The Adverse Influence of the Coronavirus on the Shipping Sector < Back

JITI 2010 Transportation Seminar Economic Revitalization through the Transportation Industry Exploring New Business Opportunities and Job Creation within the Transportation Sector October 20, 2010 The Mayflower Renaissance Washington 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC Economic uncertainty still remains a heavy burden on the revitalization of the economy. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood repeatedly mentions that job creation in the transportation sector is one of the most important tasks, and that effective measures must be taken as soon as possible. The transportation industry covers a broad area. Not only does it cover transportation service itself, but also a variety of related businesses, including construction/maintenance of facilities, production of rolling-stocks/vehicles, and development of commercial facilities. Therefore, this sector has the potential to contribute to the revitalization of the economy in various ways. For example, in Japan, commercial developments inside/around the stations have achieved great success; the extension of the Washington Metro creates many jobs and offers new business opportunities; Japanese manufacturers are expanding their business in the U.S., which gives positive impacts on regional economy. In this seminar, we will study how the transportation industry is involved with economic revitalization by sharing information and experiences from both countries, as well as discuss future developments of the transportation industry. Opening Remarks Makoto Washizu President JITI USA Bio Keynote Speakers Kenichi Higo Director, Business Innovation Department, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. [Commercial Use of Underground Space] Bio Presentation Gary Malasky Senior Real Estate Advisor, Department of Planning & Joint Development, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority [New Developments of Metrorail] Bio Presentation Mitsuo Higashi Director, International Department, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) [Commercial Development around Stations and IC-card use at Commercial Facilities] Bio Presentation Hiroshi Sugiura Executive Director, Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company [Impacts of New Lines on Regional Economy (Tsukuba Express Case)] Bio Presentation Maurice Andriani Senior Manager, Aftermarket and Special Projects, Kawasaki Rail Car, Inc. [Job Creation by Manufacturers] Bio Panel Discussion Clifford Winston (Moderator) Senior Fellow, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution Bio

While the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) has been touted in Europe for the last few years, the Department of Transportation's Mobility on Demand (MOD) is gaining traction in the United States. Read more on trends of MOD as more user-friendly and comprehensive services are expected out of public transportation networks. < Back Surface Transportation A Report on Trends of Mobility on Demand in the United States (Part 1) By Daisuke Miyamoto While the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) has been touted in Europe for the last few years, the Department of Transportation's Mobility on Demand (MOD) is gaining traction in the United States. Read more on trends of MOD as more user-friendly and comprehensive services are expected out of public transportation networks. Download the Report

2024 Rail Symposium hosted by JITTI USA and APTA. Held on April 11, 2024 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Rail Symposium 2024 Value Creation for a Sustainable Society A JITTI and APTA Co-hosted Event: Thursday, April 11th 3:00- 6:00 PM (Followed by a Reception) A Free Hybrid Event: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 / Virtually hosted in English and Japanese An Official Participating Event of the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Timetable Directions to Venue Overview The business environment surrounding passenger rail has changed dramatically in both Japan and the U.S. since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. Currently, demand for passenger rail has not returned to pre-pandemic levels in view of a diversification of work styles, including more remote work. At the same time, we have witnessed significant milestones for the passenger rail industry in the past few years. The Biden administration in the U.S. has made a generational investment in rail and public transportation infrastructure under the IIJA (the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted in November 2021). In Japan, high-speed rail projects such as the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension scheduled for March 2024 and development projects around terminal stations such as Shibuya in Tokyo and Umeda in Osaka are progressing smoothly. As the world moves toward carbon neutrality, passenger rail is attracting attention as an environmentally friendly means of transportation. As natural disasters become more frequent, it is becoming increasingly important to strengthen urban resilience. This symposium aims to present and discuss how the value of passenger rail (high speed, intercity, commuter, heavy and light rail) is being articulated and measured in both Japan and the U.S., reaffirming the social and economic role that passenger rail plays by connecting cities and enhancing their attractiveness and resilience. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that this symposium covers: Opening Remarks Masafumi Shukuri Chairman, Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI) Chairman, Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI) Bio Paul Skoutelas President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association ( APTA) Bio Greetings by Guest of Honor (Video Message) Shigeo Yamada Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America Bio Keynote Speeches Jennifer Mitchell Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration Bio Masako Okano Deputy Director-General of the Railway Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT) Bio Presentation Panel Discussion #1 The Economic Value That Passenger Rail Brings by Connecting Cities Panelists Masaru Yosano Corporate Officer, Chief General Manager Consulting and Coordination Office – Overseas High Speed Railway Project, Technology Planning Department, General Technology Division, JR Central Bio Presentation Satoko Okumura Executive Director, East Japan Railway Company, Los Angeles Office Bio Presentation Andy Byford Senior Vice President, High Speed Rail Programs, Amtrak Bio Presentation Chad Edison Chief Deputy Secretary, Rail and Transit, California State Transportation Agency Bio Presentation Moderator Chris Brady Chair, APTA Committee on High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail; Principal Commonwealth Research Associates, LLC Bio Panel Discussion #2 Enhancing Urban Attractiveness and Resilience Panelists Masayoshi Uemura Senior Managing Director (Urban Transportation Business), Hankyu Corporation Bio Presentation Noriyoshi Yamagami Managing Executive Officer, Responsible for International Business Department, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. Bio Presentation Catherine Rinaldi President, MTA Metro-North Railroad Bio Presentation Holly Arnold Administrator, Maryland Transit Administration Bio Presentation Moderator Jennifer DeBruhl Director, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Bio

