News Ride-hailing services launched in Tokyo

On Monday, Japan initiated ride-hailing services in Tokyo to combat the shortage of taxi drivers, with plans to expand the service nationwide. Earlier in the month, Japan eased restrictions, permitting individuals with regular driving licenses to operate taxi services during designated times using their cars as long as a local taxi firm supervises them.

The Tokyo Hire-Taxi Association, one of the operators involved in the project, held a ceremony to commemorate the launch, demonstrating how drivers use a dedicated smartphone app to receive dispatch requests and to input health-related data concerning their fitness to drive. "We will greatly expand the ride-hailing business and establish it throughout Japan to resolve a shortage of transport providers," transport minister Tetsuo Saito said at the ceremony. He went for a test ride using the service.

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As of Monday morning, there were approximately 80 drivers on hand, and the service was utilized close to 50 times before 9 a.m., as reported by the association. Pre-registered vehicles provide rides with pre-determined routes and rates. In general, only non-cash payment methods are accepted. Currently, the service operates in the 23 Tokyo districts and Musashino and Mitaka outlying regions. It's available from Monday to Friday between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., and on Saturday mornings from midnight to 4 a.m. Plans are in place to extend the service, with the transport ministry also approving its launch in other major cities, including Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka.