Chapter 4. Supporting Joyful Life

〔Achieving a comfortable living〕 ○Development and effective use of good―quality residence and housing lots In order to make effective use of existing housing stock, we are promoting quality home ownership through tax and financial measures in addition to dealing with such issues as the used housing market, the rental housing market, activation of the renovation market and proper management and smooth rebuilding of condominiums, conversion of former office space into housing, etc.

94. (Comparison of the number of new housing construction starts and the distribution quantity of used houses in market between Japan and USA per population of 1,000 in both countries) (Houses/1000 people) 25

19.1 20 18.4 18.6 Used houses in circulation (U. S.) 16.4 15.1 15.8 14.8 14.5 14.7 12.8 14.7 14.5 15 13.5 13.6 13.8 12.7 11.6 12.1 13.8 13.8 13.5 13.9 12.6 13.2 12.0 11.8 10 11.3 New housing 11.1 11.4 11.1 9.9 10.3 construction starts (Japan) 9.7 9.6 New housing construction starts (U. S.) 9.5 9.6 7.4 7.5 7.3 7.3 6.7 5 6.1 5.6 5.6 5.6 5.5 6.0 6.1 5.7 Used houses in circulation (Japan) 4.8 4.7 5.0 5.1 4.0 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 0.9 0 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 19981999 2000 Sources: U.S.: Construction Review, Statistical Abstract of United States Japan: MPHPT“Housing and Land Survey”,MLIT“Statistics of New Dwellings Started”

95. (Changes of the size of housing renovation market)

Trillion yen 10

9.06 9 Renovation total

8.12 8.06 8 7.52 7.49 7.45 7.19 7.06 6.93 7 6.75 7.27 6.13 Facilities repair and maintenance 6 5.78 5.74 5.29 5.44 5.30 5.13 5.23 5 4.95 4.42 4.54 4.06 4.18 4 3.59 3.40 4.53 4.11 4.42 3 3.07 4.00 4.28 4.54 4.48 2.76 3.32 2.98 Expansion 2.18 2.33 2 and rebuilding costs 1 1.22 1.26 1.30 1.35 1.20 1.22 1.18 1.21 1.02 0.95 0.85 0.76 0.75 0 ’89 � ’90 � ’91 � ’92 � ’93 � ’94 � ’95 � ’96 � ’97 � ’98 � ’99 � ’00 � ’01 � Note: Bar graph represents renovation in the narrow sense. Line graph represents construction costs associated with expansion and rebuilding within housing start statistics, as well as expenditures for household durable goods associated with renovation, purchase of interior goods, etc. Sources: Compiled from MLIT“Building Construction Started”, MPHPT“Survey of Household Economy”“National Population, Number of Households and Population Statistics Chart”, Center for Housing Renovation and Dispute Settlement Support“Housing Renovation, Report 2002 on Consultations Regarding Housing Renovation and Housing”

44 ○Promotion of building administration Building administration, including building inspection, plays a major role in insuring the quality of housing and buildings, dealing with such problems as sick house syndrome and fire protection in multi−use small buildings. ○Promoting supply of High―quality Housing lots In addition to assaying changes in housing lots policy to focus on quality and make effective use of stock, we are also making use of term−limited lot−rental rights.

〔Achieving a comfortable lifestyle〕 ○Promotion of sewerage development A major differential in sewerage development exists among regions. Therefore, as we look for efficient ways to expand them, such as strengthening ties among different types of sewerage development, we are promoting work in smaller cities and towns. Also, we are dealing with such new issues as urban flooding, improvement of combined sewer systems, high− level treatment in closed water areas and the lake.

96. (Nationwide percentage of sewer―served population (by population))

％� 100 90 98.0％� 80 80.0％� 70 74.0％� 60 69.2％� 50 Overall average 63.5％ 53.6％� 40 (as of 2001) 30 Population 20 percentage 29.5％� 10 20％� 7％� 13％� 21％� 12％� 27％�

Population Over 1 million 500,000- 300,000- 100,000-300,000 50,000- Under 50,000 1,000,000 500,000 100,000 Sources: MLIT

○Development of City Parks City parks are core facilities for creating a rich living environment and dealing with the diverse needs of the people for recreation. We are undertaking such development of city parks for such diverse functions as improving the safety of cities, forming communities for an aging society, building and protecting a superior environment, and creating lively exchange spots. ○Stable supply of water resources Water shortage has occured frequently due to a slight decreasing trend of precipitation in our country where stable water supplies are difficult to maintain for climatic and geographic reasons. Therefore, ensuring the stability of water utilization is being sought for from both software and hardware sides, such as building water resources development facilities, making efficient use of conventional facilities, sharing water, recollecting water, and utilizing water repeatedly, etc.

