Verkehrsentwicklung in Japan - Spezifische Probleme und Lösungsansätze

摘要

Seit den 60er Jahren sind die Entwicklungen im Verkehrssektor Japans von enormen nachfrage- und angebotsseitigen Veränderungen gekennzeichnet. Parallel zum raschen gesamtwirtschaftlichen Wachstum wuchs die quantitative und qualitative Nachfrage nach Transportleistungen im Personen- und Güterverkehr.%This paper describes the rapid development of transportation in Japan with regard to passenger and freight transport from the mid seventies until today. The topography of Japan is presented as a determinant of special importance. The mountainous character of the island state led to large agglomerations of population and economic activities in the flat coastal areas and even today represents a hindrance to the construction of a dense transportation network. This results in a general lack of space, especially in the agglomeration areas of Tokyo and Osaka where most of transportation demand is generated. Regarding the different modes of transportation a certain pattern of modal split becomes obvious. While the railroads have lost most of their once dominating share of freight transport, railroad passenger transport is still very important. This is true for commuting within the urban regions as well as for high speed long distance transport by the Shinkansen. This is only matched by the strong increase of air transportation. The big share of inland shipping within freight transport can be seen as a direct result of the strong coast orientation of Japanese industry. Road transport meanwhile comprises the biggest share of both, passenger and freight transport. Although there has been a strong extension and improvement of the road network, the even stronger increase of vehicles at the same time leads to unsatisfying traffic conditions and environment problems, especially in the agglomeration areas. Even in the nineties an increasing transport volume and the permanent lack and problem of space leads to new and specific approaches to resolve transport proble-mes - the development of the Maglev, a linear motor car, and that of the Techno-Super-Liner, a high speed ship, being the most prominent examples.