[JP] Racing Ahead or Risking Disaster? Osaka Grapples with Maglev Megaproject Concerns

[Miss Maglev]

Racing Ahead or Risking Disaster? Osaka Grapples with Maglev Megaproject Concerns

Concerns about the Maglev (Linear Chuo Shinkansen) project, particularly the section from Nagoya to Osaka, are growing among local citizens' groups in Osaka. Although construction has not yet started on this stretch, numerous problems have already occurred in the ongoing Tokyo (Shinagawa) to Nagoya section. This has prompted fears that similar issues—such as groundwater disruptions and land subsidence—could also arise in the Osaka region, especially in urban areas where deep underground tunnels are likely needed due to dense development.

Naoki Kasuga, head of the civic group "Linear Citizens’ Network Osaka," questions whether the project is truly necessary for Osaka’s future. The group has been actively hosting monthly community events since 2015 to raise awareness and spark public discussion. Despite these efforts, they struggle to gain attention as other major projects like the Osaka Expo, an integrated casino resort (IR), and the Hokuriku Shinkansen dominate public discourse.

The full Maglev line is currently slated for completion in fiscal 2037. However, delays in the Tokyo–Nagoya segment—especially due to environmental concerns in Shizuoka Prefecture—have pushed the original 2027 target to “sometime after 2027,” potentially affecting the full-line timeline.

Kasuga warns that allowing construction to proceed unchecked could result in irreversible environmental and urban damage. He urges more public debate in the Kansai region before the project progresses too far to stop, especially considering the troubling incidents already unfolding in other areas along the route.

Info based on https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/398138 Accessed 2025-04-13