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Back to All JITTI Journals March 2020 Feature Article Foreign Cruise Passengers in Japan by Daisuke Takagi 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan has rapidly increased. While most of these foreign tourists come to Japan by air travel, the number of tourists visiting Japan by cruise is increasing. This article introduces the trends of foreign tourists enjoying cruise trips in Japan. 2. THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN CRUISE PASSENGERS VISITING JAPAN The number of foreign passengers entering Japan by cruise ship was 2.153 million in 2019 (down 12.2% from the previous year). This is because the number of cruise passengers from China, which account for about 80% of cruise passengers visiting Japan, decreased to 1.74 million (down 14.5%). The Chinese cruise market has entered a phase of adjustment after a huge expansion from 2018, and the number of cruise passengers visiting China from Japan is expected to decrease due to a decline in the number of cruise ships dispatched to the Chinese market in 2019. By origin, the number of cruise passengers visiting Japan from central China, mainly from Shanghai, dropped sharply to 904,000 (down 32.4%), while those from northern China such as Tianjin came to 441,000 (down 17.6%). 395 million passengers visited from Hong Kong and other southern Chinese cities (up 21.9%), and 288,000 cruise passengers came from Taiwan (up 4.7%), both up from 2018. In addition, the number of foreign cruise passengers that embarked on Japanese ships in Japan has increased to 89,000 (up 20.3%) due to “fly and cruise operations” and the progression of the diversification of foreign cruise passengers. Fly and Cruise initiatives, which package flight and cruise plans for easy booking, have increased in popularity and use by foreign passengers boarding Japanese cruise ships (image does not reflect actual spacing between aircraft and cruise ship) 3. THE NUMBER OF CRUISE SHIP CALLS The total number of cruise ship calls to Japanese ports in 2019 decreased 2.2% from the year before to 2,867 times (1,932 foreign shipping companies and 935 Japanese shipping companies). The most calls by port are: 1st place: Naha Port, 260 times (2nd place last year: 243 times); 2nd place: Hakata Port, 229 times (1st place last year: 279 times); 3rd place: Yokohama Port, 188 times (4th place last year: 168 times). The following paragraphs explain the number of cruise ship calls operated by foreign shipping companies and Japanese shipping companies respectively. (1) Cruise ships operated by foreign shipping companies The number of calls at Japan’s ports by cruise ships operated by foreign shipping companies increased last year by 1.0% from 2018 to 1,932 times. By origin, the number of cruises departing from China was 893 times, down 10.6%, and the number of cruises departing from Taiwan was 241 times, down 2.4% from the previous year. Meanwhile the number of cruises departing from Japan increased by 20.0% in 2019 to 707 times. In terms of landings, ports to call in Kyushu have decreased, while port calls at domestic areas other than Kyushu increased. The most active ports are: 1st place: Naha Port, 251 times (2nd place last year: 236 times); 2nd place: Hakata Port, 205 times (1st place last year: 263 times); 3rd place: Nagasaki Port, 178 times (3rd place last year: 215 times). As described above, the adjustment phase of the Chinese cruise market continued in 2019, and as a result of each shipping company decreasing the number of vessels dispatched to the Chinese market, the number of calls for cruise ships departing from China decreased mainly in Kyushu. On the other hand, the number of foreign cruise ships that carry out cruises to and from Japan, mainly for Japanese and Western customers (who fly into Japan to board a cruise) has increased. As a result, the number of port calls at Japan ports other than Kyushu has been increasing, and ports to call have been diversified. In addition, comparatively speaking, for cruise ships that called by price range, defined as (1) luxury ships (over US $ 400 per person per night), (2) premium ships (over US $ 200), and (3) standard ships (over US $ 70), calls by luxury ships, mainly wealthy customers from the United States and Europe, have particularly increased at ports throughout the country. (2) Cruise ships operated by Japanese shipping companies The number of calls at Japan’s ports by cruise ships operated by Japanese shipping companies decreased 8.1% in 2019 to 935 times. The calls by port are: 1st place: Yokohama Port, 101 times (2nd place last year: 98 times); 2nd place: Bella Vista Marina, 100 times (1st place last year: 122 times); 3rd place: Kobe Port, 68 times (3rd place last year: 70 times). This was due to a change in the frequency of calls for cruise ships traveling around the Seto Inland Sea, mainly at Bella Vista Marina. Luxury cruises, with wealthy passengers from the United States and Europe, have been increasingly called at ports in Japan 4. FUTURE PERSPECTIVE The number of foreign cruise passengers visiting Japan by month showed an increase in November 2019 for the first time in 17 months. Due to the rapidly changing nature of world events, it is hard to predict what the future holds. However, earlier this year each shipping company had plans to launch additional large cruise ships into the Chinese market after 2020. They hoped that the market would expand from 2020 onward, with increasing cruise travel to and from Japan. As the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is likely to affect the cruise market worldwide, including in Japan, the market must be monitored closely.

