Fukaya Kanko Bus Welcomes 19-Year-Old Charter Bus Driver

Fukaya Kanko Bus Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture; Representative Director: Yuzo Takada; https://www.fukayakanko.com/), as part of its efforts to promote the recruitment and training of young bus drivers, is set to introduce a 19-year-old large charter bus driver, a first in Japan. This young driver has already begun solo operations for route buses and dedicated shuttle services, and is scheduled to begin solo operations for charter buses starting in April of this year (final adjustments currently underway). 19-year-old large bus drivers are still rare nationwide, and this is an unprecedented case specifically for charter buses. The bus industry is facing an aging workforce, making the recruitment of young talent a major challenge. To address local transportation issues, Fukaya Kanko Bus hired a teenager fresh out of high school with a focus on long-term development. After joining the company, he obtained his large-sized passenger vehicle license, completed on-board training and practical driving drills, and met the company's internal safety standards, leading to his appointment as the company's youngest charter bus driver. This was made possible by the relaxation of requirements for obtaining a large-sized passenger vehicle license. Furthermore, as a member of the Fukaya Autonomous Driving Consortium, our company operates autonomous buses in collaboration with the Saitama Institute of Technology, including the autonomous bus used for the 'Kururin' community bus northern shuttle service in Fukaya City. We are currently providing training for him to become a 'Specified Autonomous Operation Safety Officer' so that he can also manage the operation of 'Level 2' autonomous buses. ■ Comment from the driver Name: Hibiki Akiyama Born: October 31, 2006, in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture 'It has been my dream to become a bus driver since I was a child. That desire grew stronger as I watched the driver of the school bus I took in high school. It wasn't easy, but thanks to the understanding of my parents and the support of everyone around me, I have made it this far. I will become a driver that the local community can ride with peace of mind.' ■ Comment from Yuzo Takada, Representative Director of Fukaya Kanko Bus 'Since he was in high school, Hibiki Akiyama had a strong dream of becoming a bus driver and kept expressing his desire to join our company. His passion, strong will, and hard work led to this appointment. We will continue to prioritize safety while working to foster young talent and promote the success of a diverse workforce.' ■ Company Overview Company Name: Fukaya Kanko Bus Co., Ltd. Representative: Yuzo Takada Address: 356 Nishio-numa, Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture TEL: 0...