JITI 2016 Railway Workshop Initiatives Targeting On-Time Departures for Metro Areas January 29th, 2016 Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. One of the more important aspects in creating a trusted and useful public rail transportation system is the punctuality and reliability of the system. On-schedule departures and arrivals are a universal theme from an operations control perspective, and both the U.S. and Japan deal with this aspect of their rail systems on a daily basis. Japan’s population is highly concentrated in its city centers and, despite the massive influx of people during rush hours, still manages to run trains on a highly compact schedule due to their operations systems. Many lines are even able to operate at a speed of one train per minute during the heaviest parts of the commuter rush. In the U.S., automobiles are still the dominant mode of transportation. However, the demand for a reliable and safe public transportation system is increasing, especially as the city centers expand and the need for the metro grows. Many entrepreneurs have been creating different technology to accommodate the railway service conditions, including trying to keep passengers updated on delays or problems as they occur by using smartphone apps or station displays. For this workshop, JITI invited representatives from Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd to discuss the various initiatives and methods they use to create an on-time and reliable metro service, as well as representatives from the MTA New York City Transit to hear about new initiatives to create a more punctual schedule for their train systems. In the workshop, they will discuss how to make safer, on time, and more trusted operations of rails a reality, aided by the use of real examples such as methods and procedures for restoring rail service after unforeseen events or delay Opening Remarks Makoto Washizu President JITI USA Bio Keynote Speeches Wynton Habersham Acting Senior Vice President, Department of Subways, MTA New York City Transit Bio Presentation Yoshinobu Takatori Managing Director, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. Bio Presentation

JTTRI EVENTS More JTTRI Events JTTRI International Seminar with Thailand's Former Transport Minister Arkhom Current and Future Japan-Thailand Relations in the Transportation Field

JITTI Journal January 2018 Back to All JITTI Journals January 2018 Feature Article Capacity Building Support by the Japan Coast Guard to Developing Countries Mobile Cooperation Team by Ryoki Toku Prologue Sea routes in the Southeast Asian area can be said to be the life lines of Japan. The security and safety of the area is extremely important for Japanese ships as they pass through. Each coastal country's maritime law enforcements are required to have the appropriate capabilities to be able to secure the area. It is also important there are the good relationships and cooperation between the maritime law enforcements of these coastal countries and Japan. Inauguration of JCG Mobile Cooperation Team In October of 2017, the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) established a brand-new unit in the JCG Headquarters called the "Mobile Cooperation Team (MCT)", which focuses on capacity building support for developing country's maritime law enforcements. The MCT consists of 7 people. There are 6 members, under the direction of the seventh member who is the Director for Coast Guard International Cooperation. They engage in training for foreign maritime law enforcement and their goal is to create effective, consistent, and sustainable capacity building support, as well as build trusting relationships with other countries through consultations about country needs in advance, and provision of detailed curriculums following the outcomes of these discussions. （ The Japan Coast Guard HP, Public release, http://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/info/topics/171002_mct_start.pdf , (Access: 11th Dec,2017) ） The first mission of MCT One month from the inauguration of the MCT, they were dispatched to the Philippines for their first mission: to train the Philippine Coast Guard. The MCT engaged in exercises regarding the maneuvering of high speed small boats. Thee high speed small boats that were used in the exercises were transferred from the Japan government to the Philippine government. The MCT members instructed in several maneuvering skills that related to maritime law enforcement, such as guarding measures, like pinch maneuvering, as well as basic techniques like turning, chasing, or approaching the port. This exercise became an opportunity to teach JCG's maneuvering techniques to other nation's maritime law enforcements as well, given that coast guards from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia also participated in the exercises. （ The Japan Coast Guard HP, Public release, http://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/info/kouhou/h29/k20171122/k171122-1.pdf(Access: 11th Dec,2017) ） The opportunity for cooperation between the USCG and the JCG in the field of capacity building support The MCT's first mission was also an opportunity for cooperation between the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the JCG. During the same period, the USCG was also in the Philippines to train the coast guard. The USCG and the JCG coordinated on site, and the USCG then gave a lecture about the maintenance of small boat engines. As a result, in this case, we can say that the USCG and the JCG provided joint training for high speed small boats through their cooperation. （ The Japan Coast Guard HP, Public release, http://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/info/kouhou/h29/k20171122/k171122-1.pdf(Access: 11th Dec,2017) ） Conclusion The JCG says that through these activities it would like to deepen its trust relationships with other national maritime law enforcements, and contribute to maintaining and developing open and stable oceans under the rules of law. （ The Japan Coast Guard HP, Public release, http://www.kaiho.mlit.go.jp/info/kouhou/h29/k20171122/k171122-1.pdf(Access: 11th Dec,2017) ） The JCG has engaged in several capacity building efforts regarding maritime law enforcement, especially in Southeast Asian countries, not only recently through the activities of the MCT. It is hoped that these engagements help in establishing an international network in the field of maritime law enforcement amongst those who share the same values. In addition, these engagements promote regional cooperation that should help lead to an avoidance of risks in any unpreventable accidents in the future.