Back to All JITTI Journals March 2022 Cultural Article Izakaya, Japanese-style Bar by Hirokazu Nishikawa Let's say you're traveling to Japan. Where would you try to go? Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya crossing, Kyoto or Osaka? These are not bad ideas, but I'd like you to try going to an “izakaya”, a Japanese-style bar.To be honest, I think I might be overstating the value of izakaya, and I'm sure there are many people who would find it more meaningful to visit the standard tourist spots. However, there is no doubt that izakayas in Japan have an atmosphere where you can enjoy a unique Japanese sense of everyday life, different from bars in other countries. To be honest, I think I might be overstating the value of izakaya, and I'm sure there are many people who would find it more meaningful to visit the standard tourist spots. However, there is no doubt that izakayas in Japan have an atmosphere where you can enjoy a unique Japanese sense of everyday life, different from bars in other countries. Image source: https://www.pakutaso.com First of all, when you take a seat, you are given an “oshibori.” This is a wet hand towel, but it allows you to refresh yourself as soon as you take a seat. The towel is chilled in the summer and warm in the winter. You will also be served an “otoshi,” an appetizer. This is a small plate of food served by the izakaya on its own, but it is like a table charge. You can't say no to them (Don't worry, it will be delicious). What are the izakaya customers like? There may be some college students making noise, some couples. Some customers are looking for romance, some are there with their workmates, and some of them might be young employees receiving advice and lectures on their work from their bosses. Hearing all this, you may wonder, what makes it different from other countries’ bars? But something is different. Maybe it's because of the pleasant Japanese music playing in the background, or maybe it's because everyone is not as friendly as American people, and even though they are not talking to each other, there is a mysterious sense of unity among all the people there. Image source: https://pixabay.com/ Sometimes the English on the menu may be strange. It might be just because it is difficult to express Japanese food in English, but it is fun to try to predict and order with your friends. I guess we all like to be adventurous. Besides, many izakayas nowadays allow you to order using a touch screen tablet. Even paper menus often have pictures on them, so you can see at a glance what kind of food you're going to get (I still get tired of looking at all the dense English words on American restaurant menus). Also, the cost of Japanese dishes are very reasonable! You can enjoy a lot of delicious food and drinks at a lower price. When calling the waiter, you don't need to make eye contact. You can call out a little louder to the waiter in the distance (it can be any waiter in the izakaya). Depending on the type of izakaya, there is a button on your seat that you can press, and the waiter who is available will rush right over to you. “I can't be that rude!” you say? Don't worry, there is no tipping culture in Japan, and if you call out, any waiter will happily stop for you. Themed Izakayas What I have written so far are common features of all izakayas. There are also some unusually themed ones, such as the following: ・Prison Izakaya You become a prisoner and are taken to a fake jail. The food may be a bit shocking looking. ・Elementary School Izakaya An izakaya based on the concept of an elementary school classroom. When you are enjoying the food, you are suddenly given a quiz on science, math, or some other subjects. ・Monk Izakaya An izakaya staffed by Japanese monks. If you are troubled by life, you might want to go there. Maybe you'll find some enlightenment from them? Are you starting to get interested? Once you get hooked on Japanese izakaya, you will want to walk through the entrance again and listen to the shouts of the waiters echoing throughout the izakaya: "いらっしゃいませ！(Welcome!)” Image source: https://www.enjoytokyo.jp

Back to All JITTI Journals September 2019 Cultural Article Hakata Gion Yamakasa: An Introduction of One Local Japanese Festivity by Yasuhiro Okamoto Have you experienced Japanese traditional festivals?? Even though Japan is not a big country, each region has unique traditions and cultures, and all those cultural elements are reflected in their local festivals. Today I would like to focus on my hometown’s festival, which is named “Hakata Gion Yamakasa”. (It was designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan in 1979 and a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage in 2016.) “Hakata Gion Yamakasa” is a unique festival in Japan. You will be so surprised when you see the attire of the participants. During the festival, the town of Hakata (one of the districts of Fukuoka city) is filled with men called “Shimekomi,” or another name for them is “Hundoshi”. Rikishi (Sumo wrestler) also put on the Shimekomi, so you might have seen this attire on TV or in a magazine before. While no longer prevalent, it was commonly worn as underclothes for Japanese men and broadly wore until 1940. During the festival, the men wearing “Shimekomi” participate in float-racing by carrying and running with floats, called “Yamakasa,” which weigh around one ton around the city. Meanwhile, people splash water at the processions to cool down the men’s body temperatures and to reduce the floats’ friction with the ground. The history of Yamakasa goes back for more than 700 years, and the origin of the festival is said to be from a time when people tried to purify the land from disaster and disease by splashing water from a wooden stretcher. Men dressed in traditional shimekomi attire carry a float through the streets of Hataka ward in Fukuoaka City, Japan. ( IMG_8967 by koem is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 ) The festival starts from July 9 th and goes for seven days. The climax of the festival is on July 15 th , and this is also the last day of “Hakata Gion Yamakasa”. The program of the last day consists of two races. One is “Kushidairi,” which is a short course (the distance is 112 meters (367 feet)), and the other one is “Oiyamakasa,” which is a long course (the distance is about five kilometers (3.1 miles)). Seven teams compete for the fastest time in the short and long courses. If you have a chance to visit Fukuoka during this term, of course I strongly recommend that you see the last day of the festival. However, it starts 4:59 AM, so you might miss your chance to see it. Nonetheless, don’t worry, as during July 1 st to July 15 th , there are fourteen “Kazariyamakasa.” These decorative 13 meter (43 feet) high floats are not carried during the races, but are stationed around the town. These too are also very exciting to see, and you can compare the designs and decorations made by Japanese traditional artists which adorn the “Kazariyamakasa.” Fukuoka is also especially known as a sacred place for Tonkotsu ramen (a famous type of ramen where pork bones form the base of its soup broth). So before or after seeing this very exciting festival, having the great taste of Tonkotsu ramen must be the perfect combo for visitors. For your next trip, please go a little further to the south part of Japan to explore another Japan that you still may not know. Decorative floats, such as this one, showcase the skills of local artists. ( 山笠 by Yukiko Yamamoto is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 )

