplanes and multi-rotors powered by electricity flying over water for 3 minutes or more are required to be equipped with life jackets or equivalent devices. Air Carrier Circulars for air carriers were updated to cover the features of AAM. For example, while minimum 25 hours familiarization flight training with the intended model of aircraft is required for captains in air carriers conducting scheduled operation, the handling quality of AAM is still unknown and the volume of training required for captains may vary significantly across AAM models. Therefore, a circular was amended so that the volume of required training on VTOL airplanes and multi-rotors powered by electricity shall be determined in accordance with the characteristics of the model. Licensing The requirements of airmen certification also need updates to deal with AAM. For example, aircraft (line) maintenance technicians for AAM need knowledge about engines beyond traditional turbine and piston engines. To examine this capability, a subject regarding the engines of VTOL airplanes and multi-rotors was added on knowledge tests for the licenses of maintenance technicians in CAR. Takeoff and Landing Site Regarding the takeoff and landing site for AAM, which is called “vertiport”, a tentative guideline for vertiport design was issued. In the guideline, basic policies including technical criteria for vertiport facilities such as FATO, TLOF, and Safety Area, are provided. These criteria are basically harmonized with the prototype technical specifications of European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Example of Vertiport Facilities Layout (Image Source: Vertiport Design Guidelines ) 3. Future Prospects Rulemaking activities for AAM are ongoing also in other countries such as the US and Europe, and the development of international Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for AAM at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has started. Rules for AAM in Japan will be continuously evolving along with such international trends, technological advances, and possibly lessons learned from the AAM operation at the Expo in the near future. References Shinichiro Tsuri, Concept of Operations for Advanced Air Mobility (ConOps for AAM) in Japan https://www.jittiusa.org/jitti-journal-2/november-2023 Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Public-Private Committee for Advanced Air Mobility https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/koku_tk2_000007.html Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Vertiport Design Guidelines https://www.mlit.go.jp/koku/content/VPDesignGuidelines_en.pdf Back to All JITTI Journals July 2024 Feature Article

JITTI Journal January 2026 Back to All JITTI Journals January 2026 Feature Article Japan’s Initiatives on Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industry By Yosuke Yamashita 1. Introduction Shipbuilding has been positioned as one of the key policy priorities in both Japan and the United States. In the United States, President Trump announced in his State of the Union address the establishment of a shipbuilding office within the White House and, in April 2025, signed an executive order entitled “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance,” directing administrative agencies to formulate a Maritime Action Plan and setting forth a policy direction aimed at revitalizing the maritime industry. In addition, as a measure under Section 301 of the Trade Act, the United States began imposing port entry fees on Chinese-built vessels in order to mitigate China’s dominance in the maritime industry, later announcing a one-year extension of the measure. Furthermore, the United States has promoted foreign investment in domestic shipyards, and in tariff negotiations with Japan and South Korea, shipbuilding has been positioned as one of the priority sectors for investment into the United States by both countries. Japan has long pursued policies to strengthen the competitiveness of its shipbuilding industry. However, in light of these recent U.S. initiatives, Japan is now seeking to fundamentally reinforce its domestic production base. This article outlines the current state of Japan’s shipbuilding industry and examines recent developments in Japan’s shipbuilding policies. 2. Current State of Japan’s Shipbuilding Industry As a maritime nation surrounded by the sea, Japan relies on maritime transport for nearly all of its trade. Consequently, the maritime industry—including shipping and shipbuilding—is of critical importance to Japan’s economic security. From the 1970s through the 1990s, Japan was the world’s leading shipbuilding nation in terms of vessel construction volume. However, amid intense competition with China and South Korea in a single global market, several Japanese shipbuilders have downsized or withdrawn from commercial shipbuilding since the 2010s. As a result, both Japan’s construction volume and global market share have gradually declined. At present, Japan’s share of annual shipbuilding orders stands at around 8 percent, significantly trailing China. Moreover, the Japanese shipbuilding industry does not