Shinkansen fighting Nagasaki vs Saga! Dec 26, 17:42

Saga and Nagasaki prefectures were once Hizen countries.
In the Edo period, people, things, and culture from Nagasaki and Dejima, which had opened their doors to the world, spread throughout Japan through Saga. The two prefectures have been traversed since ancient times, but their relationship is now more complicated than ever.
The cause is "Shinkansen".
It has been almost half a century since the maintenance plan was decided.
We cover literally "dark fight" of Nagasaki and Saga prefectures over the Kyushu Shinkansen and Nagasaki routes.
(Shintaro Sakurai, Nagasaki Broadcasting Station Reporter, Mari Sakamoto, Saga Broadcasting Station Reporter)

It must have been half a century ...

The Kyushu Shinkansen / Nagasaki route connects Hakata and Nagasaki in Fukuoka Prefecture.

If you get on the Sanyo Shinkansen, you will be connected to Shin-Osaka. Especially for Nagasaki Prefecture.

The concept was raised in 1972. The next 48 years, the maintenance plan is decided, and it will be 46 years. Three years later, in the year 2022, half a century has passed, and it has been decided to "provisionally start business."

The cause is…

But what does “interim practice” mean?

As a matter of fact, the way to maintain the section from Shin Tosu in Saga Prefecture to Takeo Onsen has not yet been decided.
For the time being, it will be provisionally opened using the "relay system", which connects the limited express between the Shinkansen and conventional lines.

Why is the maintenance method not decided?
Nagasaki Prefecture, which seeks to maintain the same “full standard” as the regular Shinkansen, emphasizes the effects of investment and time savings.
Saga Prefecture, on the other hand, opposes the "full standard", complaining of its heavy financial burden and its negative impact on conventional lines.

Nagasaki's assertion: Investment effect and time saving effect

The section from Takeo Onsen to Nagasaki has been steadily being upgraded to "full standard".
Construction of tunnels and viaducts has been completed up to 94%.

Of the total project cost of about 620 billion yen, about 440 billion yen, or 72%, will be invested by this fiscal year.

Nagasaki Prefecture, where many investments have already been made, complains that it is necessary to develop full-line "full standards" in order to increase the investment effect and time saving effect.

The time required from Nagasaki to Hakata is 51 minutes if the whole line is "full standard". It is expected to be 29 minutes shorter than the fastest "relay system". The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism estimates that the investment benefits of upgrading all lines to "full standards" will greatly outweigh the investment benefits of "relay schemes."

Above all, if all lines become "full standard", you can head to the Kansai area without transferring.
Looking ahead to the opening of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, the dream will expand further. The "relay method" is simply a "provisional" position.

Saga's assertion: financial burden and parallel conventional lines

On the other hand, Saga Prefecture is opposed to the "full standard" for all lines.

The section of Shin-Tosu and Takeo Onsen, which is about 50 km across the prefecture from east to west, has been premised on utilizing existing conventional lines.

The biggest reason to disagree is the financial burden.

If the entire line is to be built for "full standard" and dedicated Shinkansen routes, the Saga prefecture will need to invest a lot in the future. The total project cost is approximately 620 billion yen as estimated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism explains that the real burden on Saga Prefecture will be settled at 66 billion yen due to the government's grant tax measures.

However, in the section of Takeo Onsen and Nagasaki that have already been approved and commenced construction, the cost of materials and personnel has risen sharply, and the project cost has been much higher than initially expected. For this reason, Saga Prefecture has taken the ministry's explanation coldly.

There are other reasons that Saga opposes.

It is a treatment of parallel conventional lines. If the sections between Shin Tosu and Takeo Onsen are to be developed with "full standards", the parallel conventional lines may be separated from the JR. In that case, it is assumed that the third sector, etc., where the prefecture invests, will be operated.

The conventional line in this section is the "aorta" that crosses Fukuoka and Saga.

For example, in the section between Hakata and Saga, there are about three limited express trains per hour. The required time is 35 minutes at the fastest. If a "full standard" Shinkansen is opened, it will be shortened by 15 minutes to 20 minutes, but the fee is expected to be higher. If the conventional lines are separated from the JR line, the fare will increase and the express may be abolished, which may affect the commute to school.

The ruling party is "full standard"

Amid the conflict between Nagasaki and Saga prefectures, on August 5, the ruling party's review committee stated that it was appropriate to maintain a "full standard."

The basic policy is that the "relay system" should not be fixed, assuming a direct connection to Shin-Osaka, and it is appropriate to maintain a "full standard" that has high investment effects and time saving effects. I concluded.