Japan's Resumption of Accepting Foreigners as a Sign of Recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic By Tetsuhiro Hagiwara On October 11, 2022, the Japanese government drastically eased border control measures (entry requirements) and reopened visa-free entry to Japan for visitors from 68 countries and regions. In a delay of several months after similar measures were relaxed in Europe, the U.S., and other countries around the world, Japan’s ban preventing foreign travelers entering the country was finally lifted. In Japan, there are daily upbeat news reports such as "foreigners are rushing to Japan because of the weak yen" and "foreign tourists are buying explosively again". In this issue, I would like to focus on the resumption of accepting foreign visitors to Japan, which could be a catalyst for the Japanese economy to finally turn upward after the long, long tunnel of the Coronavirus pandemic. 1. Relaxation of border control measures (entry requirements) by the Japanese government First, let us review the entry requirements into Japan as of the end of October 2022. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website, “After midnight on October 11, 2022 (Japan Standard Time), all returnees and entrants to Japan, with the exception of those with symptoms of suspected infection with the coronavirus, will not, in principle, be subject to inspection upon entry, and will not be required to wait at home or in accommodation after entering Japan, to follow up during the waiting period, or to refrain from using public transportation. In principle, no inspection will be conducted at the time of entry for all returnees and entrants, except for those with symptoms. However, all returnees and entrants shall be required to submit either a certificate of vaccination (3 doses) with a vaccine listed on the World Health Organization's Emergency Use List or a certificate with a negative result of a test taken within 72 hours prior to departure from the country.” (Image source: NHK) Since March of this year, when the corona outbreak was under control, the Japanese government has gradually eased restrictions on the entry of foreigners, resuming the admission of tourists in June for group travel only, and in September, raising the daily limit to 50,000. However, due to persistent requests from various quarters for the resumption of individual travel and visa-free visits to Japan, the situation has finally returned to a level close to what it was before the Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the cap of 50,000 daily visitors has been lifted, individual travelers are now accepted, and those entering Japan for tourism purposes from outside the country are exempted from obtaining the short-stay visas that they were seeking, bringing them in line with the entry requirements of Europe, the U.S., and other countries around the world. In comparison to before the Coronavirus pandemic, a certificate with a negative test result within 72 hours of travel is still required for "those who have not received three doses of the vaccine." However, considering the fact that approximately 70% of the world's population has been vaccinated at least once, it can be said that the hurdle has been lowered considerably for travelers planning to visit Japan. The Japanese government has stated that it will continue to require all visitors returning to or entering Japan to present a certificate of three vaccinations or a negative PCR test result within 72 hours prior to departure from Japan. The U.S. and Japan are the only G7 countries that have introduced this measure, and both governments will consider easing the measure after assessing the state of infections domestically and overseas, and the response of other countries. At a post-cabinet press conference on October 18, Digital Minister Taro Kono announced that “Visit Japan Web,” a web-based support site that enables foreign tourists visiting Japan and Japanese nationals returning from overseas to complete quarantine, customs, and other procedures necessary for entry into Japan online, will be integrated with the “MY (My SOS)” (Confirmation of the Health and Whereabouts of the Swine Flu) function, which allows registration of vaccination certificates and negative testimonies for entry requirements against new-coronavirus infection, on November 1. (As part of efforts to unify online pre-entry procedures, MY SOS will cease to be offered on November 14). Some of the information entered so far is common information, such as passport details and date of return, and the integration will reduce the number of times for entering that information and improve convenience. At the press conference, Minister Kono said, "The Visit Japan Web will allow you to complete the necessary (web-based) procedures for entry into Japan. We want to make sure that you enter all the necessary information before you arrive so that you can pass smoothly through the airport". 2. Foreign visitors to Japan enjoying "Cool Japan" and "Cheap Japan” Now, as mentioned above, the hurdle for foreigners to visit Japan has finally been lowered. In Japan, it is reported every day that the number of foreign tourists is increasing in popular tourist destinations such as Tokyo and Osaka. Increasing number of foreign tourists in various places, including tourist destinations "Many foreign tourists in various locations" （Image source: ANN NEWS) Foreign tourists touring Tokyo A woman from Chile- "I really wanted to come to Japan. I feel like I have fulfilled my dream." (Image source: ANN NEWS） Tourists from Denmark listening to a guide in front of Sensoji Temple Regarding the wearing of masks, "The travel agency explained to us in advance that they require strict adherence to the rules for wearing masks in Japan, and we agreed with them before coming on the trip," they said.