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[JP] JR Central Prepares to Start Shizuoka Maglev Work After Governor’s Approval

Source: NHK News
Original title:
リニア中央新幹線 JR東海が静岡で着工へ 開業へなお課題も
Date: July 8, 2026, 05:54
Original language: Japanese
Web link: https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10015171231000
Accessed: July 8, 2026

JR Central plans to begin work in Shizuoka Prefecture after Governor Yasutomo Suzuki indicated that he will approve construction of the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line within the prefecture. The company intends to sign a natural-environment conservation agreement on July 18 and then proceed toward construction after holding local briefings and related steps.

At an all-member meeting of the Shizuoka Prefectural Assembly on July 7, Suzuki announced his intention to conclude the natural-environment conservation agreement with JR Central, a prerequisite for allowing construction to begin. This will move forward work in Shizuoka Prefecture, which had been stalled, and marks a major milestone for the Chuo Shinkansen.

Construction could begin within 2026. However, the Shizuoka section remains one of the most difficult parts of the project because the tunnel must pass through severe mountainous terrain. JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa indicated on July 7 that the work could take more than 10 years.

Further challenges remain before opening. The total construction cost for the Shinagawa–Nagoya section is expected to rise to ¥11 trillion. In Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, construction has also been suspended because wells and other water sources around the work site have dried up.

[JP] Maglev Line Makes Major Progress with Shizuoka Construction Approval, But Challenges Remain
Source: NHK (Commentary Committee Room)
Original title:
リニア大きく前進か？静岡県で着工へ
Date: July 16, 2026, 17:44
Original language: Japanese
Web link: https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/na-k10015178231000
Accessed: July 16, 2026

The Chuo Shinkansen maglev line may make significant progress following Shizuoka Governor’s construction approval. The 286-km line, designed to connect Tokyo (Shinagawa) to Nagoya in about 40 minutes, originally targeted a 2027 opening.
The 8.9-km Shizuoka section—entirely tunnel with no station—faced opposition from former Governor Heita Kawakatsu since 2017 over Oigawa River water resource concerns. The river’s water supports living, industry, and agriculture in the basin. The stalemate forced JR Central to abandon its 2027 target. However, after Governor Kawakatsu resigned in 2024 and Governor Suzuki took office, the situation changed dramatically. Governor Suzuki promoted the maglev plan and engaged in dialogue with JR Central.
Under Kawakatsu, concerns focused on water resources, biodiversity, and tunnel spoil. JR Central proposed countermeasures: returning all groundwater from tunnel construction to the Oigawa River, continuous monitoring, and safe tunnel spoil storage. Under Governor Suzuki, the prefectural expert panel approved all JR Central measures, leading to construction approval.
JR Central cites three key reasons for the maglev: creating a huge economic zone connecting Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka; duplicating the Shinkansen as a disaster backup; and showcasing innovative Japanese rail technology.
JR Central has not specified an opening date. The Shizuoka section alone may take over 10 years. The tunnels pass under the rugged Southern Alps, with maximum depth of 1,400 m, making it “most difficult” construction. Costs have doubled from ¥5.5 trillion (2014) to ¥11 trillion due to material and labor cost increases.
Economic expectations are rising in Nagoya, Gifu, and Shizuoka. However, environmental concerns persist in Gifu’s Mizuho City, where well depletion and ground subsidence occurred near construction sites. Properly addressing environmental impacts and ensuring safe construction must be the top priority.
Future challenges include leveraging short travel times, with initiatives like Kanagawa’s robot special zone and Nagano’s bi-regional residence promotion. The article concludes that new utilization ideas connecting to Japan’s future are now crucial.

[JP] Shizuoka Approval Completes Final Starting Point for Chuo Shinkansen Construction

Source: Asahi Shimbun / asahi.com
Original title:
第1回リニアはいつ走り出すのか　「最後の1ピース」の着工容認とこれから
Date: July 17, 2026, 08:00
Original language: Japanese
Web link: https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV761VG ... A02JM.html
Accessed: July 17, 2026

Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki approved construction of the 8.9-kilometer Shizuoka section on July 7, clearing what had been the “final piece” needed for Chuo Shinkansen construction. The decision ended nearly nine years of stalemate that began with environmental concerns.

The Chuo Shinkansen is a national-scale project led by JR Central, with total construction costs of ¥11 trillion and ¥3 trillion in national Fiscal Investment and Loan Program funding. More than 60 years have passed since Japanese National Railways began maglev research in 1962.

The planned route starts at Tokyo/Shinagawa Station and runs through Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Yamanashi, Nagano, and Gifu before reaching Nagoya Station. The fastest Shinagawa–Nagoya travel time is planned at 40 minutes. Four intermediate stations are planned: Kanagawa Prefecture Station in Sagamihara, Yamanashi Prefecture Station in Kofu and Chuo, Nagano Prefecture Station in Iida, and Gifu Prefecture Station in Nakatsugawa.

Travel-time analysis indicates that not only Nagoya and Osaka but also areas around the new stations in Yamanashi, Nagano, and Gifu would fall within roughly one hour of JR Shinagawa Station, forming a large “linear economic zone.”

Preparations along the route are gradually advancing. At the planned Yamanashi Prefecture Station site in Otsu-machi, Kofu City, archaeological investigations and related work have begun following the start of station construction in March. Completion is targeted for 2031.

If the maglev opens, travel from Yamanashi Prefecture Station to Tokyo/Shinagawa would take about 25 minutes, making commuting or schooling in Tokyo or Nagoya more realistic. A 53-year-old woman living near the planned station site said: “[Translated quote] I can imagine a future in which my child works while commuting from home to Tokyo or Nagoya.” She also expects more young people to move from the Tokyo metropolitan area and hopes the area around the station, located away from central Kofu, will develop.

The Shizuoka section remains only the next step. The Southern Alps, described as the greatest construction challenge, still lie ahead. The supplied excerpt begins a series on the background to the discussions and the future of construction.

A further quoted comment captures expectations in Yamanashi: “[Translated quote] There is no airport, no Shinkansen. The maglev is coming to Yamanashi, which has been full of things it does not have. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”