Nagasaki symposium pushes full Shinkansen build on unbuilt Shin-Tosu–Takeo-Onsen section
In short
About 800 people attended a symposium in Nagasaki on Oct 8 promoting full-standard Shinkansen construction along the whole West Kyushu route, including the unbuilt Shin-Tosu–Takeo-Onsen section. Former transport vice-minister Satoshi Mizushima (水嶋智), who reached a July agreement with Saga Prefecture on an environmental assessment of the section, gave the keynote. Nagasaki Governor Ken Hirata (平田研) and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki (鈴木史朗) joined a panel on the line's benefits.
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A symposium promoting the West Kyushu (Nagasaki) route of the Kyushu Shinkansen was held in Nagasaki on Oct 8. Its aim was full-standard construction along the whole line, including the unbuilt section between Shin-Tosu and Takeo-Onsen. About 800 people from government, business and local authorities attended, according to Nippon TV News and TBS NEWS DIG. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported that a council for promoting construction, made up of economic groups in Nagasaki Prefecture, organised the event. Nikkei said the prefecture's economic organisations held it to push for extending the line toward Hakata. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The keynote speaker was Satoshi Mizushima, former vice-minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Nikkei reported that he stepped down in August. Nippon TV News reported that in July, while still in office, he reached an agreement between the national government and Saga Prefecture to carry out an environmental assessment of the section from next fiscal year. "Unless we start the environmental assessment, we cannot get to the start of construction," Mizushima said. He described the main point of the agreement as running Saga's process of consolidating its discussions in parallel with the assessment. TBS NEWS DIG reported that Saga, which has cited the financial burden and reduced convenience of conventional lines as problems, agreed with the ministry in July to carry out the assessment from next fiscal year onward. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Mizushima said that connecting Nagasaki and northern Kyushu, which have high potential, to the national Shinkansen network is a major task in advancing Japan as a tourism-oriented nation. Both Nikkei and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported this. According to TBS NEWS DIG, he said that if Hiroshima and Nagasaki were linked in two hours, inbound visitors now concentrated in Tokyo and Osaka could be drawn west, creating a "second golden route" that could revitalise western Japan. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
On Nagasaki Prefecture's share of construction costs, which is included in the agreement, Mizushima said that ideas on funding cannot be pooled until the content of the project is decided, Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported. In his view, the burden cannot be known until the route is settled. TBS NEWS DIG reported that local cost-sharing under full-standard construction is to be discussed with Nagasaki Prefecture. [ 3 , 4 ]
In the panel discussion, Governor Ken Hirata stressed the economic effect of linking Nagasaki to the Tokyo metropolitan area by Shinkansen, according to Nippon TV News. He also cited shorter travel times between Hakata and Nagasaki, saying commuting and schooling would change. "It will become easier to come back to Nagasaki for caregiving. Not only tourism but our lives themselves will change," he said, calling the line social infrastructure that widens the area people can live in so they can keep living in Nagasaki Prefecture. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Mayor Shiro Suzuki presented a "peace Shinkansen" concept that would link Nagasaki and Hiroshima in a short time, Nippon TV News reported. Pointing to the redevelopment around JR Nagasaki Station, he said the biggest effect of the Shinkansen is town development. He said that connecting to the Shinkansen network would expand exchange and be a trump card for regional revitalisation. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The Shin-Tosu–Takeo-Onsen section remains unbuilt, and Mizushima said construction cannot begin until the environmental assessment starts. Nagasaki's share of construction costs is still undecided and, according to Mizushima, cannot be known until the route is settled.
Key facts
- A symposium promoting the West Kyushu (Nagasaki) route of the Kyushu Shinkansen was held in Nagasaki on Oct 8. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- About 800 people attended. [ 1 , 4 ]
- The symposium sought full-standard construction along the whole line, including the unbuilt Shin-Tosu–Takeo-Onsen section. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Satoshi Mizushima, former vice-minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, gave the keynote speech; Nikkei reported he left the post in August. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- In July, Saga Prefecture and the transport ministry agreed to carry out an environmental assessment of the section from next fiscal year. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Nagasaki Governor Ken Hirata and Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki took part in a panel discussion with Mizushima. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The event was organised by a council for promoting construction made up of economic groups in Nagasaki Prefecture. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The symposium was held in Nagasaki on Oct 8. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- About 800 people attended. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Mizushima, Governor Hirata and Mayor Suzuki spoke at the event. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Saga Prefecture and the national government agreed to carry out an environmental assessment of the unbuilt section. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Mizushima linked connecting Nagasaki to the national Shinkansen network with advancing Japan as a tourism-oriented nation. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How much of the construction cost Nagasaki Prefecture will bear. Mizushima said the burden cannot be known until the route and project content are decided, and TBS NEWS DIG reported the matter is to be discussed with Nagasaki Prefecture.
- Saga Prefecture's development policy for its section. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reported the policy for the Saga section has not been decided.
- Mayor Suzuki's "peace Shinkansen" concept linking Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Only Nippon TV News reported the concept.