（Image source: NEWS Post Seven） Some enjoy shopping with the weak yen A couple from Israel Compared to other countries, Japan is cheap and we are very happy." （Image source: ANN NEWS) Foreign man shopping for anime goods in Akihabara “I'm happy with affordable prices because of the weak yen!” （Image source: Nippon Television Network NEWS） 3. Japanese government's intention to aim for 5 trillion yen in tourism consumption per year and expectations from the economic community I would like to share the Japanese government's expectations for inbound consumption and the industry's reaction to the recent significant easing of entry requirements. Before the Coronavirus pandemic, a record 31.88 million foreign travelers visited Japan in 2019. Inbound spending amounted to approximately 4.8 trillion yen annually, bringing significant economic benefits to the metropolitan area and tourist destinations. However, from the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the Japanese government began gradually strengthening its border control measures, and the number of inbound visitors to Japan plummeted to 4.11 million in 2020 and 240,000 in 2021, with the tourism industry still suffering a major blow. Japan continues to have the strictest entry restrictions among the G7 countries, and was in the process of receiving requests from various countries for the resumption of tourism for individuals. As for the Japanese government's intention, Prime Minister Kishida stated in his policy speech in early October that "Japan is a country that has prospered through the free flow of people, goods, and money to and from the rest of the world. With the weak yen and other factors as a backdrop, we would like to achieve an annual inbound consumption exceeding 5 trillion yen, which is more than the amount before the Coronavirus pandemic". With the recent drastic easing of entry requirements, the government intends to resume full-scale tourism. The Japanese government has also announced its intention to formulate a new plan to become a "tourism-oriented nation" by the end of this fiscal year, with the perspective of hosting the Osaka-Kansai World Expo in 2025. Nomura Research Institute estimates that the economic impact of the increase in the number of visitors to Japan will be 2.1 trillion yen in 2023. And SMBC Nikko Securities forecasts that inbound spending will regain its pre-COVID momentum by the end of 2024, taking into account the effect of the yen's depreciation, and is expecting a resurgence of explosive buying by visitors to Japan against the backdrop of the historically weak yen. The response of the economic community to the government's action has, of course, been positive, with airlines, whose business performance had been severely affected by the previous border control measures, seeing a sharp increase in bookings for international flights from overseas to Japan immediately after easing of the ban was announced. JAL (Japan Airlines) (Expressing support for the easing of entry requirements) "We want to be well prepared to welcome our customers and contribute to the recovery of the Japanese economy." ANA (All Nippon Airways), President Inoue "We are very pleased with the long-awaited deregulation. The economic impact of visitors to Japan before the Coronavirus pandemic was approximately 5 trillion yen, and we expect to see a recovery of the same scale. (Also, regarding the resumption of visa-free individual tourism) I believe that many people who have not been able to visit Japan for a long time will be able to come to Japan from now on. We expect to see an increase in demand not only for urban tourism, but also for regional tourism." Narita International Airport Corporation, President Tamura "The reason why the number of international arrivals and departures has not increased is because of Japan's strict entry requirements, so we are very grateful for the easing [or requirements]. I think it will take one or two months to see the actual effect. We will watch with anticipation whether demand for air travel will recover from the year-end and New Year holidays." Conclusion With the recent drastic relaxation of entry requirements, there are high expectations for inbound consumption by foreign visitors to Japan as a catalyst for Japan's economic recovery, but a look at reactions overseas reveals that foreign visitors' mindsets are not necessarily favorable. The Washington Post (U.S.A.), in an article titled "Japan is reopening. But the effects of its border closure will linger," pointed out the following. "Japan strictly limits foreign arrivals out of covid-19 concerns, a scientifically specious approach that has made the country an outlier among top economies and most Asia-Pacific neighbors that have reopened to tourists. Xenophobia has festered as policymakers and news coverage have tied foreigners to the spread of the virus. Investors, academics and international students have diverted their plans elsewhere. Even after Japan began accepting group tours recently, the intense monitoring and bureaucratic hurdles have largely kept tourists’ interest at bay. Now, Japan faces a credibility gap as it looks to rejoin the world. Figures in business, academia, policymaking and diplomacy are concerned the closure has punctured Japan’s image as a culture that values hospitality. Even with a full reopening, Japan would need concrete steps to restore its standing." Also, Chinese tourists, who were the main source of demand and inbound consumption in Japan before the Coronavirus pandemic, spending approximately 9.5 million in 2019, are expected to take a certain amount of time to return to Japan as overseas travel is still heavily restricted under the Chinese government's strong "Zero Corona Policy." The International Air Transport Association (IATA) forecasts that the number of world travelers will exceed the pre-COVID level by 103% in 2024 compared to 2019, but only 97% will be in from the Asia-Pacific region, and it will be 2025 before the number exceeds pre-COVID levels. In the Asia-Pacific region, the recovery is expected to be delayed in China, where restrictions have not been eased. Other reasons for why the number of foreign visitors to Japan and inbound demand is unlikely to return to 2019 levels all at once, according to Nomura Research Institute, include the current high rate of new infections in Japan compared to other countries and the fact that many countries will refrain from overseas travel if the global economy slows in the future due to soaring prices and tightening monetary policies. However, we should learn from the experiences and measure outcomes of Europe and the U.S., which have been ahead of other countries in restoring borders and accepting foreigners during the coronavirus pandemic, and look forward to future trends to revive "Japan, the land of hospitality" that attract tourists from all over the world, while meanwhile balancing preventing the spread of infection and recovering inbound travel. References: Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/p_pd/pds/page22e_000910.html Japan Tourism Agency https://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/en/shisaku/kokusai/traveltojapan.html NHK News https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/special/coronavirus/restrictions/detail/detail_95.html The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/16/japan-covid-restrictions-tourist-xenophobia/ Nomura Research Institute https://www.nri.com/jp/knowledge/blog/lst/2022/fis/kiuchi/1006 Global Outlook for Air Transport Times of Turbulence - IATA https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/publications/economic-reports/airline-industry-economic-performance---june-2022---report/#:~:text=The%20financial%20recovery%20will%20continue,from%20our%20end%2D2021%20forecast.