have sufficient capacity to meet domestic shipowners’ demand, creating the risk that Japan may be compelled to depend on other countries for vessel construction. （Source：MLIT） （Source：MLIT） The Japanese government has supported efforts to strengthen the business foundations of shipbuilding companies and, based on the Economic Security Promotion Act enacted in 2022, has worked to reinforce supply chains for ship components. Nevertheless, compared with other strategically important goods such as semiconductors and critical minerals, the importance of domestic shipbuilding capacity itself has not been widely recognized, even within Japan. Against this backdrop, and in light of efforts to revitalize the maritime industry in the United States and their underlying drivers, the continued decline in Japan’s shipbuilding capacity has come to be viewed as a threat to Japan’s economic security. 3. Japan’s Initiatives Toward Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industry In response to the issues outlined above, in June 2025 members of the Liberal Democratic Party submitted a policy proposal to Prime Minister Ishiba calling for the establishment of a fund on the scale of ¥1 trillion to strengthen the shipbuilding industry. Subsequently, in October 2025, Yukito Higaki, President of the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Association, stated at an LDP meeting that the industry was prepared to invest approximately ¥350 billion to double current construction volumes. In light of these developments, the Japanese government decided to establish a fund to strengthen the shipbuilding industry, allocating ¥120 billion in the FY2025 supplementary budget enacted in December 2025 as funding for three years of support from 2026 to 2028. This represents an unprecedented scale of government support, considering that the total budget allocated for strengthening ship component supply chains under the Economic Security Promotion Act amounts to ¥9 billion. Furthermore, the government released the Shipbuilding Industry Revitalization Roadmap at the end of 2025, setting a target of doubling domestic shipbuilding volume to 18 million gross tons by 2035 compared with 2024 levels, thereby establishing domestic capacity sufficient to meet Japanese shipowners’ demand. To achieve this goal, the government announced a policy to support capital investment by the domestic shipbuilding industry through a ¥350 billion fund implemented in three stages. (Source: Author based on MLIT) Specifically, the initial ¥120 billion allocated in the FY2025 supplementary budget will support automation and labor-saving measures—such as the introduction of welding robots—between 2026 and 2028. From 2029 to 2031, the plan calls for the construction and expansion of facilities such as docks, followed by support around 2032–2034 for the operation of expanded docks and long-lead-time equipment, including large-scale cranes. Including support for advanced technology development, the government has outlined a plan for combined public and private investment totaling approximately ¥720 billion. In addition, the roadmap positions decarbonization in the maritime sector as a game-changing opportunity in the shipbuilding market. Japan aims to lead discussions at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the formulation of international rules, while advancing the development, demonstration, and construction frameworks for zero-emission vessels. Public and private investment of approximately ¥280 billion is expected for decarbonization-related initiatives. (Source: Author based on MLIT) Taken together, Japan aims to realize investment on the scale of ¥1 trillion by 2035, combining approximately ¥730 billion for strengthening shipbuilding capacity and ¥280 billion for decarbonization-related investments. 4. International Cooperation in the Shipbuilding Sector Shipbuilding has been positioned as one of the investment areas within the $550 billion in investments from Japan agreed upon in the U.S.–Japan tariff negotiations. In October 2025, Japan and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on shipbuilding cooperation, establishing a working group and identifying areas of cooperation, including the expansion of shipbuilding capacity in both countries and the promotion of investment in the U.S. maritime industrial base. Notably, the memorandum refers not only to the expansion of shipbuilding capacity within the United States and investment in the U.S. maritime industry, but also to the expansion of shipbuilding capacity within Japan. This can be understood as reflecting the current state of Japan’s shipbuilding industry described above, and the initiatives toward revitalizing Japan’s shipbuilding industry discussed in Section 3 are consistent with this memorandum. In addition, the roadmap calls for advancing cooperation not only under the U.S.–Japan memorandum but also with allied countries and nations in the Global South. This includes securing and developing overseas repair bases and promoting the circulation of foreign human resources—including highly skilled engineers—both within and outside Japan. 