Back to All JITTI Journals July 2021 Feature Article Activities of Chinese Government Ships around the Senkaku Islands and the Japan Coast Guard's Response by Yasuhiro Okamoto 1. Senkaku Islands Japan's territorial integrity after World War II was legally established in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which came into effect in 1952. Under the treaty, the Senkaku Islands were not included in the territories abandoned by Japan, but were placed under the administration of the United States as part of Japan's Nansei Islands. Later, in 1972, the Okinawa Reversion Agreement between Japan and the United States regarding the Ryukyu Islands and the Daito Islands included the Senkaku Islands in the area returned to Japan. These facts indicate that the Senkaku Islands are Japanese territory. The Senkaku Islands have been consistently treated as Japan's territory in the postwar order and international law system. A map of the Senkaku Islands (Cited from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 2. China's Movements over the Senkaku Islands On May 7, 2008, during their official visit to Japan, President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda signed a joint statement between the Government of Japan and the Government of China to comprehensively promote the “Mutually Beneficial Relationship based on Common Strategic Interests,” recognizing that Japan-China relations are one of the most important bilateral relations for both countries and that they have great influence and a solemn responsibility for the peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world. However, six months later, on December 8th of the same year, two Chinese government ships suddenly intruded Japan’s territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands for the first time, and despite repeated requests from the Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels to leave and protests through diplomatic channels, they wandered and drifted into Japanese territorial waters for about nine hours until the evening of that same day. China's new stance on the Senkaku Islands, in which Chinese government ships navigate with the clear intention of infringing on Japan's sovereignty and attempt to change the status quo by force, has become clear. The collision of Chinese fishing vessels (Image Source: Jiji Press Ltd.) After the collision of Chinese fishing vessels in Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands on September 7, 2010, Chinese government ships began to sail in the waters around the Senkaku Islands with greater frequency than before, and there were incidents of two vessels intruding into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in August 2011, one in March 2012, and four in July of the same year. In addition, on September 11, 2012, Japan transferred ownership of three of the Senkaku Islands from private citizens to the State under civil law, and on and after September 14, 2012, Chinese government ships began to enter the connected waters almost every day except for days with stormy weather. On December 22, 2015, it was confirmed for the first time that Chinese government ships, which were clearly equipped with a machine gun, entered the EEZ, and since December 26, there have also been incursions into territorial waters. China’s provocation have been escalating, as the chart below shows. The numbers of Chinese government and other vessels that have entered Japan's contiguous zone or intruded into the territorial sea surrounding the Senkaku Islands The numbers of Chinese government and other vessels that have entered Japan's contiguous zone or intruded into the territorial sea surrounding the Senkaku Islands (Cited from Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 3. Actions and Efforts of the Japan Coast Guard In 2016, the Japanese government decided on the "Policy on Strengthening the Coast Guard System," and based on this ruling, it has been making steady efforts to enhance and strengthen the ability of the Japan Coast Guard. The commandant of the Japan Coast Guard announced that in the budget for the fiscal year 2021 the government will continue to upgrade large patrol vessels and other equipment for guarding the Senkaku territorial waters. In addition, in order to secure and develop human resources, the Japan Coast Guard will expand their education and training facilities, including the construction of a large training ship for Japan Coast Guard trainees, and promote initiatives to maintain and strengthen maritime order, such as contributing to the capacity building activities in related countries. Lastly, the situation around the Senkaku Islands continues to be tense, with Chinese government ships attempting to interfere with Japanese fishing boats fishing in the area. Therefore, it will be important for the Japan Coast Guard to continue to respond appropriately and for the US and other like-minded countries to work together to deal with China against their attempts of changing the status quo by force. Image Sources: Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jiji Press Ltd.

Capacity Enhancement of Narita International Airport by Daisuke Takagi 1. INTRODUCTION According to the air transport demand forecast made by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), demand at metropolitan airports is expected to reach near the limit of currently planned capacity in the early 2020's. On this account, MLIT established the "Metropolitan Airports Capacity Enhancement Technology Subcommittee" consisting of academics and experts under the Basic Policy Subcommittee of Aerospace Caucus, Council of Transport Policy, which compiled possible technical options for further capacity enhancement of the metropolitan airports, and announced them in July 2014. Among the proposed options, construction of the 3rd runway, extension of Runway B, and relaxation of restrictions on night flights in Narita International Airport have been discussed for realization at a four-party council (MLIT, Chiba prefecture, 9 municipal governments around Narita Airport, and Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA),) since September 2015. At the four-part council meeting that was held in March 2018, we reached a final conclusion as to our proposal on further capacity enhancement. 2. NRT’S CURRENT SITUATION AND FUTURE VISION (1) Current situation At Narita Airport, Open Skies facilitated an increase in the number of destination cities as well as the participation of new airlines, and domestic flights also increased because domestic LCCs started to use Narita as their hub. With these developments, understanding and cooperation from the local residence made the increase of departure and arrival slot limits to 300,000 annually and introduced flexibility in late night flight restrictions and non-stopping of automobiles at the airport area gates. As a result, the volume of foreign visitors and domestic travelers has increased substantially, and Narita Airport is contributing towards the development for our nation to become tourism oriented. It is the air transport demand from Asia that will drive growth of the world airline market in the future. The competition for attracting air transport demand from Asia has already begun. Major Asian and Middle Eastern airports are presently growing rapidly by capturing the growth of the Asia market, including freight demand. In this situation, Narita Airport is no exception to being in severe competition with other major Asian airports. The major airports in the Asia region will carry out large scale capacity expansions between 2017 and 2019, which is anticipated to further intensify the competition for attracting flight routes among international airports in the years to come. (2) Future Vision The number of aircraft arrival/departure slots (domestic flights + international flights) at Greater Tokyo Capital Area Airports is expected to exceed the currently planned capacity in FY2022 in the strong and moderate growth projections, and in FY2027 in the low growth projection. (The number is expected to reach 780,000 to 940,000 in FY2032.) According to the demand projection made by the government and NAA, the number of aircraft arrival/departure slots at Narita Airport is expected to exceed 300,000 a year in the 2020's, and reach 500,000 a year from the early 2030's to the late 2040's. Furthermore, according to demand projection made by NAA, at the time the annual number of aircraft arrival/departure slots reaches 500,000, the annual number of passengers is expected to become 75 million, and the annual air cargo volume is expected to become 3 million tons. (Results in FY2015 are; 235,000 arrivals/departures, 38 million passengers, and 2 million tons of air cargo volume.) 