&text=all%20regions%20in%202022%2C%20with,return%20to%20profitability%20this%20year Image Resources https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbah4XUIQco https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Be4jom6WZQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rp_sQw9T954 Back to All JITTI Journals November 2022 Feature Article

Back to All JITTI Journals March 2023 Cultural Article Do You Know “YO-KAI?” By Daisuke Komatsu Have you ever heard of the term Yo-kai? Yo-kai is a general term for beings and phenomena beyond human knowledge that have been handed down throughout Japan since ancient times, and are still a part of Japanese culture today. You may have heard the names "Oni (ogre)," "Tengu," or "Kappa.” If you are an American or Westerner, you might think of entities such as ghosts and other phantasms. You may also think of fantastical creatures such as dragons and unicorns, or transcendent beings such as gods and demons. There are more than 1,000 different kinds of Yo-kai, large and small, good and bad, from evil beings that play tricks on humans to those that protect us from natural disasters. For example, a fishing boat may get into a maritime accident because a Yo-kai called "Umibouzu" destroys the boat, or a family may be blessed by inviting a Yo-kai named “Zashiki-Warashi” into their home, who guarantees that its hosts will become prosperous. Yo-kai are often referred to as creatures that we cannot usually see, phenomena that are difficult to explain through science, unbearable natural anomalies, experiences of being spirited away, native deities, etc. They are also beings that remind us of morals and customs, giving suggestions and hints on how to lead a respectable life. In this sense, they are not just scary monsters. Statues of Kappa (Image Source: 遠野駅の河童たち by maximum69 ) In Japan, Yo-kai have existed in every region from Hokkaido to Okinawa, but Hokkaido Yo-kai, for example, were unique to that region’s indigenous culture and were recognized only by the people of Hokkaido, and never by the people of other regions in Japan. Likewise, other regional Yo-Kai existed in tales only alongside the lives of the people of their localities. In 1910 folklorist Yanagida Kunio published "Tono Monogatari" (The Legends of Tono), a collection of folklore from the Tono region of Iwate Prefecture. It is said that thanks to Tono Monogatari, Yo-kai has come to be recognized as a genre of Japanese culture, and Japanese have become aware of Yo-kai from other regions as well. I myself was born and raised in the countryside about an hour's drive from the Tono area. When I traveled to Tono on vacation, I visited a "Kappa-buchi" stream where you can catch “Kappa,” which are similar to mermen, and a guest house where it is said that “Zashiki-Warashi” once lived. So Yokai have been a familiar part of my childhood. In commemoration of the 110th anniversary of Tono Monogatari in 2020, the Tono Tourism Association released a permit for capturing “Kappa” and continues to offer a prize of 10 million yen if visitors capture a kappa and bring it to the Tourism Association. Not only in Tono City, but all over Japan Yo-kai, as an important tourism resource, are helping to revitalize towns and villages. When the COVID-19 pandemic spread worldwide, people in Japan prayed for a speedy end to the pandemic to a Yo-kai called "Amabie," which is said to warn off illness and allegedly appeared in Higo Province (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture) in 1846 during the Edo period. Looking at Yo-kai from a different angle, Japanese people have long been fond of describing or anthropomorphizing mysterious phenomena as living creatures, and they have become an integral part of cultural activities such as folklore, novels, animation, and video games. Statues of beloved characters Kitaro and his dad, Medama-oyaji (or literally Eyeball-Father) from "Gegege no Kitaro." In particular, the "Gegege no Kitaro" Yo-kai anime created by Shigeru Mizuki began as a picture-story show in 1954 and later became a manga and anime, creating a Yo-kai boom in Japan. Likewise, the game "Yo-kai Watch," released in 2013, popularized Yo-kai among children as it depicts modern-day versions embodying "elementary school students' problems.” As it has grown via a multimedia franchise in the form of comics and anime, affinity for “Yo-kai Watch” has increased among this young demographic. I am the father of two boys, aged 5 and 2, who have a hard time falling asleep, and I often tell them that if they don't go to sleep soon, the "Makura-Kaeshi (Pillow Turner)" or "Namahage" will come! The sons also make excuses using Yo-kai as part of their daily lives. It is interesting to think that Yo-kai may be involved in this way, from events at home to global crises. Hopefully, some Yo-kai will appear to solve the various sad events that the world is facing today. An advertisment for "Yo-kai Watch" (Image Source: https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/youkai-watch2021/ )