JITTI Journal May 2022 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2022 Feature Article Mandatory Registration of Unmanned Aircraft in Japan by Yoshihiro Fujimaki 1. Background and Overview One of the major problems currently occurring with inappropriate flights by Unmanned Aircraft (UA) is that the aircraft cannot be identified and so appropriate and necessary safety measures cannot be taken against the owner of the UA when needed. In addition, because the use of UAs has been on the rise due to such factors as the growing shortage of personnel in the logistics and security industries, the increasing demand for survey and investigation flights over wide areas, and the creation of business models that utilize UAs in remote island and depopulated mountainous regions, it is becoming extremely important to know who is the owner of each UA. Based on the above circumstances, like other countries, registration of UAs will be mandatory in Japan from June 20, 2022. This is based on an amendment of the Civil Aviation Act, and the bill was approved by the National Diet of Japan in June 2020.  From June 20, 2022, most UAs will have to be marked with a registration ID to identify them, and also be fitted with a remote ID function. UAs which will be excluded from these requirements are limited to those weighing less than 100 grams. Meanwhile, UAs which weigh equal to or less than 0.55 pound (about 250 grams) are excluded from similar requirements in the United States. This point is one major item that is different between the US and Japan and is not to be overlooked. Image Source: Handbook for Unmanned Aircraft Registration published by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau 2. How to Register The application for registration can be done online or by submitting necessary physical documents. It is required to enter/complete the information such as the name and address of the owner and the user of the UA, as well as the manufacturer and model of the UA in the application. Even if a UA has been registered in a foreign country, that UA has to be registered based on the Civil Aviation Act for it to be flown in Japan. The registration of the UA is subject to strict identification of the owner. This process can be done online or by postal mail. In the case that the owner is an individual resident of Japan, an individual number card, Japanese driver’s license or Japanese passport is required for online identity verification. In the case that the owner is a foreign individual who does not have a residence in Japan, a copy of the passport of the owner plus a copy of a document issued by a public institution that verifies the name, address, and date of birth of the owner are required to be sent by postal mail. The identity verification process may take 1-5 days after the documents arrive. Once the identity verification has been completed, information for fee payment is notified by email. The registration fee varies by application method, and is between 900 Japanese Yen (about 8 US dollars) and 2,400 Japanese Yen (about 20 US dollars). In 1-5 days after the fee payment, the registration ID will be issued to the UA. This registration ID must be clearly visible on the UA with marker and stickers, with the marking font being at least 3mm in the case of aircraft weighing less than 25 kg. The registration ID also has to be registered to remote ID equipment using a dedicated smartphone application. Please refer to the next section about the remote ID.Registration of the UA is valid for 3 years, therefore re-registration is required every 3 years. Image Source: the website of Drone/UAS Information Platform System (DIPS) 3. Remote ID Remote ID (RID) is a function that transmits identification information remotely via radio waves. A UA must be equipped with this RID function to fly, except for special cases such as flying over specific areas which are notified in advance to the government and with necessary safety measures taken. In Japan, similarly to the US, RID equipment is classified into a built-in type or an external (attached) type. But, while there are some differences of information between the built-in type (Standard RID) and external type (RID Broadcast Module) in the US, information from both types of RID equipment is the same in Japan. That information includes the registration ID and serial number of the UA, and dynamic information such as location, speed, altitude and time more than once per second, but does not include information about the owner or user. Information from RID equipment can be received by anyone using an appropriate smartphone or receiver. Law enforcement officers can trace the information of the owner and the user of the UA based on received information of its registration ID. 4. Special Reminder to Tourists Who Plan to Fly UAs in Japan As described in section 2, even if a UA has been registered in a foreign country, that UA has to be registered based on the Civil Aviation Act for it to be flown in Japan. The registration process may take more than 1 week, therefore that period should be taken into account. Also, using radio equipment which does not have the Japanese Technical Conformity Mark may be regarded as illegal to use in Japan, even if that equipment is based on a foreign standard. In addition, there are several flight rules to be followed. Please refer the JCAB website for details. Japanese Technical Conformity Mark for radio equipment JCAB website Image Resources: Handbook for Unmanned Aircraft Registration published by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau Drone/UAS Information Platform System (DIPS) JCAB website

