Introduction

Our country is now facing the great revolutionary era of socio-economic system at the beginning of the new century.

As for the population structure, which is the base of the socio-economy, low birthrate and accelerating longevity and the depopulation is predicted hereafter. There is a requirement for the effort to conserve and create the beautiful and agreeable environment such as the response for worldwide environmental issues. Moreover, it is necessary to promote the structural transformation in order to pull the economy out of the prolonged recession.
Under such circumstances, “creation of knowledge” regarding each policy is strongly required such as how to maintain the lively daily life of people and how to reform the active economic society to support it.

At the same time of the inauguration of MLIT in January 2001, The Policy Research Institute for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (PRILIT) was founded as a organization originally the Policy Research Center of Construction University of Ministry of Construction combined with Transport Training Center of Ministry of Transport “which undertakes the basic investigation and research concerning the policy for the duties of MLIT affairs under the jurisdiction” (under the article No.192 of Order for the Organization of MLIT). At this moment in history when our socio-economy stands at a critical juncture, PRILIT is ready to tackle new challenges for the policy research regarding the Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Policy at medium and long term point of view.

Following is the basic principle of The Policy Research Institute for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (hereinafter shown as “basic policy”) which under such circumstances shows the mission of PRILIT, the research issues which should be focused on, and the plans to conduct research activities and others as an objective for the next 3-5 years.

However, the areas concerning the Policy for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are absolutely diversified, and alongside the rapid change of the environments surrounding our socio-economy, there are growing requirements in variety of policies. Therefore, PRILIT makes it a rule to readjust its basic policy timely according to such changes of conditions and to the external opinions.

PRILIT will continue to exercise our effort to be qualified to the formation of more appropriate and qualified policy for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by advancing intensive researches hereafter in accordance with this basic policy.