Cooperation in Policy Discussions for Social Implementation of Autonomous Driving: ITS Japan Reports on Meeting with LDP Subcommittee Chair
Non-profit organization ITS Japan held a meeting with Representative Kazuyuki Nakane, chair of the LDP's autonomous driving subcommittee, to discuss strategies for solving driver shortages and ensuring regional transport sustainability through Level 4 autonomous driving.
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- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 02:27
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ITS Japan, a non-profit organization, has been reporting on domestic and international trends centered on autonomous driving to the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) ITS Promotion and Road Research Committee. On April 3rd, the organization had the opportunity to discuss the significance and objectives of social implementation of autonomous driving in Japan with Representative Kazuyuki Nakane, a member of the House of Representatives and chairman of the subcommittee. Below is a summary of the report.
1. Contributing to the Deepening of Discussions for Promoting Autonomous Driving
ITS Japan has consistently provided insights on autonomous driving trends to the LDP's ITS Promotion and Road Research Committee. Last year, the organization provided expertise to the Autonomous Driving Subcommittee, a branch of the committee, to aid in policy formation, some of which were reflected in government recommendations. Furthermore, on March 10th, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yasushi Kaneko expressed gratitude and expectations for ITS Japan's contributions during a committee meeting.
2. Organizing the Social Effects of Autonomous Driving and its Role in Solving Social Issues
During the meeting, the participants organized the social effects of autonomous driving and its role in solving Japan-specific social issues, starting from the significance of social implementation based on government policies. They also exchanged opinions on the direction for resolving transportation gaps and achieving sustainable mobility, reviewing the 3rd Basic Plan on Transport Policy and the next Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline.
Summary of points:
- Significance/objectives of social implementation and government initiatives in Japan.
- Characteristics by vehicle and service type, explaining differences based on use cases.
- Current status and challenges of autonomous driving demonstrations in Japan (overall and for buses).
- Points for advancing autonomous driving measures and moving towards the subcommittee's summary.
3. High Interest in the Sustainability of Regional Public Transport
In the Q&A session, Chairman Nakane expressed high interest in the sustainability of regional public transport. ITS Japan explained operation forms suited to demand fluctuations and methods for ensuring social acceptance. They also emphasized the importance of traffic smoothing through infrastructure development essential for safe service provision, and securing business continuity with an eye toward solving driver shortages. Furthermore, strong interest and expectations were shown for test-ride opportunities in the latest domestic autonomous vehicles.
4. Further Collaboration for Accelerating Social Implementation
The subcommittee plans to hear opinions from external experts in the future, and expectations were expressed for ITS Japan's continuous participation. Regarding 'sustainable social implementation' beyond mere demonstration, there was a shared understanding of the importance of solving social issues through continuous operation of Level 4 autonomous driving from start to finish, as well as formulating roadmaps and securing necessary budgets. ITS Japan will continue to contribute to policy planning through multi-faceted support based on expert knowledge and strongly push for the social implementation of autonomous driving.
1. Contributing to the Deepening of Discussions for Promoting Autonomous Driving
ITS Japan has consistently provided insights on autonomous driving trends to the LDP's ITS Promotion and Road Research Committee. Last year, the organization provided expertise to the Autonomous Driving Subcommittee, a branch of the committee, to aid in policy formation, some of which were reflected in government recommendations. Furthermore, on March 10th, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Yasushi Kaneko expressed gratitude and expectations for ITS Japan's contributions during a committee meeting.
2. Organizing the Social Effects of Autonomous Driving and its Role in Solving Social Issues
During the meeting, the participants organized the social effects of autonomous driving and its role in solving Japan-specific social issues, starting from the significance of social implementation based on government policies. They also exchanged opinions on the direction for resolving transportation gaps and achieving sustainable mobility, reviewing the 3rd Basic Plan on Transport Policy and the next Comprehensive Logistics Policy Outline.
Summary of points:
- Significance/objectives of social implementation and government initiatives in Japan.
- Characteristics by vehicle and service type, explaining differences based on use cases.
- Current status and challenges of autonomous driving demonstrations in Japan (overall and for buses).
- Points for advancing autonomous driving measures and moving towards the subcommittee's summary.
3. High Interest in the Sustainability of Regional Public Transport
In the Q&A session, Chairman Nakane expressed high interest in the sustainability of regional public transport. ITS Japan explained operation forms suited to demand fluctuations and methods for ensuring social acceptance. They also emphasized the importance of traffic smoothing through infrastructure development essential for safe service provision, and securing business continuity with an eye toward solving driver shortages. Furthermore, strong interest and expectations were shown for test-ride opportunities in the latest domestic autonomous vehicles.
4. Further Collaboration for Accelerating Social Implementation
The subcommittee plans to hear opinions from external experts in the future, and expectations were expressed for ITS Japan's continuous participation. Regarding 'sustainable social implementation' beyond mere demonstration, there was a shared understanding of the importance of solving social issues through continuous operation of Level 4 autonomous driving from start to finish, as well as formulating roadmaps and securing necessary budgets. ITS Japan will continue to contribute to policy planning through multi-faceted support based on expert knowledge and strongly push for the social implementation of autonomous driving.