Welcome to our website! Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI USA), is an independent research institute which studies various kinds of US-Japan and... Research Reports Recent Developments in the Revitalization of the U.S. Maritime Industry: Application of Section 301 under the U.S. Trade Act Videos on Demand VIEW ALL VIDEOS Events U.S.–Japan International Exchange Symposium 2025: Building a Trusted and Collaborative Partnership through Multi-layered Engagement Thursday, November 20th | Hybrid Event: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center and Held Virtually in English and Japanese Since the pandemic, Japan and the United States have resumed and strengthened people-to-people exchanges through initiatives such as recent summit meetings and the “U.S.-Japan Tourism Year.” Global events, including the recently held Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, are further boosting these ties. In addition, multi-layered personnel exchange and dispatch programs across the public and private sectors also contribute to mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. Amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing nationalism, multi-layered exchanges are vital for fostering trust and a collaborative U.S.–Japan partnership that supports global stability. This symposium will bring together government officials and experts from both nations to discuss ways to deepen people-to-people exchanges and advance international exchange. VIEW ALL EVENTS Research Reports Recent Developments in the Revitalization of the U.S. Maritime Industry: Application of Section 301 under the U.S. Trade Act Author: Kazuya Fukuhara & Hiroyuki Yamagami | Maritime Transportation U.S. Policy Trends on Advanced Air Mobility: Part 5 ~ Development of the Roadmap for AAM TC, Issuance of the AC on Powered-Lift TC, and Final Rule of MOSAIC ~ Author: Shinichiro Tsuri | Civil Aviation U.S. Response to the IMO Net Zero Framework and Its Background Author: Yosuke Yamashita | Maritime Transportation VIEW ALL REPORTS JITTI JOURNAL January 2026 Volume 13 Issue 1 | Feature: Yosuke Yamashita | Cultural Article: Suzannah Nevas In this journal's Featured Article, discover how Japan, along with it's strategic alliance with the U.S., is reshaping global shipbuilding and what it means for the future. Furthermore, find how Sapporo, Japan finds delight in the winter season in their annual Yuki Matsuri (snow festival). November 2025 Volume 12 Issue 6 | Feature: Yuta Arai | Cultural Article: Tomomi Dodd Read our Feature introducing a world-leading Coast Guard graduate course and have an intimate look at a Shinto-style wedding in our Cultural Article. September 2025 Volume 12 Issue 5 | Feature: Yukiko Nakamura | Cultural Article: Yuta Arai Our Feature Article overviews how regional initiatives around Japanese airports are working to revitalize the surrounding area. Meanwhile, our Cultural Article introduces speed-dials in Japan. VIEW ALL OTHER PUBLICATIONS