97. Yearly change of annual precipitation in Japan (1897−2001)

2,100 precipitation per year five-year average average precipitation trend 2,000 1,900 1,800 1,700 1,600 1,500 1,400 1,300

precipitation per year (mm) 1,200 1,100 1897 1907 1917 1927 1937 1947 1957 1967 1977 1987 1997 Note 1: Calculated by the Water Resources Department of MLIT based on information from the Japan Metorological Agency. Arithmetic average for 46 locations throughout the nation. 2: Trend was calculated as a regression line.

45 〔Improving convenience in daily life〕 We aim to improve the convenience and comfort of daily life by promoting overall renovation of RR station functions, taking measures to harmonize transfers, encouraging off-peak commuting, etc.

〔Encouraging the IT Revolution〕 ○Using IT in the transportation field With the aim of more convenient service in the field of transportation, we are taking the following measures: 1．Promoting introduction of the IC card system; 2．Encouraging the“e－Airport Concept；” 3．Offering digital public transportation information; 4．R&D for a model system to aid those with limited mobility; and 5．Undertaking to construct an on－demand transit system in transportation deprived areas.

98. (Suica) 99. (State of IC card introduction (as of Jan. 2003))

State of IC card introduction (as of Jan. 2003) Dohokubus corp. “Do-Card,” Nov. 1999 Kitami Bus corp. Key planned March 2003 Bus Multimodal Sapporo Information JR East (Sendai area) railway RR Dotted line Network “SMAP Suica planned Dec. 2003 indicates test stage Card” Subway, misc. purchases Nov. 1999 Fukushima kotsu Surutto KANSAI corp“Bus IC Card” Association Pitapa Hokuriku Railroad� “ ” April 2001 RR, Shopping planned 2003 Bus FY2003 Yamanashi kotsu Limited“Bus IC Saitama Railway Card”Feb. 2002 SkyRail Service Corporation“IC “IC Pass” Sept. 1998 JR West“ICOCA” Pass”March 2002 planned 2003 Transportation Bureau JR East (Tokyo area)� City of Kitakyushu� 「Suica」� “Himawari Bus Card” purchases (planned), � Sept. 2001 RR November 2001 Nagasaki Traffic Bureau etc Aichi Loop Line TOKYU TRANSSES Tokyo Monorail “Nagasaki Smart purchases planned “TRANSSES Card” “Monorail Suica” Card Jan 2002 ” 2003 July 1998 April 2002 Kagoshima Prefecture 5 Bus Companies FY Tokyo Waterfront Area 2002 Rapid Transit“Rinkai Suica”Dec. 2002 Enshu Railway Iwada-gun Toyota-cho “EGI Card” “Toyoda-cho U-bus Tokyu Corporation Miyazaki kotsu corp. RR, bus March Card” Oct. 1997 “Setamaru’ “Miyakou Busca”Oct. 2002 2003 July 2002

○Encouraging ITS (high－level road information system) In order to build an integrated highway and vehicular system using IT technology, we are undertaking to: 1. Promote the spread of ETC (electronic toll collection); 2. Improve road traffic conditions information; 3. Make use of ITS in highway transport operation; and 4. Promote ITS to aid pedestrians. In addition, we are developing and diffusing travel support systems and advanced safe automobiles, as well as promoting technology to develop electronic license plates.

100. (ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System))

This is designed to solve and ease congestion at the tollgate, which accounts for 30% of expressway running costs, by paying toll without stopping cars.

Road side antenna On-board unit（OBU）�

Smart card

Interactive radio communications

Note: ETC Electronic Toll Collection System

46 101. (Image of Driving Support System (Collision Prevention System))

＜Image of Driving support system（System image for preventing collision accident）＞� Roadside Car side

Providing information Alarm ①against delayed discovery Screen image against judgment error Sound peep Operation support ② Car is stopped 300m ahead.  ③against operation error Be careful of driving.

Providing real time information from Information flow automobile to driver Transmitting information  sensor from road to automobile accident Information providing image by on-board equipment 〈Advanced safety vehicle〉�

○Realizing the electronic national land In conjunction with the development and diffusion of GIS (geographic information system), we are preparing clearinghouses for space databases and geographical information and also developping a geodetic data point system. ○Realizing Electronic Government We are working for the early establishment of electronic government, to provide such nonstop services as online administrative procedures, electronic bidding and automobile registration.

