Transport coordination debate and the Japanese National Railways problem in postwar Japan

As the ‘railroad problem’ in Japan became serious, there was a widespread debate calling for the implementation of a policy of transport coordination. Much debated themes were ‘inherent advantage’, ‘equal-footing’, ‘comprehensive transportation system’, and ‘economizing in transportation’. However, this not only had the effect of hampering the modernization of economic regulations for Japan’s railroad industry, but also caused the Japanese National Railway’s cumulative deficit to expand and placed a heavy economic burden on the public.