Back to All JITTI Journals September 2021 Cultural Article Shogi- Japanese Chess by Yoshihiro Fujimaki 1. Introduction Shogi is a traditional Japanese board game that looks like chess. Because it is a one-on-one, zero-sum, and perfect information game, there is no factor of luck in winning or losing. Both shogi and chess are considered to have originated from a board game called Chaturanga from ancient India. In the beginning of 17th century, the Edo Shogunate, which ruled Japan, officially endorsed shogi, and the current style of shogi remained thereafter. The image above depicts the initial setup of the game. 2. A Unique Feature One unique feature of shogi is that the player can reuse a piece as his own after he captures it from the opponent’s forces. This point is completely different from chess, in which the player cannot reuse a captured piece. This feature of shogi allows for the total number of pieces to remain the same, which keeps the number of available moves for pieces high, and a match may be reversed even in its final stage. The image above depicts what a board may look like mid-game. 3. Professional Players and Tournaments Although shogi has approximately 6 - 10 million amateur players in Japan, there are only about 170 professional players. Those professional players belong to the Japan Shogi Association, which was established in 1924, and participate in several tournaments. Available total time to consider the next move of a piece varies by each tournament; the shortest case is 15 mins (then players must move a piece in 30 seconds) and the longest case is 9 hours (then players must move a piece in 60 seconds). This is another unique point of shogi, in which certain matches end in an hour but other matches are held over two days with appropriate rest times. The Tokyo Headquarters of the Japan Shogi Association 4. Live Broadcast of Professional Shogi Matches Some professional shogi matches are live-broadcasted and can be watched from overseas. These live broadcasts are accompanied by commentary from other professional players, and have some viewers called MIRU-SHO (watching only shogi fans), who rarely play shogi games. They are new kind of shogi fan, and they’re also interested in the meals which professional players eat for lunch or dinner (SHOGI-MESHI). This curry udon is one example of shogi-meshi. The Hosojima-ya noodle restaurant, where this was ordered, is located near the Japan Shogi Association's Tokyo HQ. Professional players often order their meals from this restaurant for delivery to the Tokyo HQ. 5. Shogi Mating Problems Solving or creating shogi mating problems (TUME-SHOGI) is another way to enjoy shogi. Shogi mating problems are just puzzles that are the same as chess problems, so an opponent is not necessary, and anyone can attempt to solve problems at a difficulty level that matches their abilities. I like shogi mating problems and have provided you one example that I created myself. Can you solve this shogi mating problem, which imitates the shape of a star? The puzzle's solution will be listed at the bottom of the article. (Hint: You can mate in 5 moves!) 6. Conclusion There are several ways to enjoy shogi, including playing shogi games, watching professional shogi matches, solving or creating shogi mating problems, and so on. If you have played chess, you can easily understand the rules of shogi and will recognize shogi’s depth. I believe that shogi is a useful tool to communicate with Japanese people because most Japanese men at least know its rules. Puzzle Solution: 1. G*52（５二金） 2. Kx52（同玉） 3. S44-53+（５三銀右成） 4. K-41（４一玉） 5. S*42（４二銀）

Improving and Strengthening the Transport Safety Management System by Hiroki Sakamoto Ensuring safety is a central and fundamental issue in the public transportation sector. When an accident occurs, it not only can cause significant damage, but it can also have an enormous impact on society. Therefore various measures are being undertaken to prevent accidents from occurring. In October 2006, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan introduced the 'Transport Safety Management System' in the wake of frequently occurring accidents and other incidents in various transportation sectors, such as railway, automobile, shipping, and airlines. These incidents were primarily those which were caused by human error. This policy aims to build and strengthen the safety management system, which will be united with the MLIT organization, under the proactive involvement of the top management executive in transport operation. MLIT conducts Transport Safety Management Evaluations, through checks and advice, which is intended to continuously improve the safety management system by using the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Action) cycle. In FY2016, 932 transport operators (59 railways, 640 automobiles, 223 shipping and 10 airlines) were subject to Transport Safety Management Evaluation. The outline of the Transport Safety Management System is as follows (Figure 1). Based on lessons learned from past serious accidents in the transportation field, it is important for each transport operator to spiral upward (with an awareness of the PDCA cycle) using company-wide efforts toward safety, and the establishment of a safety management system under the leadership of the top management executives. For this reason, business laws related to land, marine, and air transport were amended (promulgated in March 2006) and the Transport Safety Management System was introduced. Under this legislation, transport operators are required to appoint a Chief Safety Management Officer (executive class), set out safety management rules, and promote the improvement and establishment of safety management systems through the leadership of top management. Also, preventive safety-type support systems were implemented through interviews and other measures directed at the transport operators' management division, including their top management executives. (Figure 1) The outline of the Transport Safety Management System Transport Safety Management Evaluation teams, belonging to the MLIT and District Transport Bureau, visit transport operators' headquarters to conduct the Transport Safety Management Evaluation on the operators' Top Management and Chief Safety Management Officer (Figure 2). (Figure 2) Transport Safety Management Evaluation on Top Management The team conducts a positive evaluation and provides advice, to help promote continuous improvements, based on items from the guidelines to the system, some of which are as follows (and in Figure 3). Formulate and promulgate safety policies Formulate and review priority safety measures Ensure communication Collect and use information on accidents and near-miss events Implement education and training Conduct internal audits, etc. (14 items) (Figure 3) Evaluation Chart of Transport Safety Management Evaluation In FY2016, MLIT hosted transport safety management seminars for transport operators in order to deepen understanding of this system, and these seminars were attended by 3,789 people. In FY2015, 7,043 people attended seminars, as part of an accredited seminar program that was established in 2013 for the purpose of further disseminating and shedding light on this system to small and medium-sized transport operators (programs through which transport safety management seminars organized by private-sector organizations are accredited by the MLIT). October 2016 was designated as the "10 Years of Strengthening Transport Safety Management Month" to mark the 10 years that had passed since the system was introduced. Evaluations by MLIT had been conducted on approx. 