3. NEW RUNWAY PLAN AND RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS ON NIGHT FLIGHTS (1) New runway plan For the reasons mentioned above, Narita Airport needs to secure the sufficient departure and arrival slots required to further the capacity enhancement measures for Greater Tokyo Capital Area airports. With regard to specific locations of Runway B and C, Runway B will be extended northward so that the missed approach area of Runway B will not overlap with Runway C. Also, we will make adjustments so that the layout plan conforms to the plans for construction of the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway (Ken-ou-do). It is necessary to expand the airport site by 1,000ha in order to make the 500,000 annual aircraft movement per year available. Considering the designated city planning area and the residential area in the surrounding area of the airport, the candidate area for an expanded airport site will be as follows; (2) Relaxation of restrictions on night flights In order to prepare to offer a flight schedule to suit the airline business demand in the future, Narita Airport has made a case study of the flight schedules that would need time slots during the late night and early morning. The data for this case study was based on the 500,000 annual traffic movements of aircraft as was discovered through hearings with airline companies. As a result, it was confirmed that making operating hours from 4:00 pm to 2:00 am is ideal to further enhance capacity at Narita Airport without falling behind in the competition with other airports. However, due to the nature of Narita Airport being an inland airport, we have received many opinions and demands from residents during explanatory meetings, and the Chiba prefectural governor and the liaison council of local governments in areas around Narita Airport have requested MLIT and NAA to review the proposal twice. Under such conditions, the four-party council meeting held in March 2018 reached a final agreement on a proposal that makes operating hours from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am, which ensures that quiet hours under the flight routes will be kept at 7 hours. Since the relaxation of restrictions on night flights will put a heavy strain on the local residents, NAA has proposed countermeasures against night and early morning flights, such as installation of internal windows in bedrooms and a limit imposed on equipment for flight operations during late-night and early-morning hours, in addition to taking conventional environmental action. 4. TOWARD THE FUTURE (1) Future schedule of further capacity enhancement Further capacity enhancement will go through the following steps in the future: Temporary relaxation of restrictions on night flights will be implemented in advance at Runway A for the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, while procedures for extension of Runway B, Runway C, etc., will be promoted promptly. (2) Effects of further capacity enhancement By increasing the departure and arrival slot capacity of Narita Airport and capturing the growth of economically developing Asian countries through further capacity enhancement, Narita Airport is expected to see significant increase of passengers and cargo volume, and will bring about various positive effects in areas around the airport, such as industrial development, infrastructure upgrades, and the improvement of living environments. Back to All JITTI Journals January 2019 Feature Article

Back to All JITTI Journals January 2023 Feature Article Autonomous Driving in Restricted Areas at Japanese Airports By Yoshihiro Fujimaki 1. What is “autonomous driving in restricted areas”? Development of the autonomous driving car is progressing not only for public roads but also for airport environments. It looks easier to ensure traffic safety in restricted areas of airports, so-called “Airside,” than on public roads because neither the general public nor cars driven by them are present. In addition, while the Japanese government has set an aspirational target of 60 million inbound tourists in 2030, the capacity of airports may be constrained by a shortage of labor working at airports, especially those working for ground handling services. Therefore, autonomous driving cars at airports are expected to be a quite useful tool for labor-saving. Based on the above circumstances, in 2018, the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) established a committee to study demonstration experiments of autonomous driving in airport restricted areas. This committee aims to realize autonomous driving in restricted areas by conducting several demonstration experiments. Since its establishment, the committee has been considering the guidelines, selecting participants, and reviewing the results of such demonstration experiments. The committee focuses on towing tractors and ramp buses, some of which are currently at “Level 3” autonomy and will be at “Level 4” autonomy in the future. The differences between “Level 3” and “Level 4” in autonomy are shown in the table below. Table 1: Differences between “Level 3” and “Level 4” in autonomous driving (Prepared based on “Public-private ITS Initiative/Roadmaps 2020” (in Japanese, definitions of these Levels are equivalent to SAE International J3016 (2016)): https://cio.go.jp/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/its_roadmap_2020.pdf ) 2. Autonomous driving towing tractor Towing tractors are used for transporting passenger checked baggage and other cargo within the airport. Serving as the demonstration experiments which I mentioned earlier, All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have been conducting several trials of autonomous driving towing tractors. ANA has been holding tests at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport). Their autonomous driving towing tractor is manufactured by Toyota Industries Corporation, and it runs along the pre-defined route based on information gathered from camera, GPS and Laser imaging Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) integrated sensors. In FY2021, they performed over 200 transportations of passenger checked baggage and other cargo, over 1,100 km in total, without any delay. JAL has been conducting tests at Narita International Airport. Their autonomous driving towing tractor is manufactured by TLD Group, and it also runs along pre-defined route based on information from odometer, inertial measuring unit (IMU), GPS and LiDAR sensors. In FY2020, they performed over 300 transportations of passenger checked baggage, over 300 km in total, and have officially introduced the autonomous driving towing tractor since March 2021. (The above figure is reprinted from the JAL’s website: https://press.jal.co.jp/en/release/202103/005973.html ) 3. Autonomous driving ramp bus Ramp buses are used for transporting passengers between airport terminal buildings or between airport terminal buildings and aircraft. An autonomous driving ramp bus is now undergoing demonstration experiments at Narita International Airport. That autonomous driving ramp bus is for 10 passengers, and is manufactured by Tajima Motor Cooperation with autonomous driving system developed by TIER IV, which is a software development company in Japan. It runs along the pre-defined route based on information from camera, IMU, GPS and LiDAR sensors, and ran in total for about 80 km in 4 days for a demonstration in FY2021. Currently, the consortium including Narita International Airport Corporation and TIER IV is conducting trials where a single remote supervisor monitors up to three vehicles at the same time. (The above figure is reprinted from the Narita International Airport Corporation’s website (in Japanese: https://www.naa.jp/jp/docs/20220210-5g_HP.pdf ) 4. Towards “Level 4” autonomy Besides vehicle development, several challenges regarding infrastructure and traffic rules still remain in order to realize “Level 4” autonomous driving in airport restricted areas. Particularly in restricted areas, generally there are no traffic lights at intersections and tall traffic lights may become a hazardous obstacle to aircraft in those locations . Regarding this point, it is still under consideration for how to ensure traffic safety using infrastructure and/or traffic rules. JCAB has set the target to realize “Level 4” autonomous driving both for towing tractors and for ramp buses by 2025, and continues working with the participants of demonstration experiments.

