The New Total Transport Measure Outline (2005-2009) was approved in a Cabinet meeting on 15th November last year.It promotes the goal, 'Realization of Speedy, Seamless, and Economical Physical Distribution on Integrated International and Domestic Transportation', as the basic policy direction and principle. Based on the understanding of the expanding economic exchange in Asia as well as the need to keep pace with the enhancement and diversification of international cargo transportations, Super-Hub Port Initiative project is one of the prioritized measures to be further promoted to achieve the stated goal.

The target of the project is a '30% drop in port costs and within 3 to 5 years a lead time reduction from 3 days to 1 day. With the system being established in fiscal year 2005, expansion and diversification of the system, including the privatization of the Port Terminal Corporation, has been implemented this fiscal year, 2006. As many port projects have been implemented throughout the Asia region, Japan's political targets are set to be achieved with strong results from Japan too.

The featured articles report on the progress made towards meeting the Super-hub Port Initiative target, and give an overview of other issues concerning the situation and its outlook, thus proposing a platform to further common understanding between the persons involved in strengthening the international competitiveness of container ports in Japan.