The Japan Coast Guard’s New Challenge for Global Cooperation Among Coast Guard Agencies/ Functions 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 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2019 Feature Article

This second report in a series on emerging Smart City trends in the West highlights the Hammarby Sjöstad district in Stockholm, Sweden as a case study for exemplary TOD. Read about how their TOD projects have attracted MaaS and helped achieve their environmental goals in urban development. < Back Surface Transportation Survey of Smart City Trends in the West: Transit-oriented Development and Mobility-as-a-Service Part 2: Case Study 1- Stockholm, Sweden By Akito Okabe This second report in a series on emerging Smart City trends in the West highlights the Hammarby Sjöstad district in Stockholm, Sweden as a case study for exemplary TOD. Read about how their TOD projects have attracted MaaS and helped achieve their environmental goals in urban development. Download the Report

JITI 2013 Aviation Seminar The Future of the U.S.-Japan Market November 19, 2013 The Willard InterContinental Washington 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. For the United States, Japan is the fourth largest market in bilateral passenger air services. More than ten million people fly between these two countries every year. Unfortunately, while other Asian markets, such as U.S.-China, have rapidly developed, the U.S.-Japan market experienced a downward trend during the last decade. This may reflect the difference in economic and social circumstances among the U.S.-Japan and other bilateral markets. Some might argue that the U.S.-Japan market has and will continue to exhibit relatively softer demand than in the past. However, conditions in the U.S.-Japan market are changing. The Open Skies agreement, airport expansion in Tokyo, and recovery from the recent economic downturn in both countries and the Great East Japan Earthquake could factor in the revitalization of the market. In this seminar, JITI’s distinguished speakers reviewed the current dynamics of the U.S.-Japan aviation market and discuss whether it can be reinvigorated, including what the key to an eventual resurgence might be. Opening Remarks Makoto Washizu President JITI USA Bio Keynote Speeches John Byerly Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, US State Department Bio Presentation Hiroshi Otsuka Assistant Vice-Minister for International Affairs and International Aviation, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) of Japan Bio Presentation Timothy Liu Senior Director of Asia Sales, Hawaiian Airlines Bio Presentation Yuji Hirako Senior Vice President, The Americas, All Nippon Airways (ANA) Bio Presentation Buddy Anslinger Senior Vice President, Airline Network Strategy, InterVISTAS Bio Presentation Special Guest Speech Keiichi Ando President & CEO, New Kansai International Airport Company, Ltd. Bio Presentation Panel Discussion Kenneth Button Professor, School of Public Policy, George Mason University Bio

On July 9th, President Biden announced his "Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy" to bolster competition in industries where certain companies dominate the market. The executive order covers a wide range of industrial fields, including technology, health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, and gives the government agencies in charge of each field some specific instructions for promoting competition. < Back Tourism & More President Biden's "Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy" By Tetsuhiro Nakagawa On July 9th, President Biden announced his "Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy" to bolster competition in industries where certain companies dominate the market. The executive order covers a wide range of industrial fields, including technology, health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation, and gives the government agencies in charge of each field some specific instructions for promoting competition. Download the Report