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Back to All JITTI Journals January 2019 Feature Article Capacity Enhancement of Narita International Airport by Daisuke Takagi 1. INTRODUCTION According to the air transport demand forecast made by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), demand at metropolitan airports is expected to reach near the limit of currently planned capacity in the early 2020's. On this account, MLIT established the "Metropolitan Airports Capacity Enhancement Technology Subcommittee" consisting of academics and experts under the Basic Policy Subcommittee of Aerospace Caucus, Council of Transport Policy, which compiled possible technical options for further capacity enhancement of the metropolitan airports, and announced them in July 2014. Among the proposed options, construction of the 3rd runway, extension of Runway B, and relaxation of restrictions on night flights in Narita International Airport have been discussed for realization at a four-party council (MLIT, Chiba prefecture, 9 municipal governments around Narita Airport, and Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA),) since September 2015. At the four-part council meeting that was held in March 2018, we reached a final conclusion as to our proposal on further capacity enhancement. 2. NRT’S CURRENT SITUATION AND FUTURE VISION (1) Current situation At Narita Airport, Open Skies facilitated an increase in the number of destination cities as well as the participation of new airlines, and domestic flights also increased because domestic LCCs started to use Narita as their hub. With these developments, understanding and cooperation from the local residence made the increase of departure and arrival slot limits to 300,000 annually and introduced flexibility in late night flight restrictions and non-stopping of automobiles at the airport area gates. As a result, the volume of foreign visitors and domestic travelers has increased substantially, and Narita Airport is contributing towards the development for our nation to become tourism oriented. It is the air transport demand from Asia that will drive growth of the world airline market in the future. The competition for attracting air transport demand from Asia has already begun. Major Asian and Middle Eastern airports are presently growing rapidly by capturing the growth of the Asia market, including freight demand. In this situation, Narita Airport is no exception to being in severe competition with other major Asian airports. The major airports in the Asia region will carry out large scale capacity expansions between 2017 and 2019, which is anticipated to further intensify the competition for attracting flight routes among international airports in the years to come. (2) Future Vision The number of aircraft arrival/departure slots (domestic flights + international flights) at Greater Tokyo Capital Area Airports is expected to exceed the currently planned capacity in FY2022 in the strong and moderate growth projections, and in FY2027 in the low growth projection. (The number is expected to reach 780,000 to 940,000 in FY2032.) According to the demand projection made by the government and NAA, the number of aircraft arrival/departure slots at Narita Airport is expected to exceed 300,000 a year in the 2020's, and reach 500,000 a year from the early 2030's to the late 2040's. Furthermore, according to demand projection made by NAA, at the time the annual number of aircraft arrival/departure slots reaches 500,000, the annual number of passengers is expected to become 75 million, and the annual air cargo volume is expected to become 3 million tons. (Results in FY2015 are; 235,000 arrivals/departures, 38 million passengers, and 2 million tons of air cargo volume.) 3. NEW RUNWAY PLAN AND RELAXATION OF RESTRICTIONS ON NIGHT FLIGHTS (1) New runway plan For the reasons mentioned above, Narita Airport needs to secure the sufficient departure and arrival slots required to further the capacity enhancement measures for Greater Tokyo Capital Area airports. With regard to specific locations of Runway B and C, Runway B will be extended northward so that the missed approach area of Runway B will not overlap with Runway C. Also, we will make adjustments so that the layout plan conforms to the plans for construction of the Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway (Ken-ou-do). It is necessary to expand the airport site by 1,000ha in order to make the 500,000 annual aircraft movement per year available. Considering the designated city planning area and the residential area in the surrounding area of the airport, the candidate area for an expanded airport site will be as follows; (2) Relaxation of restrictions on night flights In order to prepare to offer a flight schedule to suit the airline business demand in the future, Narita Airport has made a case study of the flight schedules that would need time slots during the late night and early morning. The data for this case study was based on the 500,000 annual traffic movements of aircraft as was discovered through hearings with airline companies. As a result, it was confirmed that making operating hours from 4:00 pm to 2:00 am is ideal to further enhance capacity at Narita Airport without falling behind in the competition with other airports. However, due to the nature of Narita Airport being an inland airport, we have received many opinions and demands from residents during explanatory meetings, and the Chiba prefectural governor and the liaison council of local governments in areas around Narita Airport have requested MLIT and NAA to review the proposal twice. Under such conditions, the four-party council meeting held in March 2018 reached a final agreement on a proposal that makes operating hours from 5:00 pm to 12:30 am, which ensures that quiet hours under the flight routes will be kept at 7 hours. Since the relaxation of restrictions on night flights will put a heavy strain on the local residents, NAA has proposed countermeasures against night and early morning flights, such as installation of internal windows in bedrooms and a limit imposed on equipment for flight operations during late-night and early-morning hours, in addition to taking conventional environmental action. 4. TOWARD THE FUTURE (1) Future schedule of further capacity enhancement Further capacity enhancement will go through the following steps in the future: Temporary relaxation of restrictions on night flights will be implemented in advance at Runway A for the Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo, while procedures for extension of Runway B, Runway C, etc., will be promoted promptly. (2) Effects of further capacity enhancement By increasing the departure and arrival slot capacity of Narita Airport and capturing the growth of economically developing Asian countries through further capacity enhancement, Narita Airport is expected to see significant increase of passengers and cargo volume, and will bring about various positive effects in areas around the airport, such as industrial development, infrastructure upgrades, and the improvement of living environments.

