"Surprises and Discoveries: The Unbelievable Simplicity of Eco-Driving" Ministry of the Environment, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc., The Energy Conservation Center, Japan, Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency International Conference Room Preventing global warming requires that we cut back on the generation and emission of the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that cause it. Obviously, one of the most effective ways to reduce CO2 emissions is to improve vehicle fuel economy. This symposium focused on "eco-driving"-simple, effective measure that anyone can take to reduce CO2. Eco-driving is also a great budget-helper as gasoline prices soar. Naoki Hosaka has experience as a race car driver and suggests that people "turn off their car air-conditioning switches as much as possible." Eri Hasegawa, an avid driver, confessed that she "had not paid much attention to that," but she had her own techniques for making driving more eco-friendly. Everyone at the symposium was encouraged to join the "Team Minus 6%" campaign to prevent global warming. Jun Shikita eco-personality/Tokyo FM personality Eri Hasegawa model/Tokyo FM personality Yuki Wada budget-minded housewife Naoki Hosaka actor Kiyoshi Komoda motor journalist/JAF Safety Committee Mayuko Suzuki Tokyo FM personality

The Expanding Possibilities for Barrier-Free Vehicles Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. International Conference Room Seijun Ninomiya gave a keynote address for the barrier-free vehicle symposium before joining MC Kotani and the other guests in a panel discussion. In his address, Ninomiya spoke from his position as a sportswriter about the differences in the way wheelchair users are treated at baseball stadiums in Japan and the United States. "Japan has all the institutions in place for barrier-free vehicles, but has put the cart before the horse when it comes to administration, and that is why nothing improves," he said. Rectifying this will require that "we concentrate more on nurturing a barrier-free mindset rather than just infrastructure." In the ensuing panel discussion, Shigeyuki Ishii, who is himself a user of self-operated barrier-free vehicles, talked about his experiences, saying, "Automakers need to consider the entire family, not just the physically-challenged person, when they design vehicles." Seijun Ninomiya sports journalist Monsieur Kamayatsu musician Akira Yamamoto writer Shigeyuki Ishii, Chairman of OX Engineering Co., Ltd. Ayumi Kotani newscaster/essayist

"The First Step toward Sustainable Mobility" Japan Automobile Research Institute, International Energy Agency (IEA) International Conference Room With global warming and rapid growth of Asian markets, it is essential that automobiles of the future harmonize environment, energy, industry and society. The symposium began with Hisashi Ishitani discussing the roles to be played by battery electric vehicles (BEV), hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and fuel cell vehicles (FCV) in achieving sustainable mobility. Shinsuke Ito then spoke from the government perspective, explaining the direction for a balanced approach to resolve three major issues: fundamental reductions of toxic substances in emissions; fundamental reductions in CO2 emissions; and energy policies in the transportation sector, which currently is overdependent on oil (in other words, finding alternative fuels). Over the short term, "top runner" concerns dictate that the approach will be to improve the fuel economy of gasoline and diesel vehicles, but over the longer term, clean-energy FCV, HEV, EV and CNG (natural gas) technologies as well as clean diesel vehicles that can clear future emissions regulations will need to become more widespread. Shogo Watanabe discussed basic technologies required to spread FCVs. Among the issues he analyzed were developing international standards for hydrogen and FCVs, overhauling regulations and evaluating safety. He concluded that safe and convenient use of hydrogen is a possibility. Hiroaki Yoshida spoke from the perspective of an automaker about attempts to develop and spread EVs. He reviewed the history of development efforts and reported on new performance improvements to lithium-ion batteries. He also discussed the outlook for Mitsubishi’s MIEV, a new generation in electric vehicles. Finally, he emphasized the need for the government to provide subsidies and tax breaks to help spread EVs. In the second part of the symposium, the IEA held a public workshop on electric motorcycles. Hisashi Ishitani, Chairman, World Electric Vehicle Association; Professor, Keio University Shinsuke Ito, Deputy Director, Vehicle Division, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Shogo Watanabe, Deputy General Manager, FC-EV Center of the Japan Automobile Research Institute Hiroaki Yoshida, Sr. Expert, Advanced Engineering Dept., Development Engineering Office, Mitsubishi Motors Katsuhiko Matsuda Urs Schwegler Bureau for Transportation Planning Frederic Vergels Mo-Hua Yang Urs Muntwyler