5. Conclusion Japan remains the world’s third-largest shipbuilding nation, following China and South Korea. However, as discussed in this article, unlike China and South Korea, Japan’s shipbuilding capacity has been declining, creating the risk that Japan may be compelled to rely on other countries for vessel construction—a challenge that Japan shares in common with the United States. Even in an increasingly digitalized world, essential goods such as food and energy cannot reach consumers without physical means of transportation. As the international environment grows more complex, the importance of autonomously securing such transportation capabilities continues to increase. Going forward, close attention should be paid to Japan’s domestic initiatives to strengthen its maritime industrial base, as well as to ongoing U.S.–Japan cooperation in this field. References Policy Proposal to Revitalize Japanese Shipbuilding from the Liberal Democratic Party https://storage2.jimin.jp/pdf/news/policy/210931_2.pdf The Shipbuilding Industry Revitalization Roadmap https://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/content/001975739.pdf Basic Information and Relevant Policies on Shipbuilding https://www.mlit.go.jp/maritime/content/001975729.pdf MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION Regarding Shipbuilding Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the United States of America https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/content/001966582.pdf

Japan’s Rail Tickets and Payment System: The Latest Developments Japan’s Rail Tickets and Payment System: The Latest Developments by Naoki Sato Buying a ticket (fare media) and entering through the fare gates is, quite literally, the entry point to the rail experience. In Japan, this entry point has been changing in recent years. This article provides an overview of the latest developments. A Brief Overview of How Japan’s Fare Media Has Evolved Since automatic ticket gates were introduced in the late 1960s, Japan’s fare media has evolved from paper tickets and prepaid stored-value magnetic cards to contactless transit smart cards. In Japan, these contactless transit smart cards are commonly referred to as “transportation IC cards,” such as Suica and PASMO. Alongside the evolution of fare media, coverage expanded through interoperability across different operators. Put simply, paper tickets originally had to be purchased separately for each operator. As prepaid stored-value magnetic cards became widespread and region-by-region interoperability frameworks were developed, passengers could ride across multiple operators and lines within a region. Later, transportation IC cards initially followed a similar “regional interoperability” model, but nationwide interoperability began in 2013. Today, with a single transportation IC card, passengers can generally use rail and other public transport across Japan (with some exceptions in certain areas or services). Paper tickets (Image Source: Tokyo Metro | Regular Tickets ) Prepaid magnetic stored-value cards (Image Source: https://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2014/626.html ) 　　 Contactless transportation IC cards (Image Source: https://www.jreast.co.jp/suica/ic/howtoget/ , Tokyo Metro | PASMO (IC Card) ) Latest Developments: Expansion of “Tap-to-Pay” with Credit Cards and Similar Methods Thanks to this evolution, Japan is already highly convenient from a domestic perspective: if you carry a transportation IC card, you can generally use rail and other public transport anywhere in the country. At the same time, to provide a comfortable and seamless travel experience for diverse passengers—including international visitors and those who do not use public transport frequently—railways are also developing an environment in which passengers can ride simply by using one familiar payment method, such as a credit card. In the Kanto region (Greater Tokyo Area), 11 railway operators announced that they will launch interoperability for “Tap-to-Pay” boarding using credit cards and similar payment methods starting on March 25, 2026. The key points are as follows: (1) Start date: From the first train on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (2) Coverage: 11 operators, 54 lines, 729 stations (*Note: For some operators, not all lines and stations are included.) (3) How to use: Tap a contactless credit/debit card (or mobile wallet) on the reader at the fare gates when entering and exiting; you can pass through without purchasing a separate ticket. (4) Fare: Adult fare only (discounted fares such as child fares are generally not available). Important Notes (Especially When Traveling Outside the Eligible Coverage) One particularly important point is that if you enter using Tap-to-Pay, you generally cannot ride beyond the eligible coverage (i.e., outside the 11-operator / 54-line framework). In other words, both your origin and destination stations need to be Tap-to-Pay eligible. If you accidentally exit at a non-eligible station or travel onto a non-eligible line, you may need to settle two separate fare obligations to resolve the discrepancy. This