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

Back to All JITTI Journals November 2021 Feature Article Overview of the Japanese Government's Tourism Policy for Foreign Tourists by Hirokazu Nishikawa 1. History of the Japanese Government’s Tourism Policy The Japanese government's tourism policy began in earnest in 2003. In January of that year, the then prime minister set a goal of doubling the number of foreign visitors to Japan by 2010 from the approximately 5 million at that time, followed by the launch of the “Visit Japan Campaign” by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) in April of the same year to strategically promote the Japanese brand overseas. The reason behind these moves by the government was that since 1964, when overseas tourism was liberalized, the number of Japanese tourists traveling abroad increased due to the strong yen and rising national income, while at the same time witnessing a significant gap between the number of Japanese tourists traveling abroad and that of foreign tourists visiting Japan. It is conceivable that the current situation is far from reaching the policy goal of the time, which was to "improve the international balance of cashflow and promote economic and cultural exchange with foreign countries.” The number of foreign visitors to Japan has been steadily increasing since 2003. In 2008 the Japan Tourism Agency was newly established as a bureau under MLIT, and in 2016 the government set a goal of achieving 40 million foreign visitors to Japan annually by 2020, further strengthening the system to achieve the aim of becoming a tourism-oriented country. Graph by Hirokazu Nishikawa (JITTI USA) via data from the Japan Tourism Agency In 2019, Japan was ranked 12th (3rd in Asia) in terms of the number of incoming foreign tourists (31.88 million), increasing its popularity as a tourist country and steadily growing its visitor numbers, but due to the coronavirus, was forced to significantly decrease its numbers the following year. 2.Outline of the Japanese Government's Tourism Policy for Foreign Tourists (Introduction of the FY2022 Budget Request) Since the spread of the COVID-19 virus, domestic and international tourism demand has decreased significantly, and the tourism industry has been severely affected. Against this backdrop, I would like to introduce some of the major policies aimed at improving the environment for and the gradual revival of inbound tourism within the budget outlined for the next fiscal year by the Japan Travel Agency, as follows. Emergency Project for Improving the Environment for Foreign Visitors Traveling to Japan In order to create an environment in which foreign visitors traveling to Japan can fully enjoy their trip in a stress-free and comfortable manner at tourist spots, accommodation facilities, and public transportation, and to create a safe and secure travel environment in case of emergencies such as disasters, the following measures will be supported: enhancement of multilingual tourist information provisions, development of free Wi-Fi services, dissemination of cashless transactions, promotion of barrier-free environments for disability accessibility, improvement of countermeasures against the COVID-19 virus, and strengthening of multilingual responses in case of emergencies. (Some examples of measures) Utilizing a contactless check-in system using Digital Transformation Signage in multiple languages Free Wi-Fi in transportation facilities and vehicles Image Source: Japan Tourism Agency Sustainable Tourism Promotion Project As the interest in sustainable tourism* is increasing worldwide, Japan will promote it, as well as addressing overtourism and carbon neutrality, by establishing a management system that can be used as a model across other regions in order to become the tourist destination of choice for travelers around the world. (*) The World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) definition of sustainable tourism: tourism that fully considers current and future economic, social, and environmental impacts while responding to the needs of visitors, industries, the environment, and the communities that host them. As an example of efforts, by implementing the Japan Sustainable Tourism Standard for Destinations (JSTS-D), a best-practice for sustainable tourism destination management has been developed and is being implemented nationwide. (Examples of overtourism in each region) Crowded and congested tourist spots (The two pictures on the left) Residents picking up trash left by tourists / Traffic obstruction in tourist areas (The two pictures on the right) Image Source: Japan Tourism Agency (The Role of these Guidelines) Use as a Self-Assessment Tool: a guideline for tourism policy making and tourism planning Use as a Communication Tool: an opportunity for the community to work together to create a sustainable region and tourist destination Use as a Promotional Tool: branding as a tourist destination and improving international competitiveness Implementation of Strategic Promotion for Foreign Tourists Focusing on a post-COVID-19 virus future, the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) will work on strategic promotion for inbound tourism to Japan in order for it to easily recovery, increase travel spending, and attract more visitors to regional areas. By doing these, Japan aims to achieve its goals of 60 million foreign visitors and 15 trillion yen in foreign travel spending by 2030. In particular, the following five measures will be taken. 1. Implementing promotions to stimulate the desire to revisit Japan among repeat visitors A large-scale campaign to stimulate the desire to revisit Japan will be conducted for repeat travelers in the Asian market, who are expected to resume visiting Japan at an early stage. In addition, JNTO will promote an increase in consumption by strengthening the dissemination of experiential tourism in local areas. 2. Strengthening promotions based on changes in demand due to Covid Promotions of experiences that are expected to have increased demand in the post- COVID-19 virus era, such as sports and adventure tourism, will be fortified to take into consideration local lifestyles and nature. 