Former PM Suga opens door to "ride-sharing"

Aug 22, 2023 | News On Japan

TOKYO - Former Prime Minister Suga of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has indicated his intention to advance discussions within the party regarding the legalization of "ride-sharing" in Japan, where private individuals provide ride services similar to taxis using their own cars.

Asked whether he was positive about legalizing ride-sharing, Suga said, "I am currently inclined to think so. There are various opinions within the party as well, but considering the severe shortage of manpower, I believe such a direction might be necessary."

"Ride-sharing" has been popularized in various countries around the world, but in Japan, transporting passengers for payment without possessing a commercial driver's license falls under the so-called "illegal taxi" activities and is generally prohibited.

Considering the long queues of tourists waiting for taxis at places like airports amid the recovery of inbound tourism, Suga pointed out, "There are cries of desperation from various tourist destinations."

He mentioned the necessity of legalizing "ride-sharing" to address the shortage of drivers and expressed his intention to move forward with discussions within the LDP.

Source: ANNnewsCH

Record Rain Triggers Level 5 Warning in Fukui

Record rainfall caused 19 rivers to overflow across Fukui Prefecture, flooding roads and homes, triggering landslides and temporarily forcing authorities to issue the highest-level heavy rain emergency warning from early Sunday morning.

Drones Deliver Supplies to Residents Cut Off by Landslide

Drones were used to deliver food and daily necessities to an isolated mountain community in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, on August 30 after torrential rain triggered a landslide that cut off road access, while volunteers continued flood recovery work in neighboring Ishikawa Prefecture.

Typhoon No. 23 Overtakes No. 22 East of Japan as Both Head North

Two typhoons east of Japan were moving northward on August 30, with Typhoon No. 23 (Banlan) overtaking Typhoon No. 22 (Artau), although neither storm is expected to have a direct impact on Japan.

Nine-Minute Drone Video Shows Scale of Aeon Mall Damage

A 9-minute, 13-second drone video filmed inside Aeon Mall Kumamoto two days after the deadly explosion has provided a detailed view of the destruction, showing collapsed ceilings, heavy dust and widespread damage that may have affected between one-third and nearly half of the shopping center.

Conditions Ease as Typhoon No. 18 Passes Okinawa

Strong Typhoon No. 18 was moving northwest through the East China Sea on the night of August 26, gradually pulling away from Okinawa and the Amami Islands as lingering rain, strong winds and high waves were expected to ease. As of 9 p.m. on August 26, the typhoon was over waters north-northwest of Kume Island and moving northwest.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Can Domestic Drone Production Transform Japan's Defense?

Japan is moving to strengthen its defenses against mass drone attacks after Terra Drone became the sole company to advance through a Defense Ministry program for a Japanese-made interceptor drone, drawing on battlefield technology and production methods developed in Ukraine while pushing for domestic production of critical components.

Takaichi Bond Cap Tests Fiscal Credibility As BOJ Pressure Builds

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moved on August 28 to contain market concern over her government’s spending plans, saying Japan will aim to cap new government bond issuance at around 40 trillion yen in the fiscal 2027 budget while still pursuing food-tax relief, growth investment and measures to support households facing higher prices.

Japan Unveils New Energy Security Policy

Japan has drawn up a new policy package aimed at strengthening energy security in response to developments in the Middle East, including support for alternative oil pipelines that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz and greater use of nuclear power to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Fukuoka 'Don' Resigns as Questions Remain Over Money

Former Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly speaker Isao Kuranouchi, long regarded as the dominant power in the chamber, resigned as an assembly member on August 25, intensifying scrutiny of allegations involving financial transactions, costly overseas inspection trips and policies backed by public funds while raising broader questions about how he accumulated such influence.

My Number App Launches With Integrated ID Verification

Japan's Digital Agency launched a new smartphone app on August 25 that combines identity verification and administrative procedures, allowing users to access both government and participating private-sector services through a single application.

Takaichi Says Gasoline Prices Will Remain Around 170 Yen Per Liter

Prime Minister Takaichi said the government will continue using subsidies to keep the nationwide average gasoline price at around 170 yen per liter, drawing on reserve funds set aside to respond to developments in the Middle East.

Fukushima Decontamination Soil to Be Reused at Government Offices

The Japanese government plans to reuse low-radioactivity soil generated by decontamination work after the Fukushima nuclear accident at government office complexes in Saitama and Sendai, marking the first such reuse outside Tokyo.

Japan Backs Fusion and Plastic Recycling With 20 Billion Yen Investment

Japan's GX Promotion Organization has invested about 3 billion yen in two startups developing nuclear fusion and plastic recycling technologies, with combined public and private investment expected to reach around 20 billion yen as the government seeks to accelerate the commercialization of advanced decarbonization technologies.

< 2 3 4 5 >