47 102. Realization of electronic government

Realization of electronic government Development of on-line application and electronic certification systems of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Making application and notification procedures on line On-line application system of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation provides a common reception window of application and notification to the ministry. Citizen Ministry of Land Private Authentication Basis Online Application System Making Out Application

Electronic� Sending Application Certificate Application Reception

Internet Examination

Electronic� Accepting Ones Approved Publishing a License Certificate Permission

Seal of Minister of Land, Plan for On-Line Procedures for Application and Notification of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Infrastructure and Transportation ～2001 2002 2003 Application, registration� 206 814 1325 and other procedures 180 222 2815

○developping and opening of fiber optic reception spaces We are promoting the developping fiber optics in public facilities and fiber optic reception spaces, and their opening to the private sector.

〔Promotion of recreational activities〕 ○Development of recreational space We are undertaking to develop national parks to meet broad recreational demands, and high―quality walking and waterside spaces for health improvement and creating attractive districts.

103. (Akashi Straits National Park) 104. ( Okumatsushima − matsushima Park Line (Miyagi Pref.))

○Improving the environment for pleasure boating In conjunction with taking new integrated measures to promote and regulate small craft use, we are working to improve the use environment for pleasure boats, building marinas and dealing with abandoned and sunken vessels.

48 〔 ( vroet atcpt nsceyb making by society in participate to everyone are retastssesadct pcs osn n ulig n itrzdbrirfe iei nwaes for areas, snow in life free seniors. barrier for security winterized and a rearing and child buildings for housing and household housing improving spaces, city and systems transit free barrier shipwrecks) and accidents boat small of (No. 105. 0.(etfcto eom 0.(Recl 107. Reform) (Certification 106. Present ShipEmployee Law orsodneaigsceywt ee chirdren fewer with society aging Correspondence ncnucinwt esrst elwt h ai rgeso oada gn oit ihfwrcide,t make to children, fewer with society aging an toward progression rapid the with deal to measures with conjunction In MLIT Source: ag esl Smallboats Large vessels Ship Operator {Small boatoperator} {Seaman} Vessel employee = Captain Seaman ’ s License ’ ’ s License s Certificate ) ag esloeain Othervessels Large vessel operations Wide application Vessel employee Vessels Pleasureboats 2,500 1,000 1,500 2,000 （No.）� Large Commercial Seaman ( Ship Employee and SmallBoatOperatorLaw 500 ’ s License 0 1,708 1995 750 separate separate Ship Operator = Captain (Including large pleasureboats) Small fishing boats,etc. Large Passenger Ships,etc. ’ Enforcement oflaw To harmonizeleisureandsafety ’ s License s Certificate Small BoatLicense 1,810 Small BoatOperator 1996 818 Simplified aeadscr iefral including all, for life secure and safe a ： 1,688 1997 836

Passenger ships handled separately ) (Special Operator’s License) 〕 1,787 1998 49 907 20 ton 5 ton 1,966 1999 5th Class

Freshwater 971 small horsepower 1 nauticalmile 3rd Class siiaino Certification) of assification 4th Class 5 nauticalmiles ( Present 2,345 2000 1,233 20 nauticalmiles 2nd Class )( eir n disabled and seniors 2,297 2001 1st Class Freshwater small horsepower 1,332 Year Motorboats, etc. Jet ski Pleasure boats FishingOthers boats small boat Special 2nd Class After revision 5 nauticalmiles esn,w are we persons, 1st Class ) 5 ton 20 ton 108. (Effect of Transportation Accessibility improvement Law)

The traffic barrier-free law enforces agreement with the barrier-free standard (smooth moving standard) in Elevator / escalator Concrete-block for guiding the visually-handicapped Toilet for the physically handicapped case of newly built passenger facilities like stations and introduction of vehicles like buses. There is another plan for making roads and signals barrier- free in common initiative with municipalities, which will promote making stations and roads around them barrier-free.

Low-floor bus Equipment for providing visual and auditory information

Sound signal Space for wheelchairs Watch out for trains. Watch out for trains.

109. (Barrier free in winter) 110. (Gradually sloping ramps)

Securing lying snow width Removing and melting snow for pedestrian crossings

Winter barrier-free measures ・Measures against snow around pedestrian crossings Melting snow around subways Melting snow around bus stop areas ・ Anti-freezing measures of slopes and underpass entrances ・Securing lying snow width ・Measures against snow around bus stop areas

111. (Approved buildings on basis of“Heartful Building Law”)

FY 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Approved buildings (fiscal year) 11 120 229 320 382 366 332 232

Approved buildings (cumulative) 11 131 360 680 1,062 1,428 1,760 1,992

Source: MLIT

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