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Changes in the international economic environment and the progress of Japan's
internationalization have exerted a variety of influences on transport through
changes in the flow of people and goods. For example, the yen's appreciation
and the enhancement of Japan's international status have led to a sharp increase
in the number of people coming in and going out of Japan, giving rise to problems
such as the absence of adequate operational capacities at international airports
in Japan. On the other hand, Japanese ocean-going shipping firms and international
air cargo forwarding companies find that it is now imperative to cope with changes
in international distribution networks brought about by the change of the international
economic environment, and to carry out their operations from a global standpoint.
In addition, Japan is urged to expand the scope of its international cooperation
in a manner which corresponds with its economic strength, as the role played
by japan in the international community is increasing in importance. At the
same time, the rectification of external imbalances has become a pressing need
for Japan. In view of this, Japan must continue to exert efforts to step up
international cooperation in the transport field and also to facilitate more
foreign access to the Japanese transport-related market.
The international flow of people has been active, centering around Japan,
which has grown into an economic and technological large country, as illustrated
by sharp increases in the number of Japanese going abroad and foreigners visiting
Japan. It is hoped that Japan will reinforce its international transport network
to cope with the situation (Fig. 7).
At present, to secure transport capacities that meet demands for transport,
Japan is making efforts to improve its international air service network, including
the pluralization of airline companies and the opening of new routes. Moreover,
while pushing ahead with the opening of new scheduled international flights
to and from regional airports, Japan is promoting the use of regional airport
by means of stimulating demand for air services, including the effective utilization
of charter flights.
The volume of passenger traffic on shipping routes operating between Japan
and neighboring countries is steadily growing, and this has given impetus to
moves to open new shipping routes. Hence, it is hoped that appropriate steps
will be taken to build or improve terminals and other facilities in addition
to carrying out intergovernmental consultations when necessary.
Furthermore, it is important to carry out vigorous international exchange
activities to promote better mutual understanding. Overseas travel can be enjoyed
by people in every walk of life in terms of international human exchanges. Because
of this, the Ministry of Transport is currently pushing ahead with the "Ten
Million Program" and "TAP 90's" in an effort to promote better international
understanding.
As a result of changes in the international environment brought about by
the appreciation of the yen, economic friction, establishment of production
bases in foreign countries, and the rise of newly industrializing economies
(NIEs), the international PD (physical distribution) affecting Japan's exports
and imports has undergone noticeable changes in recent years (
Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10).
In recent years, oceangoing trade footholds have been shifting to Far East
areas other than Japan owing to progress in the industrialization of NIES and
the establishment of Japanese production bases in foreign countries. With this,
ocean-going shipping firms are asked to operate their main routes in accordance
with management strategies based on broader global perspectives and providing
sophisticated shipping route services. In response, Japanese oceangoing shipping
firms are now making efforts to bolster their PD strategies, including the reinforcement
of their PD footholds in Far East and North America where their management are
increasing in importance. In addition, they are aggressively forgoing ahead
with management strategies such as incorporating a part of their head office
functions at a foreign area to attain greater efficiency in business management
With severe international competition expected to continue, Japanese ocean-going
shipping firms are asked to manage their business in a manner which suits the
change of times (Table 2).
International air cargo has sharply increased, centering around food and
finished product imports, and is expected to continue increasing. As a result,
cargo handling facilities at the New Tokyo International Airport are operating
overcapacity, hence there is a need to expand such facilities and to improve,
at the same time, the situation in which international cargo flight operations
are concentrated at the airport. Because of this, the implementation of medium-
and long-term steps to utilize other airports, including the New Kansai International
Airport, is being studied.
Changes in the international trade environment have also had a significant
impact on cargo handling at ports and harbors. In these circumstances, imports
of food and finished goods have increased sharply, making it necessary to establish
a more efficient handling system for inbound cargo, by re-examining conventional
export-oriented port and harbor facilities.
Few Japanese are aware of the current high status of Japan in the world
economy, and now Japan in being urged to consider how it can contribute to the
world by giving full scope to its economic power. The Ministry of Transport
is currently pushing ahead with vigorous economic cooperation in developing
nations in terms of the improvement of infrastructures such as railways, ports
and harbors, and airports, and the promotion of tourism and transport safety
through ODA (official development assistance). The ministry also participates
in and offers cooperation to a variety of activities being carried out by international
agencies, including the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It furthermore
is aggressively forging ahead with international cooperation in science and
technology.
On the other hand, Japan is under increasing international pressure to open
its market wider to foreign products, hence there in a need to continue efforts
to work out solutions to individual problems, and to bolster, at the same time,
a system of international coordination of economic policies as a whole.
With regard to the entry of foreign enterprises into Japan's large-scale
public profects, steps agreed upon in May 1988 between Japan and the United
States are now being implemented, with tangible results. The situation is evaluated
highly by the U. S. The U. S. recently published the results of a survey conducted
in accordance with the 1988 Trade Act with regard to barriers preventing access
to the construction market in Japan, and announced its decision to refrain,
for the time being, from taking sanctions against Japan, while acknowledging
the existence of such barriers.
Again, in response to demands by European countries to improve Japan's market
access and promote imports against the backdrop of a drastic imbalance in automobile
exports and imports, the Ministry of Transport is implementing various countemeasures,
including steps based on Action Programs, while making efforts, at the same
time, to promote the internationalization of automobile standards by positively
participating in, for example, U. N. meetings of experts through the "Research
Center on the Internationalization of Automobile Standards Certification."
Today, global environmental problems such as global warming (Fig.
11), destruction of the ozone layer> acid rain and pollution of the seas
and oceans are provoking worldwide concern, and industrialized democracies and
international agencies have taken the initiative in addressing such problems.
The Ministry of Transport has been tackling environmental problems for many
years, with tangible results.
With respect to global warming, destruction of the ozone layer and other
climatic variation problems, the ministry, with the cooperation of the WMO,
has carried out many years of worthwhile activities in many fields in terms
of observations, inspections, analysis of mechanisms and development of forecasting
models. In addition, the ministry has contributed to the activities of IPCC
(Inter-governmental Panel on Climate change) jointly inaugurated by the WMO
and the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). Furthermore, acting upon
a WMO request, the ministry is scheduled to set up a world data center on greenhouse-effect
gas within the Meteorological Agency in fiscal 1990.
With regard to pollution of the seas and oceans, the Ministry of Transport
has participated for many years in international approaches by the IMO (International
Maritime organization), thereby pushing forwerd with various countermeasures
in accordance with the treaty for the establishment of the IMO. Moreover, the
ministry will work to upgrade an international accident prevention system involving
massive oil spillages from shipping.
The ministry will continue to further bolster its current activities, including
the expansion of observation and inspection systems, and will aggressively participate
and cooperate, at the same time, in the activities of the international agencies
concerned.
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