3. Thoroughly utilizing market-specific strategies based by country In order to strategically attract visitors from key markets to Japan, JNTO will accurately grasp the trends in each and conduct detailed promotions based on market-specific strategies. Specifically, in the Asian sector, since Japan is already well known as a travel destination, detailed promotions tailored to individual travel demands will be implemented. For the European, U.S. and Australian markets, the promotion will focus on appealing to interests such as attractive activities. 4. Bolstering dissemination of regional tourism offerings Consultations will be made to improve the quality of local attractions to meet post- COVID-19 demands and to advertise these regional offerings according to the needs of each market in order to interest tourists. 5. Strengthening digital marketing The foundations of digital marketing will be strengthened through collecting and analyzing the information obtained by foreign tourists from websites, etc. to effectively develop promotions. 3. Summary The initiatives introduced in the previous section are only a small part of the budgeted projects scheduled for the next fiscal year. The overall basic policy for next year's budget is to do its utmost to maintain employment and continue business operations, and to provide support for thorough measures that prevent the spread of infection. At the same time, the government will revitalize tourist attractions by renewing accommodation facilities and removing abandoned buildings, refine local tourism resources through cooperation with various stakeholders, and stimulate travel demand by supporting local tourism businesses. In the next fiscal year, it is necessary to realize a full-scale recovery of tourism that supports the local economy with an eye on the time post-COVID-19 virus, while taking all possible measures to ensure the survival of tourism areas and industries that are in danger. In addition, promotion of these efforts will continue, as well as those to increase the number of mid- to long-term visitors and repeat visitors, and content that will become the signature products of profitable regions will be created. In addition, necessary measures to cope with the COVID-19 virus will be considered in the budgeting process, taking into account the future infection situation and trends in tourism demand. The Go To campaign promoting domestic tourism, which was introduced in this journal last year, is not being considered in the initial budget for the next fiscal year, at least at this point. To read last year's article, please click here: JITTI Journal- November 2020 Feature Article. References Efforts and Challenges toward the Realization of a Tourism-oriented Nation Microsoft Word - 20130701048.docx ( sangiin.go.jp ) A Study on the Changes in Japan's Inbound Tourism Policy 268407547.pdf ( core.ac.uk ) Japan Tourism Agency 訪日外国人旅行者数・出国日本人数 | 統計情報 | 統計情報・白書 | 観光庁 ( mlit.go.jp ) スライド 1 ( nihon-kankou.or.jp ) ①.表紙・総括表_２ver2 ( mlit.go.jp ) Image Sources Japan Tourism Agency

Back to All JITTI Journals July 2020 Cultural Article The Sounds That Remind Japanese People of Summer by Daisuke Takagi Here comes a hot summer! By the way, what kinds of sounds make you feel like summer is coming? When I talked with my wife about this topic, three typical sounds that remind Japanese people of summer came up. An impressive display of fireworks choreographed to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro Overture at the Nagano Ebisko Fireworks Festival The first is the sound of fireworks. When speaking of fireworks during this time of year in the United States, many American people may think of the Fourth of July rather than summer itself. In Japan, fireworks festivals take place in almost every region of the country throughout the summer every year. The largest fireworks festival in Japan is held in Nagano Prefecture, where 40,000 fireworks are displayed over the lake. Unfortunately, almost all of large fireworks festivals were or will be canceled in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, but I believe we will see greater firework shows next year. Bug catching, like in the video above, is a popular pastime for kids in Japan. It was even the inspiration for Pokemon, which has taken the world by storm. The second sound is the buzzing of cicadas. In Japan, when summer arrives cicadas are terribly noisy, shrilling all day from morning till night, and are almost everywhere. Most Japanese, especially men, likely have caught cicadas or collected cicada shells during their childhood. There are about 30 kinds of cicadas in Japan, but only about 10 of them are the ones we can often hear chirping. I came to the U.S. two years ago, but I very rarely hear them. It seems that there are cicadas in the United States, but they’re often in forests away from people. Furin, or Japanese wind chimes, are carefully hand blown and hand painted, and were traditionally purposefully crafted with uneven holes. By doing so, the chime make a different sound based on where the bell hits the glass opening. The third quintessential sound of summer are the song of wind chimes. Japanese people have felt a coolness from hearing the sound of wind chimes and been able to withstand the hot and humid summers in Japan from the time before there was air conditioning. Therefore, even in modern times, listening to the sound of wind chimes reminds us of summer. I don't know when we started hanging wind chimes in our houses, but it is said that those that were used to divine fortunes in China were introduced to Japan, and even now in Japan they are used as charms against evil. Japanese wind chimes are generally made of glass, but the glass manufacturing method was introduced from the Netherlands in the 18th century, and became popular in the late Edo era (19th century), spreading throughout Japan. Iron wind chimes are also traditionally made in some areas. If the day comes when the current situation improves and you can travel to Japan, would you like to bring back wind chimes as souvenirs (as you can not bring back fireworks and cicadas) and feel the summer of Japan?