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan by Shinichiro Tsuri Background 2025 is a year with a big event, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, which will be held for 184 days from April 13th to October 13th, 2025 in Yumeshima, Osaka. Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), which is the next-generation of air mobility expected to operate in the near future, is one of the hot topics of the expo, as a part of the Smart Mobility Expo in the Future Society Showcase Project Exhibition. Currently, four AAM operators are planning to conduct demonstration flights around the expo site in Yumeshima, and between two ports inside and outside the expo site. Although the plans of these operations are still in flux, in this article, I will introduce an overview of the planned AAM operations at the upcoming expo as of December 2024, when this article was drafted. Planned Ports Image Source: Information added to a map compiled by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan Expected Operators ANA HD / Joby Aviation All Nippon Airways Holdings (a holding company of All Nippon Airways) and Joby Aviation (a U.S. electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer) are planning to operate Joby Aviation’s S4. This model is classified as a “vectored thrust” type, which has fixed wings and uses the same thrust mechanism for vertical takeoff/landing and cruising by changing the orientation of the thrust mechanism. Major specifications of the S4 are as follows: Seating capacity: 5 (1 pilot and 4 passengers) Maximum cruise speed: 322km/h They plan to operate the S4 at the EXPO Vertiport based around the bay area in Yumeshima. Joby Aviation’s S4 (Courtesy of Joby Aviation. (c) Joby Aero, Inc.) Image Source: Website of Joby Aviation (Media Kit) Soracle Soracle Corporation, which is a joint venture of Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Airlines, is planning to operate Midnight from Archer Aviation (a U.S. eVTOL aircraft developer). This model is also a “vectored thrust” type eVTOL aircraft like Joby Aviation’s S4 above. Major specifications of Midnight are as follows: Seating capacity: 5 (1 pilot and 4 passengers) Payload: 454kg Range: 161km (normally 32 ~ 80 km operation is expected) Maximum cruise speed: 241km/h They plan to operate Midnight between the EXPO Vertiport and the Osaka Heliport. Archer Aviation’s Midnight at Public Exhibition Photo Source: Shinichiro Tsuri Marubeni Marubeni Corporation is planning to operate the VX4 from Vertical Aerospace, which is a UK eVTOL aircraft developer (and also HEXA from LIFT Aircraft, which is a U.S. eVTOL aircraft developer). This model is also a “vectored thrust” type eVTOL aircraft like the two aforementioned models. Major specifications of the VX4 are as follows: Seating capacity: 5 (1 pilot and 4 passengers) Range: 161km Maximum cruise speed: 241km/h They plan to operate the VX4 between the EXPO Vertiport and Amagasaki Phoenix. Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 ((c) Vertical Aerospace Ltd.) Image Source: Website of Vertical Aerospace (Media Kit) SkyDrive SkyDrive (a Japanese eVTOL aircraft developer) is planning to operate its SKYDRIVE. This model is classified as a “multi-rotor” type, which does not have fixed wings and uses a thrust mechanism consisting of three or more rotors for vertical take-off and landing. Major specifications of SKYDRIVE are as follows: Seating capacity: 3 (1 pilot and 2 passengers) Maximum takeoff weight: 1,400kg Range: Approx. 15km Maximum cruise speed: 100km/h They plan to operate SKYDRIVE between the EXPO Vertiport and Osaka Port, Central Jetty. SkyDrive’s SKYDRIVE ((c) SkyDrive Inc.) Image Source: Website of SkyDrive Conclusion While the AAMs mentioned above are still under development and in the process of type certification, the expected operators are advancing their efforts to carry out demonstration flights at the expo. I hope that the actualization of these flights will provide a significant opportunity to enhance the social acceptance of AAM, as well as yield best practices and lessons learned that can be shared internationally regarding AAM operations. References Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Smart Mobility Expo, Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) https://www.expo2025.or.jp/en/future-index/smart-mobility/advanced-air-mobility/ Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Status of each company's consideration of AAM at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan https://www.expo2025.or.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/20240926-1-siryou1.pdf Joby Aviation https://www.jobyaviation.com/ Archer Aviation https://archer.com/ Vertical Aerospace https://vertical-aerospace.com/ SkyDrive https://skydrive2020.com/ Back to All JITTI Journals January 2025 Feature Article

Eno conducted an analysis of the international market for air travel for JITTI USA. This multi-part series details some of the most interesting facts and findings, and is instructive for thinking about how international air service has evolved over the past few decades. < Back Civil Aviation Trends in International Travel Part 3: Aircraft, Polar Routes, and Flights to Asia By Paul Lewis Eno conducted an analysis of the international market for air travel for JITTI USA. This multi-part series details some of the most interesting facts and findings, and is instructive for thinking about how international air service has evolved over the past few decades. Download the Report

Activities of Chinese Government Ships around the Senkaku Islands and the Japan Coast Guard's Response 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. Back to All JITTI Journals July 2021 Feature Article