firstly entails paying for the non-eligible segment of your journey at the exit station. Furthermore, the initial Tap-to-Pay entry record (outstanding balance for travel along the route with Tap-to-Pay coverage) must be cleared by visiting the operator’s service counter in-person at your entry station or along the route with eligible coverage. What’s more, you may be asked to make either payment in cash or by other methods (i.e., not by credit card). For these reasons, it is important to confirm in advance that your destination station is eligible. As you may have noticed from the discussion above, when using Tap-to-Pay it is important to confirm in advance that your exit station is included in the eligible area. A related point is airport access. Under the “Tap-to-Pay interoperability” framework covered in this article, not all airport access operators are included. For example, JR East and Keisei Railway are not part of this framework. Therefore, as of this writing, access to Narita Airport is generally outside the eligible area, and for Haneda Airport, certain routes may be outside the eligible area as well. Passengers should confirm eligibility for their intended route and stations in advance. One reason these constraints arise is that, in Japan’s major urban areas, multiple operators run through-services (interlining), and cross-operator travel is an everyday occurrence. Rolling out a new method such as Tap-to-Pay at a larger scale requires substantial coordination and preparation among operators, such as aligning how fares are calculated and settled (fare clearing) and the associated rules, as well as system changes and station equipment upgrades. The press release announcing the launch of interoperability for Tap-to-Pay boarding also included the following statement: “ We will continue to position transportation IC cards—already used by many customers—as the primary payment method, while responding flexibly to changing customer and societal needs…” In other words, this is not a policy of fully switching to Tap-to-Pay. Rather, transportation IC cards remain the mainstay, while Tap-to-Pay and other methods are being introduced as additional options that provide added value. Conclusion As described above, transportation IC cards in Japan have established a strong foundation. With one IC card, passengers can generally use rail and other public transport across Japan. In addition, mobile-app versions are also available, making it possible to use a smartphone without carrying a physical card. Beyond rail and bus, these cards function as e-money and can be used widely in daily life—at restaurants, convenience stores, vending machines, parking facilities, coin lockers, and more. Building on this strong base, initiatives such as interoperability for Tap-to-Pay boarding across operators are expanding, aimed at delivering a comfortable and seamless travel experience for a diverse range of users, including international visitors and infrequent riders. While some aspects may still be confusing today, Japan’s public transport systems are expected to keep evolving as operators incorporate operational experience and user feedback into ongoing improvements. References: Joint press release by the 11 operators (Launch of interoperability for Tap-to-Pay boarding using contactless credit cards and similar methods) https://www.tokyometro.jp/news/images_h/metroNews260128_g03.pdf Suica service area / coverage https://www.jreast.co.jp/suica/area/ PASMO service area / coverage (for visitors) https://www.pasmo.co.jp/visitors/en/ Tokyo Metro (Types of tickets) https://www.tokyometro.jp/en/ticket/index.html Back to All JITTI Journals March 2026 Feature Article

JITTI Journal Cultural Article January 2022 Back to All JITTI Journals January 2022 Cultural Article Nengajou: Japanese New Year’s Cards by Suzannah Nevas Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu . This seasonal greeting is one of several ways to say Happy New Year in Japanese. It is also commonly written on nengajou, Japanese New Year’s cards! Nengajou , like most things Japanese, are a cultural tradition imbued with aesthetic beauty and social etiquette. Billions of these New Year’s postcards get delivered every year on January 1st, filling recipients with renewed connection and gratitude for the many important people in their lives. The exchanging of New Year’s greeting cards originated with nenshi-mawari , the custom of spending the first few days of the New Year paying visits to friends, family and neighbors, expressing appreciation for kindness and help received the previous year, and setting the groundwork for another year of harmonious relationship. As the distance to travel for such visits became too great, missives were sent instead. During the Meiji Restoration period, the nengajou notes were replaced with more economical postcards. Nengajou were originally exchanged in Japan during the Lunar New Year. However, in 1873, they changed the tradition to align with the Gregorian calendar and now cards are promptly delivered every January 1st. Some traces of the original tradition remain though, for example, many