Our Aviation Analyst, Daisuke Takagi, chronicles the disagreement between airlines over US-China routes that was spurred on by new changes in Haneda Airport's slot allocation < Back Civil Aviation Dispute between U.S. Airlines concerning U.S.-China routes By Daisuke Takagi Our Aviation Analyst, Daisuke Takagi, chronicles the disagreement between airlines over US-China routes that was spurred on by new changes in Haneda Airport's slot allocation Download the Report

JITTI Journal Cultural Article May 2023 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2023 Cultural Article Japanese Wisteria By Suzannah Nevas While Japan is very famous for its iconic spring cherry blossoms, and even the preceding plum blossoms, a lesser known member of the Japanese floral pantheon is Wisteria. These majestic, fragrant, cascading flowers can come in yellow, white and pink varieties but are most widely seen in a pale purple hue. Wisteria is a flowering deciduous climber in the pea family, and is often seen trained over arbors, pergolas and various other support structures. There are species of wisteria endemic to many countries, but a fun fact is that Japanese wisteria climbs clockwise while American and Chinese wisteria both climb counter-clockwise. Wisteria, or fuji , in Japanese, is thought to be a symbol of good luck and longevity, and with good reason–these trees can live to be hundreds of years old. There’s even a fuji in Kyoto prefecture’s Fukuchiyama, estimated to be 1200 years old. Sainokami no Fuji in Kyoto ( 才ノ神の藤 is by sklfh464 ) Wisteria has a long and rich history in Japan: some of the first fabrics ever made in the country were created from wisteria bark fibers. Centuries later, this traditional fabric, fuji-fu , is still being woven by craft textile artisans in Japan today. Unfortunately, this traditional craft is becoming quite rare, and in modern society most people enjoy the plants themselves. Fuji-fu from bark to cloth (Photo Credit: Another Kyoto ) Wisteria parks in Japan can be enjoyed in nearly every season- their green foliage creates nice shade in the summer, and their dangling bean-pods (though not edible) are quite pretty in the fall. However, Wisteria really shines in the late spring when its grape-like bunches of flowers bloom into a canopy of color and perfume. Bloom times can vary from mid-April to mid-May, depending on location, but I associate these stunning blossoms with early May because I first encountered them among a backdrop of the fish kites ( koinobori ) flown for children’s day (May 5). A picture of the author viewing the wisteria flowers in Japan If I’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to see some wisteria in Japan, there are many places you can do so! Here is a list of the Top 8 places to see wisteria in Japan, compiled by the Japanese travel web magazine/media website, Kyuhoshi.com : Kawachi Fujien Wisteria Garden, Fukuoka Prefecture Ashikaga Flower Park, Tochigi Prefecture Mandaraji Temple, Aichi Prefecture Byakugou-ji Temple, Hyogo Prefecture Kameido Tenjin Shrine, Tokyo Tennogawa Park, Aichi Prefecture Shirai Omachi Fuji Park, Hyogo Prefecture Shindachijuku Wisteria Garden, Osaka Prefecture Arguably the most famous place to see Japanese wisteria is Ashikaga Flower Park in Tochigi Prefecture. The 94,000 square meters park has over 350 wisteria trees, including one ancient tree that is over 160 years old. Tourists flock to the park in May, and a special treat offered by the park is a night illumination. If you are visiting Japan during April or May, I highly recommend checking the flower forecast as you plan your trip: you don’t want to miss these flowers, and there might be a viewing location closer than you think! Sources: https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/japanese-culture/wisteria-in-japan/ https://alljapantours.com/japan/travel/where-to-go/japanese-flowers-wisteria/ https://www.gov-online.go.jp/pdf/hlj/20220401/hlj202204_20-21_A_Silky_Wisteria_Said_To_Be_Over_1200_Years_Old.pdf https://www.kyototourism.org/en/column/24462/ https://materialdistrict.com/material/fujifu-wisteria-fabric/ https://www.kyuhoshi.com/best-places-to-see-wisteria-in-japan/ https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/fujinohana_special2023/en/index.html

