JR Bus Kanto, which operates buses in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, and the surrounding areas, discontinued all four routes under the jurisdiction of its Utsunomiya branch on the 31st of last month. We interviewed local residents about the impact.
■A “means of transportation” that supported the community Local resident (75) “Shopping, going to the doctor, etc…it’s inconvenient now.” Coffee shop owner along the bus route “Some people use the bus to come to my shop, so I’m sad that it’s gone.” Bus routes that had been operating in Utsunomiya City for many years were discontinued on the 31st of last month.
Of the two bus companies that operate routes in Utsunomiya, all routes operated by JR Bus Kanto’s Utsunomiya branch, which connected the eastern part of Utsunomiya City to the neighboring town of Haga and Ichihana Station, have been discontinued. Some people came to say goodbye to the bus after hearing about the discontinuation.
Local resident: “I’m so sad.” “I often went to the roadside station and the bookstore in Haga Town, so it’s really disappointing that I won’t be able to go there anymore without the bus.” Passenger who attended high school along the route: “I’ve relied on the bus for a long time, so I came to take one last ride because I heard that it’s going to be discontinued due to various reasons.” A vital mode of transportation that has supported the community. Why is it going to be lost? Atsushi Yamamoto, head of the Planning Division, Haga Town: “It’s been practically empty during the daytime for the past three years, with hardly any passengers.”
■ Closing the curtain on 89 years of history In Utsunomiya, the next-generation light rail transit (LRT) opened about three years ago and has become a new pillar of public transportation. Because it is not affected by traffic congestion and runs on time, the number of users has increased. On the other hand, the flow of people has concentrated on the LRT, and the number of bus passengers has decreased.
Section Chief Yamamoto: “Recently, the number of municipalities across the country introducing AI-powered on-demand taxis has increased, and we have made progress (in Haga Town) in developing something that will improve convenience by allowing people to ride without being tied to a schedule.” The town has cut off the subsidies that had supported the operation of the buses and has switched to a policy of utilizing the town’s shared taxi service. Bus driver who worked on the bus route that will be discontinued for 10 years: “I feel very sad right now.” Despite the small number of users, a personal relationship had developed.
Bus driver: “We have been receiving messages from customers saying, ‘Thank you for your service over the years.’ I have also been thanking them in return.” Person who used the service every day for commuting: “I have been using it for a long time, so I feel sad.” Local resident: “It ends tomorrow. I’m sad. I ride it every day.” The JR Bus Kanto Utsunomiya Branch’s route buses once played an important role as a means of transportation for people’s lives. Their 89-year history came to an end on the 31st of last month.
■Movement to Hire Foreign Drivers One of the reasons cited for the successive closures of bus routes across Japan is a shortage of drivers, and a movement to hire foreigners to address this issue has begun. In March of the year before last, the government expanded the scope of the Specified Skills Visa, which accepts foreigners who can immediately contribute, from 12 fields to 16 fields.
As a result, it has become possible to accept drivers for buses, taxis, and trucks. However, the hurdles to acceptance are not low. The conditions for acceptance are obtaining the “Specified Skills Visa No. 1” and passing the intermediate level “N3” of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which is a level at which one can understand conversations and written texts to some extent in daily life. In addition, just like Japanese people, they need to obtain a Class 2 driver’s license, which is necessary to drive buses and taxis. The written exam for this Class 2 license was previously conducted only in Japanese, but since the year before last, the exam has been conducted in 20 languages.
■Indonesian Drivers in the Spotlight Amidst the progress in accepting foreign bus drivers, Indonesian drivers are attracting particular attention. When we spoke to Tokyu Bus, which is actively hiring foreigners, they said that three Indonesians made their debut as bus drivers this month. One of them is a woman, making her the first female foreign bus driver in Japan. In addition, one person is currently training at Abashiri Bus in Hokkaido, and three at Meitetsu Bus in Aichi Prefecture. Why are Indonesians attracting attention?
According to a representative from Tokyu Bus, (1) traffic rules are the same as in Japan, with left-hand traffic and many right-hand drive vehicles. (2) Japanese cars are widespread and familiar. (3) The profession of bus driver is highly valued in Indonesia, and many people want to learn the skills in Japan. In order to secure better drivers, Japanese companies are increasingly establishing facilities in the country.
These are driving schools that teach Japanese traffic rules. One such school was opened in August last year by a company that introduces foreign talent to Japan. When interviewed on the program, it was revealed that the driving school teaches not only traffic rules, but also Japanese-style traffic manners and the Japanese language. (From the broadcast on March 31, 2026) [TV Asahi NEWS]