images on the nengajou of today feature the zodiac animal corresponding to the lunar calendar. Example of 2022 card, year of the Tiger Other common motifs include kadomatsu (pine and bamboo arrangements), plum blossoms and the maneki neko (lucky cat). Lately, there is a similar trend that we see in the West to use family portraits for the image. Japanese calligraphy is also prominent. [Click here for JITTI USA's 2021 article on calligraphy]. There are often many nengajou design contests for kids and adults alike. Starting in December, you will see stands of different nengajou designs in places like stationary stores and post offices across Japan. You can purchase premade cards or create your own, and even if you buy their blank ones, the domestic postage is already included in the cost! If you are designing or embellishing your own, keep in mind that nengajou are postcards and aren’t sent in the protection of an envelope. Make sure they are flat and have durable, non-smearing ink. The text for your cards can be fairly formulaic: Open with one of the set phrases of New Year’s greetings, Make a note of appreciation for their kindness in the last year, Conclude with a courteous request for their continued support in the year ahead. The exact language of these components can vary with the formality or closeness of the person to whom you are writing. For cards sent to non-professional acquaintances, many take the opportunity to include life updates on different family members with their message. So who gets a nengajou ? Broadly speaking, anyone who has shown you kindness or cooperation in the last year, such as friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Practically speaking- you should send one to anyone who sent you one! For this reason, it’s always a good idea to have a few extra on hand in case you missed somebody. But be advised that social etiquette dictates that nengajou should not be sent to anyone who lost a loved one in the previous year, out of respect for their mourning. The Japanese Post Office plays a crucial role in the smooth operations of the nengajou custom. Starting in the middle of December, post office drop boxes will have a special slot marked for nengajou . Part of the magic of nengajou is that the post office will deliver all your cards together on January 1st. That’s right- they collect and hold all incoming nengajou for each household and then bundle them together and deliver them all at once on the first. For this reason, it’s important to mark the cards with “ nenga ” so the post office knows to set it aside. It’s also prudent to mail the cards before December 25th to make sure they arrive on time. Japanese Postal Service Drop Box  The Japan Post even made a lottery out of the custom. Starting in 1949, otoshidama-tsuki yuubin hagaki (New Year’s Lottery Postcards) have come with a six digit lottery number in the bottom right-hand corner. Around the 15th of January, the hundreds of winning numbers are announced, with prizes like vacation getaways, large electronics, and even cash. Lottery numbers at the bottom of nengajou from 2010 (Japanese Postcards by Danny Choo)  If you receive a nengajou from someone you didn’t send one to, you have until the results of the Otoshidama kuji (New Year's lottery) are announced to reciprocate. Next year, why not try out this tradition for yourself? References: https://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/events/nengajouu-about.html https://www.japanese-wiki-corpus.org/culture/Nengajo%20(New%20Years%20card).html Image Source: Japanese Postcards by Danny Choo , licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Foreign Cruise Passengers in Japan < Back

Toward the Spread and Expansion of Sports Culture Tourism < Back

Initiatives to Relieve Congestion in Japan's Rail Industry Initiatives to Relieve Congestion in Japan's Rail Industry by Akito Okabe Introduction  While railroads play an important role as a mode of transportation in Japan, urban rail congestion has long been a serious social problem. It may be surprising to learn that the average congestion rate for major Tokyo-area railroad sections in FY 2019 was 163%, with the most congested section reaching 199% 1) . The congestion rate is an index of congestion calculated by dividing the number of people transported by the transportation capacity 2) . As a guide of congestion rate Image Source: Association of Japanese Private Railways Although congestion rates have recently declined temporarily due to the pandemic, it continues to be an important issue against a backdrop of increased hygiene awareness and new ways of working through teleworking. For a long time, Japan has been trying to relieve congestion rates by shortening operating intervals, adding more tracks, and other large-scale construction projects. In recent years, Japan has also been focusing on new initiatives such as a "Train crowd measurement system" that utilizes digital technology. This article introduces some of the advanced efforts in the Japanese railroad to relieve congestion. Train Crowd Measurement System In the Tokyo area, the provision of congestion information