An Introduction of Japanese Tourism Initiatives During the Pandemic by Mamiko Kim 1. Introduction Have you ever been on a “staycation?” If you have, you join 53% of Americans who say that they’ve holidayed at home. (1) Combining the words “stay” and “vacation,” staycation was added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2009 after wide usage following a period of economic downturn.( 2 ) With scrimped funds and rising gas prices, Americans discovered that traveling close by, or even acting as a tourist in their own towns, could provide a much needed respite while still being economically smart. Staycations are again seeing a boom this year in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic, with the Travelocity 2020 Holiday Outlook Survey finding that 2/3 of travelers are planning on vacationing within 250 miles of their homes this holiday season (roughly the distance of Washington, DC to Virginia Beach). (3) Taking into account that 60% of respondents revealed that they will not be visiting family, we can conclude that people are eager to travel for their own sakes, and that there is a market for domestic tourism. Meanwhile, Japan has ramped up their efforts to entice people to travel domestically. Even before the start of the pandemic, “workations,” an extension of teleworking where employees could travel while making time during the day to complete work tasks, had begun gaining traction. Microsoft Japan and Japan Airlines Co. both started workation programs, and in 2017 Wakayama Prefecture began advertising to their Tokyo neighbors that they were a good spot for such an activity. That same year, the Japanese government instituted “Telework Day” on June 24th in preparation for congestion during the Olympics, and 2018 saw the passing of the Workstyle Reform Act, limiting working hours and encouraging a better work-life balance.( 4, 5, 6 ) Thus, in light of this background, it comes as no surprise that Japan has advanced arguably one of the world’s strongest responses to the issue of wavering tourism and consumer spending during the global pandemic. Consider below the following examples of Japan’s efforts to court domestic tourists. Staycations have allowed for people to feel like they are on a vacation, even when they are in their own homes. 2. The Japanese Government “Go to Travel” Campaign (7) Aligned with global trends, the Japanese tourism industry has suffered under the pandemic, including from the effects of most international travelers being barred from entering the country since March. In an attempt to assist the tourism sector, the Japanese government began advancing their “Go To Travel” Campaign to encourage domestic tourism. The campaign is a stipend based program, with 35% of the total cost of travel and accommodations covered by the program, and 15% of the total cost available in coupons for other expenses at the travel destination, such as restaurant and gift shop purchases. By taking advantage of this program, domestic travelers can save up to 50% of their total trip costs. There are some stipulations to this program. Firstly, while Japanese and non-Japanese travelers both have access to the program, they must currently reside in Japan. Additionally, daytrips and overnight trips have differing discount limits. (8) For daytrips, per person, travelers may receive up to 7,000 yen (about $70) in discounts, and 3,000 yen ($30) in coupons. For overnight trips, per person per day, travelers may receive up to a 13,000 yen ($130) discount, and 7,000 ($70) yen in coupons. However, discounts and coupons are limited to trips lasting 7 days or less. Furthermore, if booking travel and accommodations separately, only accommodations will receive the discount, so package deals are best to take full advantage of the program. Finally, arrangements must be made through a campaign registered travel agency or directly through an accommodation booking website. (9) Despite these restrictions, there are many signs that the “Go To Travel” Campaign has reached its aim to entice people to travel. According to the Japan Tourism Agency, between July 22nd (start date) and October 31st, 39.76 million guests/night took advantage of the campaign, using 208.7 billion yen in subsidies. Since Tokyo’s inclusion as a travel destination at the beginning of October to November 9th, 20.1 billion yen in subsidies were used in regional coupons. (10) Furthermore, the Japanese government required participating accommodations and facilities in the Campaign to take measures against the spread of the coronavirus, which may have reassured travelers and regional tourism destinations alike. With the image of safe, cheap, and accessible travel options, Japan’s domestic tourism has seen an uptick. Even with $700 in accommodation and travel fees, travelers can expect to save up to 50% through the "Go To Travel" Campaign's discounts and coupons. 3. Workation Promotions The word, “workation,” made headlines in Japan when it was used in a government tourism meeting earlier this year by then-Chief Cabinet Secretary (now Prime Minister) Yoshihide Suga as a way to bolster the tourism sector. Since then, many creative workation promotions have appeared. (11) Thanks in part to the financial support of the Japanese Environmental Ministry, several national parks have begun offering workation packages. (12) Run by the National Park Resorts of Japan, the manager of Kyukamura hotels, the workation promotions are geared towards day trippers who may wish to take a break from their telework routines at home. Participants can work in the morning and enjoy the afternoon taking advantage of the outdoor activities and scenery at the park. Each national park is set up with their own desired specifications, including upgraded Wi-Fi access points, workstations entailing of either hotel guest rooms within/nearby the park or on-grounds tents set up with portable power stations and Wi-Fi hotspot devices, and food plans. Originally introduced on a trial basis from April-July, it came back by popular demand in September. In fact, Environmental Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, seen as a rising-star in Japanese politics, even participated in the program when he video-conferenced into an internal meeting from Bandai-Asahi National Park in early September. Other participating national parks include: Japan’s largest national park, Setonaikai, spanning the Setonaikai Inland Sea and known for its fishing villages; Aso-Kuju known for its volcanoes, including Mt. Aso, the largest active one in Japan; and Nikko, considered one of the most beautiful parks in Japan with its Buddhist temples and Shinto Shrines in a wooded mountainside. For those who rather crave heart-thumping excitement, there is now an “Amusement Workation” at- Yomiuriland, a Japanese Amusement park in the Tokyo suburbs. (13) Tickets into the park cost 1,900 yen per person ($18) or 3,600 yen ($34) per pair, and offer a pool-side booth with Wi-Fi, power-supply, a table, two chairs, two sun lounge chairs, and a free drink at the adjacent La Pacine Restaurant. A scenic (and certainly unique) workstation set-up is also included for ticket-holders, who have access to work in the Ferris wheel for one hour with a pocket Wi-Fi. After work is done, teleworkers may amuse themselves on the many rides and enjoyments found in the park itself, have free towel rental at the neighboring Okanoyu onsen (with its 15 different baths), and for an additional 500 yen, have access to the on-site golf course with 20 swings and golf club rental included. While these workation programs are just two examples currently taking place in Japan, there are a plethora of new and enticing workation campaigns that continue to emerge. Prefectures themselves have begun promoting their cities as great workation destinations, including those with refreshing onsen (Mie Prefecture), serene sights along the foothills of Mt. Fuji (Yamanashi Prefecture), and seaside ambiance and local delicacies (Kanagawa). ( 14 , 15 ) With the interest of both businesses and government in workation programs, it will be interesting to see how the increase of workation programs will affect the mindset of some Japanese companies’ work cultures. 