The World of the Carrozzeria - Accelerating global interest, newfound Japonism - Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc. International Conference Room "Carrozzeria" design studios have always been in the forefront of the automotive industry, providing both innovation and originality.Pininfarina is one of the world’s leading carrozzeria, and its design director, Kiyoyuki Okuyama, started off the symposium with a speech discussing its past, present, and future. Okuyama discussed the carrozzeria phenomenon from a wide variety of angles, such as why carrozzeria tend to concentrate in Italy and why the country possesses such strong design skills. He added, "When fuel cells become the norm, the key to differentiation will not be the hardware itself, but branding and planning," expressing his view that the "age of the carrozzeria" will arrive. In the panel discussion that followed, Hiroshi Shimizu of Keio University, who led the Eliica electric car project, said, "People experience pleasure from forward acceleration. Electric cars have excellent acceleration and are suited to sports cars." Panzetta Girolamo, an essayist, commented, "Vintage cars are like works of art. I would like to see more cars made that do not diminish in value over time." The session ended with the conclusion that the carrozzeria spirit of creating innovation and originality also applies to people's lives. Kiyoyuki Okuyama, Design Director, Industrie Pininfarina S.p.A. Rensei Baba, former editor at Yomiuri Shimbun, Graduate School Professor, Tokyo University of Science Mari Christine, Cross-Cultural Communicator Hiroshi Shimizu, Professor of Keio University Panzetta Girolamo, essayist

The 6th Traffic Safety Symposium - Assessing Traffic Safety Program Effectiveness and Formulating Programs for the Future - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport International Conference Room The first part of this symposium heard reports on recent trends in automotive safety, discussed findings from traffic accident analyses, highlighted future issues and evaluated major programs of the past. All three speakers brought unique expertise to their presentations. Kenji Wani discussed the introduction of collision safety standards, presenting estimates that the number of annual fatalities have been reduced by approximately 1,000 in 2003. Compared to the goal of a 1,200-fatality reduction by 2010, he concluded that programs were steadily producing results. He also announced that the Council for Transport Policy had been asked on October 19 to produce a new report on vehicle safety programs. Sadao Horino presented findings from an analysis of traffic accidents, one of the key components in the safety policy cycle. His presentation was extremely enlightening. For example, he noted that while vehicle measures were effective, one could also achieve significant reductions in accidents by better installing curve mirrors along streets so as to eliminate blind spots. Norio Kamei reported that there has been a reduction of 872 traffic-fatalities since June 1999 when the Council for Transport Technology issued a report calling for the introduction of full-wrap frontal head-on collision standards and side collision standards. During the panel discussion in Part 2, Tetsuo Taniguchi commented on the development of driving simulators and drive recorders to test preventative safety technology and measure its effectiveness. He also spoke about the limits of these technologies. In contrast, Sunao Chikamori emphasized the development of simulators able to reproduce traffic environments. Toshimi Yamanoi noted the speed with which automakers were developing technologies and advocated the establishment of methodologies to evaluate automakers’ safety measures prior to forming regulations. This point resulted in heated discussion. Kenichi Yoshimoto pointed out the importance of linkage between the driver in the vehicle and Kazunori Iwakoshi said that if preventative safety was going to enter the arena of actual driving, the driver must be provided with guarantees that safety devices will function. Kenichi Yoshimoto, Honorary Professor, University of Tokyo Kazunori Iwakoshi, President, JAFMATE Co, Ltd. Sunao Chikamori, Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology Tetsuo Taniguchi, Director of Automotive Safety Research Department, National Traffic Safety and Environment Laboratory Sadao Horino, Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Kanagawa University Rumiko Iwasada, Motor Journalist Toshimi Yamanoi, Chairman of the Safety Subcommittee, Safety & Environmental Technology Committee, JAMA Kenji Wani, Director, International Affairs Office, Road Transport Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