"I would like to thank Nagasaki Prefecture for making decisions based on the concept of Nagasaki Prefecture, which has been seeking to maintain" full standards. "

Governor Nakamura of Nagasaki Prefecture expressed his expression with satisfaction.

Around the same time, Saga Prefecture Governor Yoshiyoshi Yamaguchi asked reporters, shaking his lips with anger.

"Don't you think it's weird, everyone, this is the way. Is the regional revitalization the country is trying to do?

Consideration for oozing Saga

However, not everything that Nagasaki had been looking for was reflected.
When we cover behind the scenes, the “consideration for Saga” emerges.

"It is appropriate to use the route announced by JNR in 1985."

The day before the Review Committee, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism proposed a basic policy to the ruling party members. At this stage, the wording on the specific route required by the Nagasaki Prefecture was included.

However, on the morning of the 5th, a single call is received by Governor Yamaguchi. The main phone is Kozo Yamamoto, chairman of the ruling party review committee.

Governor Yamaguchi said that he should not be forced from the center, but he strongly rejected Yamamoto.

Mr. Yamamoto concluded, "Once we accept the intention of Governor Yamaguchi, the discussion will proceed smoothly." The committee, despite the strong opposition from the members of the Diet from Nagasaki, was persuaded by the members of the Diet from Saga, and decided to forego clearing the route at the last minute.

The Nagasaki Prefectural Government requested that a specific route to conduct the survey be included to begin a survey on the necessary environmental impact assessments prior to the commencement of construction, next year, but this could not be met.

The relationship between the two governors

Nagasaki and Saga prefectures in opposition.

In fact, Governor Nakamura of Nagasaki Prefecture and Governor of Yamaguchi of Saga Prefecture are old relations.

Ten years ago, in April 2009, Nakamura, who was the general affairs manager of Nagasaki Prefecture, was promoted to Deputy Governor. Yamaguchi was then welcomed by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Nakamura ran for the governor of Nagasaki Prefecture in February 2010, and was elected for the first time. Until Yamaguchi retired from the General Affairs Manager in March 2011, they served as governor, deputy governor, and general affairs manager for about two years together in Nagasaki prefectural government.

Once, the boss and his subordinates.

Some Nagasaki officials had the view that if Governor Nakamura asked, Governor Yamaguchi would not be able to refuse, and would eventually understand Nagasaki's position.

Immediately after the ruling party committee's policy was announced, the two met at the Kyushu Regional Strategy Conference held in Kumamoto on August 7.
Governor Nakamura said, "Let's talk in both prefectures first," but Governor Yamaguchi put aside the answer.

"It's good to say," I'm going to make a new proposal with this kind of content this time. "

Full acceptance theory in Saga

In Saga Prefecture, Ureshino City and Takeo City in Saga Prefecture, which have new Shinkansen stations, have expressed hope that discussions on "full standards" will proceed.

Local members of the "Full Standards" promotion group launched the "Saga Prefecture Full Standards Promotion Council", and held the first symposium in June. Approximately 500 people from the Liberal Democratic Party's Liberal Democratic Party members of the Saga and Nagasaki prefectures and members of economic organizations gathered.

In November, a group led by the association produced a flyer that preached the need for "full standards."

The representative of the organization, Yoshinori Hirahara and Saga city council member, points out:

"There are quite a few voices in Saga prefecture that call for full standards. The atmosphere in the prefecture today is unusual, as it is not possible to raise the voice for full standards in front of the prefecture."

Nagasaki's "work" that can be seen and hidden

On the other hand, economic organizations and prefectural assembly members also moved in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Chairperson Masatoshi Miyawaki of the Nagasaki Prefectural Chamber of Commerce and Industry will support the Saga Prefecture with the "Full Standard" for each group participating in the "Kyushu Shinkansen West Kyushu Route Development Promotion Council" established in June. Ask to work.

In addition, the members of the Nagasaki Prefectural Assembly strengthened their efforts to reach members of the Saga Prefectural Assembly, regardless of the ruling and opposition parties.

A member of the prefectural assembly also planned to invite Saga prefectural council members to a drinking party after the baseball tournament in which prefectural council members from Kyushu Prefecture gather.

However, Governor Yamaguchi, who sensed such a move, strongly opposed.

"I think this may be rude as various works are being performed on various people in Saga Prefecture."

With "sashi" of the Minister and Governor of Saga ...

The Shinkansen problem was in a state of stalemate without finding effective means.