on official apps and websites of railroad operators has been in full swing since around 2015. This article introduces Tokyo Metro's real-time ‘train crowd measurement system’ for each train car. Tokyo Metro has been distributing real-time congestion information for each train car on the 'Tokyo Metro my!' app since July 2021. According to Tokyo Metro, by distributing real-time congestion information for each train car, the system enables "safe and comfortable use" tailored to individual customers' needs, such as "which train car is relatively empty?" and "which station will be least crowded to board a train?" In addition, this service has been used by many customers, reaching approximately 50,000 times in the month and a half since its distribution began in July. It is very difficult to calculate congestion in real time, but by utilizing the ‘train crowd measurement system’ that uses a 'depth camera' to acquire depth information on in-train congestion, it is now possible to distribute real-time congestion and congestion forecast information regardless of car type, according to the company. The above figure is reprinted and translated from the Tokyo Metro Co.,Ltd. website. Off-Peak Point Service A service that rewards customers with points as an incentive for off-peak commuting is another initiative that Japanese railroad operators are focusing on to relieve congestion. JR East, Japan's largest railroad company, has launched a point service on weekday mornings as an initiative to support staggered commuting by SUICA 3) commuter pass holders. If you enter a station in the target area during a time period eligible for point redemption and then exit at a station in the target area, points are redeemed. Image Source: JR East An illustration of this is shown in the image above. For example, if the peak period is from 7:00 to 7:30 a.m., passengers can earn 15 reward points if they ride from 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. during the "early bird period" before the peak period. If they ride between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. after the peak period, they will earn 20 reward points. The rewards can be recharged to IC cards and used as train tickets, or used for shopping at JR-operated commercial facilities. Currently, the program is being offered for a limited time from March 15, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Conclusion As in Japan, people in the U.S. are becoming more hygiene-conscious, and providing information on train congestion is a topic of great interest. In addition, since staggering morning and evening peak hours can also help railroad companies reduce the number of train cars and staffing required during peak hours, contributing to cost savings, we believe that efforts to promote off-peak use can be a useful reference for the U.S. railroad industry. Currently, the Japanese and U.S. railroad industries are facing a difficult situation due to the pandemic, but it is important to promote new approaches flexibly in accordance with changes in people's needs. References: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism website https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/tetsudo04_hh_000095.html Japan Private Railway Association website https://www.mintetsu.or.jp/knowledge/term/16370.html JR East's IC card can be used for trains, buses, shopping, etc. Image Sources: Association of Japanese Private Railways Tokyo Metro Co.,Ltd. JR East Back to All JITTI Journals March 2022 Feature Article

JITTI Journal Cultural Article January 2024 Back to All JITTI Journals January 2024 Cultural Article An Introduction of Japanese BBQ By Mamiko Kim Introduction Is there something not so American about BBQ? From hamburgers and hot dogs on the 4th of July to all-day smoked brisket and whole hog affairs, barbecuing has an earned spot in American cuisine. 7 out of 10 Americans own a grill or roaster, and 79% of them say that they grill at least once a week. Based on these statistics, it seems we must have some BBQ lovers among our readership! Of course, BBQ is not unique to the United States! Every culture has their own delicious iteration of grilling, utilizing fire and smoke. If you’re like me, you want to taste them all, and perhaps you’re looking for what to try next. Please allow me to recommend Japanese BBQ as a place to start on your BBQ-tasting journey. What is Japanese BBQ? There are actually many types of BBQing in Japan, differentiated by the method of cooking and what is usually prepared. For example, Irori is a traditional sunken, stone-lined hearth that once was in many homes, and was used to cook and grill a communal meal of local ingredients. Most houses no longer have them, and you would need to go to a specialized restaurant to have this style of BBQ, typically shelling out a bit more money as a luxury experience. