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Japan is known for its fantastic public transportation. But there’s a Japanese prefecture where this is not the case.
Special thanks to Professor Till Weber for driving us around Okinawa traffic.
Sources:
– https://www.japan.go.jp/tomodachi/2014/autumn2014/the_shinkansen_japans_high-speed_rail.html
– https://opendata-web.site/station/rank/company/
– https://www.yonabaruekisha.com/
– https://cedar.wwu.edu/easpress/31/
– https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/20/national/okinawa-set-to-launch-first-railway-project-to-ease-chronic-traffic-jams/
– https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/japan-focus/20220514-27862/
– https://www.yui-rail.co.jp/common/uploads/d355f8e95ea2010370d8acebe537c590.pdf
– https://web.archive.org/web/20150409030755/http://www.yui-rail.co.jp/about/plan.html
– https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/features/japan-focus/20220514-27862/
– https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tcrp_webdoc_6-b.pdf
– https://www.pref.okinawa.lg.jp/site/doboku/dorogai/kikaku/documents/okinawakennodouro2017-1.pdf
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_car
– https://www.jama.or.jp/statistics/m_report/pdf/2020_09.pdf
– https://www.vehiclehistory.com/articles/ford-f-150-dimensions
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_N-Box
– https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/nenkan/72nenkan/zenbun/en72/book/index.html#page=80
– https://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/nenkan/72nenkan/zenbun/en72/book/index.html#page=92
– https://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/doboku/dorogai/kikaku/documents/okinawakennodouro2020-2.pdf
– https://www.jama.or.jp/statistics/m_report/pdf/2020_09.pdf
– http://www.dc.ogb.go.jp/Kyoku/michi/shakaishihonseibi/shiryou5.pdf
– https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_vehicles_per_capita
– https://www.sangiin.go.jp/japanese/annai/chousa/rippou_chousa/backnumber/2011pdf/20111003163.pdf
– https://gogo.gs/news/contents/1652943817
– https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/history/index_history.html
– https://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/simple/detail?minId=106703895X01219711211&spkNum=12#s12
– https://www8.cao.go.jp/okinawa/6/tetsukidou-chousa.html
– https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/20/national/okinawa-set-to-launch-first-railway-project-to-ease-chronic-traffic-jams/
– https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220826/p2a/00m/0op/051000c
– https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/859aeb333e86-govt-to-pursue-us-base-relocation-in-okinawa-despite-tamakis-win.html
– https://tabiris.com/archives/okinawarail2022/
– https://www.train-times.net/article/okinawapre-1
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Get Nebula for $2.50 a month https://go.nebula.tv/lifewhereimfrom. Sorry I haven't uploaded for a while. I was having issues with my eyes and had to take some doctor ordered break. Doing good now, so I trust uploads will be back to a couple a month. – Greg
Our obesity is often blamed on car culture. How are obesity rates on Okinawa?
In my opinion, buses that get caught in the same traffic as everyone else should not count as public transportation. They are just there to accomodate people who really can't drive, either because they can't afford a car or because they are too young, too old or other reasons.
Curious as to what keeps on the local government kicking the can down the road, in terms of improved public transit infrstrastrucure. Is it money, dealing with the US bases, land acquisition or something else? Also, are bicycle oriented solutions being considered?
That’s why high speed rail sucks or is non existent in America and lags behind every other country
That outro was so American it messed with me for a second, I didn't expect it…. LoL
As someone currently living in Okinawa, I was shocked by the lack of public transport. But your right in the video, having your own car really makes or breaks you here. I would love more diverse transportation. And definitely hope the monorail can be extended and a train line with stations added.
You are welcomed.
I Still can believe it, thats still japan? the same japan that i know love to commuting with public transport everywhere? wow thank you for your video
Awesome case study here! I had no idea about this.
Love how so many accounts I follow are critiquing car culture 🙌🏻
Thank you America
The Luchu people what you call as Okinawa seek independence from Japan.
I've looked through google maps at smaller cities on mainland Japan, and where you have ~300mil population cities, it seems like they have between 1 or maybe 2 local rail lines, but most places in these small cities are too far to be really served by them. I don't have any experience with these places on the ground, but it seems like this isn't just an Okinawa thing. I like to praise Japan for its public transit like many other people, but there are definitely plenty of places that are under-served. Yoriyama is one example I can find right away, where half the city has freeways cutting through it, also that place has a toy'r'us for any 90s kids that are nostalgic for that. Maybe people make great use of buses there because I can't really tell from just google maps!
For moment I thought I was watching a video from Not Just Bikes.
It's hilarious in a kind of morbid way to hear people talk about driving to the convenience store and needing a car to live from a culture we're so used to hearing talk about walking to konbinis and taking transit usually. Goes to show that it's not a cultural phenomenon, but a design phenomenon that determines car usage and reliance.
The US will never removed the bases around Japan until China force it to. For all intent and purpose, Japan is a vassal state of the US and don't have full sovereignty😥
I thought this was not just bikes for a second
Great video
Traffic jams caused by bases are definitely a problem in the US as well, and also lack useful commuter train options.
sounds like Okinawa should have a pretty cool car scene compared to japan…
In 2004, when I used to work at an insurance company, there was a special discounted rate called the "Okinawa Rate" (沖縄料率) that applied only in Okinawa Prefecture regarding automobile insurance. I am not sure if it is still in effect. I was shocked as a Japanese because I had never heard of it until then.
So depressing. Leave it to the U.S. to export their dumb ways.
This could've been a video posted in @NotJustBike 's channel if it didn't happen to be in Japan. And I like, if not love it! 🙂 ^_^
How awful,. damn usa
Okinawa was always ignored by Japan tho
Okinawa’s traffic doesn’t look too bad. Visited Metro Manila a few days ago and I hate how it takes a hour and half to travel from the airport to BGC by car. The traffic was horrible. Hopefully the construction of mass transit will alleviate most of the traffic issues but I doubt it’ll happen because Filipinos love their cars since it’s more convenient and comfortable than public transportation.
The curse of "freedom"
The problem I have is this is all his opinion. There are no studies or research to support what he says. I'll bet it's a bigger multi-faceted problem than what he states. Japan had ample time to build rails in Okinawa but they ultimately decided against it. To blame it all on the US is not accurate just because a transplant living there says so. Yes, I watched the whole video and heard him say some of the blame goes to Japan.
don't worry, Greg. you can blame America. it's our fault 😆