52% of 1,000 responders to a 2020 Japanese Trade Union Confederation survey indicated that they are working more now while teleworking during the pandemic than even before.( 16 ) The fact that workation programs are designed to give more flexibility to workers and their employers may have some impact, with even one governmental employee in the meeting with Environment Minister Koizumi remarking that “It is important to trust employees rather than worrying about whether they are really working.” Whether their existence shifts mindsets or not, it would appear that workations will be around for much longer, particularly as they continue to be in high demand during this pandemic year. Workation programs allow for quick transitions from work to recreation. 4. Staycation Promotions Along with tourism initiatives through the “Go To Travel” and workation campaigns, staycation programs from both the tourism sector and federal government have been introduced with even more ways for people to feel the excitement of travel during these unusual times. From the tourism sector, Tokyo luxury hotels in particular have spearheaded this movement, especially as Tokyo was excluded from the “Go To Travel” destination list until October. These hotels, in addition to their already renowned accommodations, fitness centers, and restaurants, offer themed activities in their staycation packages for guests to experience. The “Edo Beauty Stay” package from Hoshinoya Tokyo Hotel, for example, pampers guests with a spa treatment, but also transports them back to the Edo Period (1603- 1868) by offering a traditional tea ceremony, shamisen lessons, and origami paper folding. ( 17 ) The Peninsula, Tokyo hotel offers their “We Meet Again- The Eight Loves of the Peninsula” staycation package, which includes all in-house amenities and check-out gift bags, and also allows guest to choose an activity of their preference from a list of featured Tokyo “loves”, including dim sum cooking classes, a tour of the Imperial Palace Gardens, exclusive VIP access to art collections, and more. ( 18 ) Each hotels’ packages are designed specifically for just one night’s rest, perfect for the local staycationer to experience the joys of travel while being close to home. On the other hand, for individuals who truly miss traveling abroad, All Nippon Airways (ANA) came up with one solution by offering an exclusive “Hawaiian” experience on their “Riding Honu” aircraft. (19) In August, this airplane, painted to look like a giant sea turtle, offered a unique 90 minute ride departing from and landing at Narita Airport in Tokyo. Donning Hawaiian-themed shirts, staff members served passengers pineapple drinks and mojitos, screened videos, conducted a raffle, and handed out souvenirs. Taking precautions against Covid, the aircraft capacity was limited to 64%, but some 150 times that number applied to take the trip. This experience was a win-win for passengers and the airline alike, as not only did guests get to have the feeling of a tropical vacation, but the airline was also able to conduct maintenance on the aircraft. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has also recently expanded their “Go To Travel” campaign by announcing “Go To Eat,” “Go To Event,” and “Go To Shotengai” initiatives (Shotengai is the Japanese word for a covered street market). The “Go To Eat” campaign was launched from the first of October, and will be advanced in November/December for Tokyo, and like the “Go To Travel” campaign, has a voucher system. (20) Diners can receive a 25% off voucher at participating restaurants in a given area. There is also a point system that diners can apply to use at these restaurants, with more discounts received based on returns to an establishment. Currently, some 33 prefectures are participating in this initiative. The “Go To Event” campaign was launched on October 30th, and also provides options for either a voucher for 20% off of the ticket or a coupon for purchasable items at the venue at the value of 20% of the ticket fee. (21) At this time, only Universal Studios Japan in Osaka is participating in this program. “Go To Shotengai” is still in the works, and has yet to launch. As these initiatives are still new, there is still little data in regards to their usage, but if the “Go To Travel” campaign is any indication, these programs hold much promise in attracting travelers and local residents alike. Tokyo luxury hotel staycation packages attempt to attract locals who may wish to have a different experience nearby where they live. 5. Conclusion Through the various public and private initiatives and campaigns, Japan has succeeded in increasing domestic travel. According to information from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, and Tourism, and as assembled below in Figure 1, domestic travelers staying at tourist accommodations increased to 52% of 2019 figures in September. (22) In comparison, May had the year’s lowest figures at roughly 15% year-on-year of guests staying in hotels and other lodgings. Data from the MLIT of Japan, Graph by Shuntaro Okimoto (JITTI USA) These statistics are even more striking if comparing domestic and international travel. Figure 2 shows the volume that travel agencies have seen in transactions for domestic and international travel, as well as the number from international tourists. As one may notice, international travel and guests have remained almost nonexistent, while domestic tourism has increased after having reached similar lows. With the international travel ban still in place, the rebounding of domestic tourists has surely been a welcome to a distressed tourism industry. There is hope, however, that things will make a recovery soon, as it was announced last month that foreign tourists may be allowed back into the country again on a trial basis from April 2021.23 In the meantime, the national government and tourism-related businesses will surely continue their efforts to attract those close by to participate in their “Go To Travel” campaign*, workation promotions, and staycation programs. (*Since the writing of this article, the Japanese government has suspended the "Go To Travel" Campaign in areas where the coronavirus is spreading.) Data from the MLIT of Japan, Graph by Shuntaro Okimoto (JITTI USA) References: Ballard, J. (2018, July 31). Majority of Americans have taken a "staycation". Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://today.yougov.com/topics/travel/articles-reports/2018/07/31/majority-americans-have-taken-staycation Merriam Webster. Staycation. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/staycation-date-meaning Travelocity, P. (2020, October 08). Travelocity 2020 Holiday Travel Outlook: Most Families Aren't Going Home this Holiday, but they Aren't Staying Home Either. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travelocity-2020-holiday-travel-outlook-most-families-arent-going-home-this-holiday-but-they-arent-staying-home-either-301148116.html?tc=eml_cleartime Mainichi Shimbun. New 'workation' system promotes spending more time with family members. (2018, August 05). Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180804/p2a/00m/0na/030000c Reuters. (2017, July 24). Japan launches 'telework' campaign to ease congestion, reform work culture. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-telework/japan-launches-telework-campaign-to-ease-congestion-reform-work-culture-idUSKBN1A90ET Phillips, F. (2020, January 7). Japan's Workstyle Reform Act – What Is the Compliance Deadline for Your Organization? Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/japan-s-workstyle-reform-act-what-is-91110/ MLIT. (2020). Go To トラベル事業とは. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://goto.jata-net.or.jp/about/ Japan Guide. (2020, November 17). 'Go To Travel' explained. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.japan-guide.com/news/0053.html Dayman, L. (2020, July 13). Japan's "Go To Travel" Campaign: What You Need to Know. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/07/japans-go-to-travel-campaign-what-you-need-to-know/ 観光庁, J. (2020, November 13). Go To トラベル事業における利用実績等について: 2020年: 報道発表: 報道・会見: 観光庁. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/news06_000484.html Osaki, T. (2020, July 30). Good time for a 'workation' but is Japan Inc. ready? Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/07/30/business/workation-japan/ Kyodo News. (2020, September 19). Japan national park facilities upgraded with "workation" in mind. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/09/ab57da1d46e5-japan-national-park-facilities-upgraded-with-workation-in-mind.html Nagase, Y. (2020, November 18). Tokyo's Yomiuriland now lets you work from a Ferris wheel and by the pool – wifi included. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/yomiuriland-amusement-parks-workcation-deal-lets-you-work-from-a-ferris-wheel-or-by-the-pool-101920 Inkl. (2020). Japan's 'workation' programs gain popularity amid pandemic. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.inkl.com/glance/news/japan-s-workation-programs-gain-popularity-amid-pandemic?section=coronavirus K, B. (2020, October 21). 'Workation' program at the foothills of Mount Fuji offers fresh air and a welcome change of pace. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/workation-program-at-the-foothills-of-mount-fuji-offers-fresh-air-and-a-welcome-change-of-pace KYODO News. (2020, June 24). Half of telecommuters in Japan work longer than before pandemic. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/882ace2907a2-half-of-telecommuters-in-japan-work-longer-than-before-pandemic.html HOSHINOYA, Tokyo. (2020). Edo Beauty Stay: Experience: HOSHINOYA Tokyo: Resort Hotel in Tokyo, Japan - Hotel Reservation. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://hoshinoya.com/tokyo/en/experience/edo-beauty-stay/ The Peninsula Tokyo. (2020). The Peninsula Tokyo: The Eight Loves of The Peninsula Tokyo. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://www.peninsula.com/en/tokyo/special-offers/rooms/8-loves-of-tokyo Begum, H. (2020, August 23). ANA Flies Its Airbus A380 Carrying Passengers To Nowhere. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://simpleflying.com/ana-a380-charter-lottery/ Finn, C. (2020, November 18). Japan's "Go To Eat" Campaign: What You Need to Know. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://tokyocheapo.com/food-and-drink/go-to-eat-campaign/ Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. (2020). 経済産業省 Go Toイベントキャンペーン. Retrieved November 24, 2020, from https://gotoevent.go.jp/ 観光庁. (2020). 旅行業者取扱額: 統計情報: 統計情報・白書: 観光庁. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/siryou/toukei/toriatsukai.html Back to All JITTI Journals November 2020 Feature Article

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Strengthening Aviation Safety through SSP by Hiroki Sakamoto Ensuring safety is a central and fundamental issue in the civil aviation sector. While passenger deaths aboard specific Japanese air carriers have not occurred since 1986, efforts are being made to reinforce the safety management system adopted by airline companies and preventive safety measures are being promoted to appropriately deal with safety-related issues. For example, preliminary reviews are done upon the launch or expansion of domestic airline companies and strict (including unannounced) and systematic on-site safety inspections are properly conducted. Also, due to the increase of foreign airlines following the promotion of the open sky policy, monitoring of foreign airlines entering Japan has been strengthened with on-site safety inspections and other measures. Since April 2014, the Civil Aviation Bureau of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (or JCAB) has been implementing the "State Safety Program (SSP)", as the basic principle of aviation safety policy. It sets forth targets for civil aviation safety and measures to be taken for their attainment, in accordance with the Annex 19 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. The fundamental structure of SSP is a clear division between Regulator (R) and Provider (P: such as airline companies, airport operators and air traffic control), with the Regulator (R) providing and enforcing safety oversight of the Provider (P). (Figure) Structure of the State Safety Program (SSP) In FY2015, JCAB formulated "Medium-term policies for the administration of aviation safety," which outlines the policies and measures for the next five years. In FY2016, direction for further safety measures related to small aircraft was added in light of the frequent occurrence of accidents involving private, small aircraft in recent years. SSP features three new measures: Safety Target, Voluntary Reporting System, and Analysis of Safety Information. 1) Safety Target In order to secure SSP as an effective tool to strengthen aviation safety, JCAB creates a "SSP implementation plan" every year. Regarding this plan, JCAB ① sets the safety target of the Japanese Government (once a year), ② implements specific policies to achieve the safety target with coordination between airline companies, airport operators and air traffic control, and ③ measures and evaluates the level of achievement of the safety target. 2) Voluntary Reporting System "The Voluntary Information Contributory to Enhancement of the Safety (VOICES) program" has been operating since July 2014 in order to collect more detailed near-miss information relating to aviation safety that is not subject to the mandatory reporting system, and to harness such information for safety improvements. Recommendations such as improving airport operations have been obtained through this program. While dissemination activities have been yielding results and more reports were issued in FY2016 than in the preceding year, attempts will be made to further use the system through continued work to highlight the importance of safety information. Efforts will also be made to improve safety by making use of obtained recommendations. 3) Analysis of Safety Information JCAB created three committees (airline companies, airport operators and air traffic control) comprised of scholars and experts. They hold meetings regularly to evaluate and analyze safety information from not only mandatory but also voluntary reporting system, compile and summarize information and publicize this information to share it. They are utilized to create preventative measures for both the Regulator (R) and Provider (P) in civil aviation. Strengthening safety measures is the top priority in the civil aviation sector. Continuous and effective efforts of both the Regulator (R) and Provider (P) through SSP are key in order to establish safe and secure air transport systems. Back to All JITTI Journals September 2018 Feature Article

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