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGR2qXTPmJc Chef Masahi Yamada's Irori BBQ restaurant specailizes in wild ingredients harvested and hunted in the nearby mountains ( Eater ) Robatayaki refers specifically to traditional charcoal grilling, and comes from the culture of ancient Hokkaido fishermen who would place a fire-resistant stone or wood box heated with binchotan coals on their oars, beginning to grill their catch out on the water so that they’d have perfectly cooked fish as soon as they returned to shore. Today, some traditional Robota restaurants continue to serve grilled robatayaki fish on oars. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Y7juQWGRI A Robotayaki restaurant in New York City ( First We Feast ) There is also Kushiyaki, or meat on bamboo skewers grilled over charcoal. This option is much more economical, and it will be guaranteed to be on the menu at your local izakaya bar, which often serves small dishes that pair well with sake and beer. Of kushiyaki, yakitori (grilled chicken) is the most popular and can be found commonly at street stalls and at family BBQ gatherings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cLaap3isbk Izakaya Iseya serves cheap yakitori in a historic location ( Eat Your Kimchi Studio ) However, Yakiniku is debatably what first comes to mind for Japanese people when they think of eating out for BBQ. During the 1920s, while meat was rationed in Japan, Korean immigrants began selling grilled meat entrails on the black market, which then followed by the opening of eateries. By the 1960s, Japan had recovered economically, more people could afford to eat meat, and restaurants styled after these early establishments began popping up all over Japan. In this way, yakiniku is an immigrant success story that locals have adapted to fit their own tastes. 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JR6FyQfwynI From 2:35 into the video, Mark Weins'eats kobe beef at a Yakiniku restaurant ( Mark Weins ) How is Japanese Yakiniku different from Korean BBQ? When you enter a Yakiniku or Korean BBQ restaurant, at first, these two establishments may seem similar. However, there are a few key differences between the two that make them unique from one another, the biggest of these being the intention behind the food. If there were one word to describe the Japanese BBQ flavor aesthetic, it would be “clean.” Care is given to the quality of the ingredients being prepared, and beef (particularly prized wagyu) is the feature on many menus. Meats are mostly left unmarinated, with much of the richness in flavor coming from having a high quality product. Unlike Korean BBQ, which provides sides of pickled and other prepared vegetables, called banchan, Japanese BBQ more commonly will provide vegetables for roasting along with the meat. This better matches the flavor profile, and keeps the palate unmuddled. Dipping sauces are provided at the table, typically a sweet soy sauce based one, a citrus flavored one, and something spicy, but each establishment might have their own unique offering. These serve to compliment the flavor of the meat and vegetables, and it’s also fun to see how each sauce pairs with whatever you’re eating. Overall, appreciating each ingredient is meant to be the intended experience. Korean BBQ, delicious in its own right, prizes bold flavors. This can be tasted in both the vegetable sides, as mentioned above, but also in the meats served. Pork, is often the more common meat of choice in Korean BBQ, and cuts of meat are marinated in various sauces, which can be as simple as jumulleok (short steak marinated with sesame oil, salt and pepper) or use more ingredients like bulgogi (meat marinated in sugar, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, pepper, garlic and scallions), so each bite is a flavor bomb. However, the quality of meat is less important than in Yakiniku. Gopchang, or grilled entrails of cows or pigs, are a commonly offered menu item. Ultimately, robust flavor is the purpose of eating Korean BBQ. Another big difference between the two is how it is served. At Yakiniku establishments, the guest is the one grilling ingredients, while at Korean BBQ restaurants, attendants walk around from table-to-table to turn over and serve the meat. The only explanation I’ve found for this difference is that Japanese like to have the option to grill the meat to their liking. This is fitting to the intention mentioned earlier, with the flavor of each ingredient being such an integral part of enjoying the meal. 3 A map of Gyukaku restaurant locations worldwide Is there a Japanese BBQ restaurant in the D.C. area? I asked my Japanese colleague this question, and he named Gyukaku as a place he’d recommend as an authentic experience in the greater D.C. area. So, during the recent snow storm, I packed up my family and drove to Arlington to check it out (purely for this article, of course , and not because I was craving yakiniku). We were greeted at the door with a hearty “Irashaimase” (Welcome) and led to our table which had an inlaid grill. You are able to choose items ala carte or from a course menu, which we settled on. Platters of various meat and vegetables arrived timed with our eating speed, and the server was attentive in explaining recommended ways to grill each type of item. A bonus was that the staff were very friendly and kind to our fussy toddler, who needed to walk around