The Automobile Recycling Law Symposium - Automobile Recycling Law Quiz Show - Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment, Japan Automobile Recycling Promotion Center, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Inc. International Conference Room This audience-participation quiz included some great performances. Eriko Ishihara served as MC, calling Takayuki Imajo, in the role of "Professor Recycle," and the comedy duo "Himesama Night," playing "Mr. Re" and "Mr. Cycle" to the stage. They were joined by "Mr. Automobile Recycling Law" (the character for the Automobile Recycling Law) who asked questions about how the law came about and how automobiles are recycled. Mr. Re and Mr. Cycle gave answers, and the audience held up cards to show who they thought was correct. Professor Recycle then gave the correct answer and explained the reasons why. The quiz was held twice, with the first round beginning at 2:00 p.m., and unlike ordinary symposiums, the hall was full of families with children. There was even a cameo appearance by Traffic Moral Saver Anzenger, much to the delight of the kids, who scored almost a perfect 100% on the questions. Audience members with good scores received minicars and everyone went home with a recycling law sticker that commemorates the motor show. In front of the hall, Toyota and Nissan had displays illustrating their easy-to-dismantle instrument panels and fueling tanks and their engine undercovers made with recyclable materials. Many audience members took the opportunity to touch the parts and teach their children about the innovations that are taking place in automobile recycling.

Automobile Taxation 2005 Automobile Taxation Reform Forum International Conference Room This is the third year for this Forum, which discusses the problems in Japanese automobile taxation. To mark the midpoint of its five-year plan, the Forum brought two new innovations this year. At certain points during the panel discussion, the audience was invited to press buttons to respond to a survey which was analyzed on the spot. Audience members and panelists were also invited to give their opinions on the ideal form of automobile taxation so that the Forum could prepare a set of interim recommendations. The event began with comments from Terry Ito, Kayoko Miyata, Nobuteru Ishihara, and Masahiro Sugiyama. This was followed by a question for the audience: "If you buy a new car for ¥1.8 million and drive it for three years, how much tax will you pay?" Of the 275 members of the audience, 16 replied "about ¥150,000," 94 said "about ¥300,000," and 165 said "about ¥500,000." The right answer was ¥524,100. Using this as a base, the audience was then asked if it thought automobile taxes were "too high," "just right" or "too low," and 233 said that they were indeed "too high" (89%). The discussion then moved to the fact that Japan has nine different forms of automobile taxes, a rather odd system by any measure. When purchasing a car, one gets hit with a double bite for automobile acquisition tax and consumption tax. Then there are gasoline taxes against which consumption tax is also charged. Why, the Forum asked, are Japanese automobile taxes so high compared to other countries? Then the topic turned to how these tax revenues are used, highlighting government plans to take the surplus from taxes earmarked for road construction, something that only drivers pay, and reallocating them to the general revenues or to environmental taxes. This led to another audience question: "Since there are surpluses, should the provisional tax rate be lowered?" 207 members of the audience (87%) said yes. Summing up the survey responses and panelists opinions, Naotsugu Mihori said, "If taxes earmarked for road construction are to be reallocated, they should be returned to their original rates," and proposed including this in the interim recommendations, an idea that was widely applauded. Nobuteru Ishihara, Member of the House of Representatives Kayoko Miyata, Freelance Newscaster Terry Ito, Producer Naotsugu Mihori, Motor Journalist Masahiro Sugiyama, Professor, Waseda University Graduate School