A New Book Portrays Japan’s Maglev Project as a Systemic Breakdown—With Real-World Costs
A review by Takao Saito covers Latest Report: Confusion Surrounding the Linear Chuo Shinkansen by Hideki Kashida, describing the current state of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen as near-chaotic and increasingly defined by risks that have become reality.
The review frames the situation as a broad institutional failure—pointing to JR Tokai, local governments, the media, the national government, the courts, and experts—and argues that if even one of these had functioned properly, today’s turmoil might have been avoided. It also notes that the topic is serious yet tends not to be reported critically, and that the author financed reporting through crowdfunding.
Specific claims highlighted include: the project ignoring people’s daily lives from the outset; frequent misinformation; five lawsuits filed with plaintiffs’ arguments rejected in three; and municipalities pressuring residents rather than protecting them. The review cites social disruption in Iida, including relocation demands that would force some businesses into large out-of-pocket costs and leave holdouts isolated.
It also points to tangible environmental impacts—referencing the drying up of “Tenno-sama's Well,” described as a well that had not run dry for 300 years, after groundwater pathways were cut by tunneling work about 130 meters underground in Mizunami.
Info based on: https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/465686 Accessed 2026-02-01
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