the restaurant part-way through the meal. One thing I hadn’t considered till I was there was that my toddler could eat a lot more of the items being served than when we had been to Korean BBQ (which we had done recently for someone’s birthday). Because you are grilling and adding sauces to your liking, the meal is much more customizable, which meant that we could be careful in how we served her items, while also being able to enjoy the spicy Sriracha-based sauce ourselves. She could also eat all of the vegetables for this reason as well. It felt very much like a complete meal. Overall, parents and child left feeling very full and satisfied! Conclusion I hope you give Japanese BBQ a try. It’s a great start to a BBQ-tasting experience with its focus on the flavor of each meat itself, and its versatility caters to a wide-range of palates and preferences. It’d be a great meal to eat with friends or family, whether out or at home. I have no doubt that it will be a new favorite meal for you and your loved ones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxMS4onvzcM One family's yakiniku meal at home. References: https://www.bbqanswers.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-japanese-barbecue/#What_Is_Robatayaki https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/the-fascinating-story-behind-the-rise-of-ramen-and-yakiniku/mk0rwm964 https://www.ibbq.com/blogs/news/the-difference-between-korean-bbq-and-japanese-bbq

Capacity Building Support by the Japan Coast Guard to Developing Countries Mobile Cooperation Team < Back

JITTI Journal March 2019 Back to All JITTI Journals March 2019 Feature Article Tokyo is Waiting for You by Daisuke Miyamoto 1. INTRODUCTION Japanese people are pleased that a lot of foreign people have been visiting Japan recently. The number of visitors from overseas has been increasing year by year, and was numbered at about 31 million in 2018. Furthermore, the Japanese government is promoting a variety of policies to achieve targets of 40 million visitors in 2020 and 60 million in 2030. Japan has been working on developing infrastructure and services in order to accommodate for the influx of foreign visitors, and to alleviate the stress of traveling around Japan. In this report, I will narrow the scope of these accommodations to those made in Tokyo, which is one of biggest cities in the world, and in particular will introduce some practices of Tokyo Metro, which is one of the biggest subway operators in the world. 2. TRAIN STATION NAVIGATORS Tokyo Metro has arranged for station navigators, called service managers, to assist you with finding fares, buying tickets, instructing you on the best routes to get to your destination, and informing you of the facilities around the station. They will also do their best to answer any other inquiries you may have, and can even communicate in English, Chinese, and Korean with the help of a tablet. Service managers can be found at 16 major stations like Ueno Station, Akihabara Station and Ginza Station. In stations without station managers, other station staff will be able to help assist you with help of a tablet as well. What’s more, there are interpreters who can speak English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Portuguese over the phone. A Service Manager is Responding to a Visitor’s Inquiry 3. TICKETS TO RIDE Tokyo Metro offers various discount tickets to suit your style of travel. I’ll introduce three kinds of tickets. Tokyo Subway Ticket: The three kinds of Tokyo Subway tickets are the 24-hour ticket, the 48-hour ticket, and the 72-hour ticket. These tickets are valid with an unlimited use on any Tokyo Metro line and Toei Subway within the hours you select. These tickets are suitable for those people who would like to travel around Tokyo. Greater Tokyo Pass: It might surprise you, but there are a lot of private train operators in Japan, and of course in Tokyo too. It means that you might sometimes need to buy tickets at each transfer point along your route to get to your destination. However, you don’t need to worry about it. This Greater Tokyo Pass gives you unlimited usage on 12 kinds of train operators and 51 kinds of bus systems in the Kanto-area for 3 days. There are lots of suburban destinations around Tokyo such as Takao-mountain and Enoshima. This ticket is suitable for those people who would like to go around suburban area of Tokyo. Airport-Downtown Tokyo Routes and Ticket: The biggest international airport, Narita Airport, is about 35 miles in distance from the Tokyo downtown area, but that is not a problem. There are many convenient ways like the Keisei Skyliner to get to downtown Tokyo. The Airport-Downtown Tokyo Routes and Ticket is a joint pass with both the Keisei Skyliner airport transport ticket and the Tokyo Subway Ticket. You can get to your destination in Tokyo, travel around the city, and go to and from Narita Airport with a single payment. Some of the tickets 4. TOKYO IS WAITING FOR YOU!!  Tokyo has not only attractive places to visit, but also has efficient infrastructure and attentive services that allow you to get around easily. Why don’t you visit Tokyo?