The UAS BVLOS Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee (BVLOS ARC) published a report in March 2022, which covered 70 recommendations. This report details the specific recommendations in the following areas: Operator Qualifications Recommendations, Third-Party Services Recommendations, Environmental Recommendation, General & Procedural Recommendations. < Back Civil Aviation UAS BVLOS Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee Report: Part 2 By Yoshihiro Fujimaki The UAS BVLOS Operations Aviation Rulemaking Committee (BVLOS ARC) published a report in March 2022, which covered 70 recommendations. This report details the specific recommendations in the following areas: Operator Qualifications Recommendations, Third-Party Services Recommendations, Environmental Recommendation, General & Procedural Recommendations. Download the Report

Commuter Rail Round Table Initiatives for the Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic and Strategies to Ensure the Resilience of Commuter Rail Companies in the U.S. and Japan A virtual event hosted by APTA and JTTRI, and organized with JITTI USA Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 Online Summary of the event The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on the management of railroad industries in both the U.S. and Japan, as it has led to an increase in teleworking, changes in shopping behavior, and a sharp decline in tourist traffic. Railroad companies in both countries are faced with decisions on how to respond to the drastic changes in user behavior and how to ensure the resilience of their business operations in the future, a topic of great interest among transportation professionals in both countries. APTA (American Public Transportation Association), JTTRI, and JITTI USA held a virtual round table on December 8th, 2021 to exchange their views and to discuss the above issues. At the event, senior executives of major U.S. commuter rail operators presented their latest strategies, including the need for a new interpretation of security and safety, flexible fare options to accommodate changing work patterns, and the need to improve the customer experience. From the Japan side, senior executives from leading railroad companies presented their latest initiatives, including measures to disperse passengers during peak hours in consideration of diversifying user lifestyles, measures to utilize space inside stations such as the development of shared offices, and measures to improve the cost structure. This meeting was held as a closed session between people in the industry and the governments of both countries. A total of 108 people participated. Opening Remarks Paul Skoutelas President and Chief Executive Officer, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Masafumi Shukuri Chairman of the Board, Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI USA) Chairman, Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI) Bio Bio Moderator & Presenter: General Overview of the U.S. Commuter Railway Matthew O. Tucker Executive Director, North County Transit District Presentation Presenters from the U.S. Jim Derwinski Chief Executive Officer, Metra Presentation Catherine Rinaldi President, Metro-North Railroad Presentation Michelle Bouchard Acting Executive Director, Caltrain Presentation Presenter: General Overview of Japan’s Commuter Railway Tetsuya Okuda President, Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI USA) Presentation Presenters from Japan Hitoshi Saimyo Senior Executive Officer, East Japan Railway Company Fumiaki Shiroishi Representative Director and Vice President,Tokyu Railways Akihiro Kosaka Senior Managing Director, Tokyo Metro Presentation Presentation Presentation

LaGuardia Airport PPP is set against the backdrop of the world’s largest city for business, New York City. It is no overstatement to say that this is one of the world’s foremost PPP projects in anticipation of the ever-increasing demand for air travel. < Back Civil Aviation New York’s LaGuardia Airport Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project By Tetsuhiro Hagiwara LaGuardia Airport PPP is set against the backdrop of the world’s largest city for business, New York City. It is no overstatement to say that this is one of the world’s foremost PPP projects in anticipation of the ever-increasing demand for air travel. Download the Report

Improving and Strengthening the Transport Safety Management System < Back

Japan's Resumption of Accepting Foreigners as a Sign of Recovery from the COVID Pandemic < Back

Itsukushima: Japan’s Cutting-Edge Maritime Training Vessel Shaping Future Coast Guard Officers < Back