7,500 transport operators over the past 10 years at that point, which contributed greatly to the improvement of their safety. MLIT carried out initiatives to further spread and instill the system, including holding discussions about how the system should work in the future, such as the "2016 Symposium on Safety in the Transport Business: Review of the 10 Years since the Introduction of the Transport Safety Management System and Directions for the Next 10 Years," and the "Transport Safety Management 10th Anniversary Seminar." Moreover, the system's effects and issues were reviewed and discussions were held by the Transport Council's Task Force on Ensuring Transport Safety, in order to study the future evolution of the system. Based on the report from the Council, MLIT revised the fundamental policy to implement the Transport Safety Management System in 2017. The main revisions were: prioritizing the Transport Safety Management Evaluation on chartered bus operators, promoting the development of safety management of small to medium-sized transport operators, and strengthening support for Chief Safety Management Officers of transport operators. Furthermore, it promoted support for transport operators to cope with the emerging challenges in recent transport sectors such as the shortages of drivers in transport industries, deteriorated transport infrastructures, serious damage to transport facilities from natural disasters and terrorist attacks as well as other issues and challenges. Strengthening safety measures is the top priority in all transport modes, and continuous and effective efforts by both the private and public sectors through the Transport Safety Management System are keys to establish safe and secure public transport systems. Back to All JITTI Journals May 2018 Feature Article

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Airport Concession Policy in Japan by Sarah Fraser Earlier this year, in February, JITI USA held a workshop regarding airport redevelopment using public-private partnerships or P3s. I would like to take a moment to check in with this issue and see what developments or changes have been happening since this time. As you may remember from our workshop, we had speakers from a variety of organizations such as the Eno Center for Transportation, as well as a speaker from the LaGuardia Airport and MLIT Japan. In the seminar we discussed recent cases of airport redevelopment using P3 in the United States, such as the LaGuardia Airport Terminal B project, as well as the efforts in Japan, such as the Sendai Airport and the Fukuoka Airport. In addition, we discussed many of the challenges and benefits there are in utilizing P3s in airport redevelopments. JITI staff, former president, and the speakers of our 2018 Airport Workshop From left: Hiroki Sakamoto (JITI), Makoto Washizu (JITI), Robert Puentes (ENO), Lysa Scully (LaGuardia), Azuma Kato (MLIT) I would like to take a moment to review the Japanese approach to airport concession, as explained by Mr. Kato during our seminar. Regional economies and airports in Japan are and were facing a tough time which created the idea to call for airports to serve as points of regional revitalization. In this way, areas could attract tourists and there would be more flexibility to fly in and out of Japan's regional airports as opposed to hub airports. Concessions would also give the addition benefit of improve efficiency for airport governance. When the airports were governed by MLIT for aeronautical activities and private companies were in charge of non-aeronautical activities there was a disconnect between the management strategies. The idea behind using a concession system was the ability to unify this strategy and attract airlines to various airports. In addition, by using a concession strategy, there would more incentive for efficient airport management and operations across the board, as well as more incentive to promote individual airports for tourism or in connection with local business and other entities. With concessions in place, there are a variety of important benefits, such as improved accessibility to destinations, a stimulus for Japan's overall airline industry, and local revitalization, one of the main focal points. For more information, you can find Mr. Kato's presentation here (link to presentation) via the JITI website. Attracting airlines is one benefit of implementing concessions systems. ( Airport by Jorge Díaz is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 ) Recently, MLIT has announced that starting in 2020 they will outsource the operation of four national airports, as well as two specific municipal airports and one municipal airport, to the private sector. In accordance with this, MLIT has developed an application guidelines document, which contains conditions and procedures, the selection methods for P3s, and schedules/deadlines for applications and selections. According to the schedule, the terminal building operations will begin in January of 2020 with runway operations continuing at later dates from June of the same year to March of 2021. Using the private-sector know-how and P3s, MLIT hopes to promote tourism and improve the regional activation of the seven airports in Hokkaido. It will be interesting to see the process and the fruits of this extensive P3 project in Hokkaido. Back to All JITTI Journals July 2018 Feature Article

The Latest Trends in Japan's Railroad Business: Management Strategies to Strengthen the "De-rail" Business By Akito Okabe Introduction Japan's railroad business is currently undergoing a major transition. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has calmed down and railroad operators are making steady progress in recovering their business performance, the trend of teleworking remains unchanged and ridership has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. The rail ridership in Japan is generally at 70-80% of its pre-pandemic level, with a particularly sharp decline in commuter pass users. In addition, the future outlook is that ridership is not expected to return to its pre-pandemic level, and an aging and declining population is also expected. Under these circumstances, many railroad companies are struggling to establish a new revenue base by strengthening their non-railway businesses, and this article will introduce some initiatives thatJapanese railroad companies are currently doing. Real Estate Business Japanese railroad companies and the real estate business have had a close relationship since before the pandemic. Many railroad companies have built hotels, apartments, office buildings, and shopping centers near their lines to generate revenue. By increasing the attractiveness of towns through development along their lines, they also aim to increase the population along their lines and increase their rail ridership in the future. Tokyu, a leading company in the real estate business, is further accelerating its efforts after the