Nagasaki Prefecture has come to rely on the talks between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Saga Prefecture, saying that it is not desirable for the conflict between the two prefectures to be further highlighted.

On September 11, the 4th Abe Second Remodeling Cabinet was launched.

The newly appointed Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kazuyoshi Akabane immediately sent a love call to Governor Yamaguchi at a press conference held at the Prime Minister's Office.

"I've been appointed Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and I'd like to meet the Governor of Saga and listen to her story and work hard to give my wisdom."

Governor Yamaguchi said, "I want to see you in a sashi (one-on-one)."

Governor Yamaguchi is not a "full standard", but has been discussing "super limited express system", "free gauge train", "relay system", "mini Shinkansen", "full standard", He called for time to discuss.

"Super express system"
A method to newly build a dedicated line that runs at the maximum track speed of 200 km / h with the same track width as the conventional line.

"FGT free gauge train"
A train that can run on both Shinkansen and conventional lines while changing the wheel width.

"Relay method"
The method of "temporary opening" in which the express trains of the Shinkansen and conventional lines are connected.

"Mini Shinkansen"
A method to improve the conventional line so that the Shinkansen can run.

"Full standard"
Maintenance method based on normal Shinkansen standards.

On October 28, a one-on-one meeting was held at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Governor Yamaguchi explained the traditional position of Saga Prefecture, and both sides agreed that they would continue to have discussions.

On December 11, the government's work on drafting the budget for the next fiscal year came to a close. The second talk is realized. At the meeting, the two sides agreed to make adjustments at the practitioner level so that discussions could be broadly discussed on the Shinkansen issue.

Investigation expenses required by Nagasaki side, postponement

And we greeted, December 20th. The government's budget for the next fiscal year has been approved by the Cabinet.

The focus was on whether or not the survey costs for the environmental impact assessment of the section between Shin-Tosu and Takeo Onsen, for which the maintenance method was undecided, would be included.
Investigation costs requested by Nagasaki Prefecture were eventually postponed.

"Because the section being discussed is a story in Saga Prefecture, it is a natural result." (Saga, Governor Yamaguchi)

"I am very sorry. However, I think that there will be a place for discussions between Saga Prefecture and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and hope that it will lead to a big step forward" (Governor Nagasaki and Nakamura)

At the end of the vagus

Next year's budget proposal that will capture the intentions of Saga Prefecture.

However, some officials from Nagasaki still have an optimistic outlook. If one examines the five options claimed by Governor Yamaguchi one by one, he will naturally fall within the "full standard."

No "super limited express" vehicle that runs at a maximum speed of 200 km / h has actually been developed.
"Free gauge train" has already been abandoned.
The "Mini Shinkansen" has a significant impact on the operation of conventional lines, which Saga Prefecture values, even during the construction period and after opening.
And the "relay method" is too bad for the investment.

Nagasaki Prefecture executives say:
"The answer is already given when we say five choices. However, it is important that Governor Yamaguchi finally decides."

An executive from Saga Prefecture says.
"In the end, it's no surprise that we're trying to come to the conclusion that the full standard is the best. We're asking how to engage in a discussion that won't be drawn into it."

What “Yokan” shows…

As we continue to report, there is an unforgettable scene.

On December 11, Governor Yamaguchi met Satoshi Mizushima, director of the Ministry of Railways, before holding his second talks with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Akabane. When Mr. Mizushima responded to the reporters' interview after the meeting, he took out Saga's famous confectionery, Ogi Yokan, which was brought by Governor Yamaguchi from his pocket and made it into the mouth.

"In the days of isolation, sugar was transported through the Nagasaki Highway. Through Nagasaki, Saga's sugar culture flourished. I believe that Saga's regional development potential is endless. I want to discuss various things. "

Nagasaki Kaido, where the sugar unloaded from Dejima was transported to Edo. And the Kyushu Shinkansen / Nagasaki route that reproduces this highway now.
Will the day come when the Shinkansen connects Nagasaki and Saga prefectures, where conflicts continue, and brings development to the region?

Nagasaki Broadcasting Station Reporter Shintaro Sakurai
Joined the station in 2015. The Nagasaki bureau is the new place, and also works for the Sasebo bureau. Prefectural cap since August 19 We also covered the issue of the Ishiki Dam and the movement to attract IR.

After joining Saga Broadcasting Station reporter Mari Sakamoto newspaper reporter and WEB news editor, joined the station in 2008. After the Nagasaki Bureau and the Ministry of Politics, the prefectural cap was held at the Saga Bureau in July 2005. Covered the Shinkansen problem during the Nagasaki bureau era.