pandemic. It has identified "Shibuya," its development hub, as its biggest growth strategy, and plans to invest a cumulative 450 billion yen (about $3.2 billion USD) in real estate-related activities by 2030. (This amount is approximately three times this year's EBITDA.) JR East, Japan's largest railroad company, also plans to focus on redeveloping the area around Takanawa Gateway Station, which opened in 2020. It plans to build a luxury hotel, offices, and one of the largest halls in Tokyo on the former railcar depot site, and expects the total project cost to be approximately 58 billion yen (about $4.2 billion USD). Image of the station area after redevelopment (Image Source: https://tokyoyard.com/ ) New Business In addition to the real estate business, a number of unique new businesses are being considered, which we would like to introduce below. Tokyo Metro Tokyo Metro, which operates subways in the Tokyo area, has opened a training gym for "e-sports" video game competitions in 2021, utilizing vacant buildings near its lines. (Co-operated with startup Gecipe ※1 ). In addition to monthly memberships to use the gym store, the company offers an optional service that allows users to take lessons from professional e-sports players in the store or online. The concept of the gym is "a bright and healthy e-sports facility that is easy for anyone to enter," and the company aims to "create a world where anyone can seriously enjoy e-sports at any time.” Image of Interior view of training gym (Image Source: https://esportsgym.tokyo/register-lp ) Tokyo Metro is also developing other new businesses, such as yoga classes with bouldering and robot programming classes. Osaka Metro Osaka Metro, which operates subways mainly in Osaka Prefecture, plans to launch a matching service in the spring of 2023 to connect land owners with businesses that wish to open food trucks (mobile vending vehicles for food and beverages). Under this service, Osaka Metro will act as an intermediary, receiving a fee from food and beverage operators for opening stalls and paying rent to landowners. In addition to the brokerage service, Osaka Metro plans to open food trucks under its direct management. Food trucks (Image Source: https://subway.osakametro.co.jp/news/news_release/20210930_foodtruck_kakudai.php ) By the end of FY2023, the company aims to enter the healthcare service business, which supports the health improvement of railroad users through a proprietary app. Conclusion As JR East President Fukasawa stated, "We need to stand on the premise that the number of rail ridership will not return to pre-pandemic levels.", and the business environment is expected to remain severe for railway companies. Given this situation, Japanese railroad operators are aiming to diversify their revenue sources through real estate and unique new businesses, and this trend is expected to continue. We will monitor this trend closely, as the initiatives of railroad companies focusing on businesses other than the railroad itself are unique to Japan and could serve as a useful reference for other countries. References ※1 https://gecipe.co.jp/ Back to All JITTI Journals March 2023 Feature Article

Back to All JITTI Journals May 2019 Feature Article The Japan Coast Guard’s New Challenge for Global Cooperation Among Coast Guard Agencies/ Functions by Yasuhiro Okamoto The Japan Coast Guard (herein after called “JCG”) has supported various countries’ coast guard organizations with their capacity enhancement since 1969, aiding over 81 countries and 3 regions. In addition, JCG has also played an important role in the establishment of the international cooperation framework in the region to facilitate further cooperation among coast guard agencies in Asia and the North Pacific. In this article, I would like to introduce JCG’s new challenge in creating an international framework for the Coast Guard Global Summit. The 1st Coast Guard Global Summit (hereinafter called as “CGGS”) was held in September 2017 and was co-hosted by the Nippon Foundation. The aim of this meeting was to enhance dialogue and cooperation beyond the existing regional framework, and to focus the experience and knowledge of the participants to resolve common issues that every country had faced. Although it was the inaugural meeting, representatives from 34 countries, 1 regional, and 3 international organizations visited Japan to attend. In this meeting there was recognition of the rarity for coast guard’s to gather and discuss the creation of global frameworks, the importance of doing so, and of the necessity to consider human resource development systems and the best forms of inter-regional and international cooperation. With continued interest by participants to further facilitate global cooperation among coast guard agencies, the 1st working level meeting of CGGS took place in November 2018 with the participation of 66 countries and international/ regional organizations. In this working level meeting, the following three agenda points were mainly discussed: Meeting guidelines for smooth future meetings Global human resource development Information sharing According to the meeting summary of the CGGS working level meeting, during the discussion on global human resource development, various advanced and unique programs were shared. Furthermore, there was broad support when JCG proposed to form the voluntary core member group for intensive study and discussion of this matter. It has already been decided that the 2nd CGGS will be held in Tokyo in November 2019. JCG’s new challenge has just started, and it’s not difficult to imagine that they will have additional obstacles that will need to be solved. For example, in comparison with their past cooperative activities, the JCG is unexperienced with organizing an international meeting of this size, with an increase in the number of participation confirmed as compared to the last two meetings. To plan and execute such an enormous event on a regular basis also must create budgetary and operational issues. Furthermore, there is the obvious struggle for JCG to convince participating agencies of the necessity of a global framework. As for the meeting agenda, it seems that human resource development will be a key topic. Unlike other regional cooperation frameworks, a global framework would require consideration of each regions unique issues and/or features. The first challenge for agencies from different regions is to try and cooperate for a unified goal, and to clarify ways to develop human resources in each region. I would like to closely observe the activities, discussion, and results of the 2nd CGGS to know the answer to this question, and I really hope this framework will bring great benefits to coast guard activities across the entire world. Image courtesy of the Japan Coast Guard