Until recently the majority of cargo was handled in the three largest Japanese Bays.
Lately other ports located outside the three bays have been increasing their shares as economic activity becomes more decentralized. Recently also, container liner routes have been expanding to north/south routes in addition to the existing north/north routes, reflecting changes in Japan's international trading patterns.
In addition to their transportation and distribution functions, Japanese ports are also used for other important purposes. They serve as centres of refuge and protection from natural forces (earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis). In the context of the severe shortage of developable land (the 20% of Japan's land mass that is developable has already been built upon) and the overcrowding of Japan's large cities they provide opportunities to accommodate urban growth and expansion seawards through extensive land reclamation, and they form nodes in the extension of Japan's multi-model trunk line networks (roads, rail, airports etc.), and strategic locations for modernizing the economy, responding to social change, processing waste and managing environmental issues.
As a result, the major Japanese ports are more than simply marine terminals; they have become integrated urban complexes with multiple functions, including industry, commerce, communications, public services and amenities, housing and recreation.
Substantial new urban waterfront areas have opened up in these places as land reclamation schemes have been completed and developed.
The desire of Japanese authorities to accommodate growth and change through port/waterfront development has coincided with the emergence of citizen demand for improved waterfront access, resolution of environmental issues such as the shortage of green space, more recreational amenities and a better overall quality of life. These trends shape the waterfronts which have emerged over the past ten years and which are now being developed for "port renaissance 21".
In Japan ports are operated and managed by local port management bodies responsible to their local municipalities or prefectures. They draft port development plans in accordance with the Ministry of Transport's basic (port) policy and local/regional comprehensive plans for approval by local councils and (in the case of Specially Designated Major Ports and Major Ports) by the Ministry of Transport. Funding for the implementation of the public elements of approved plans is shared equally by the Ministry of Transport and the local authorities through five year capital plans.
Japan spends approximately 75 billion yen on its ports system annually. There is only partial recovery of the public funds invested through port fees and dues. These are set by the local bodies, though supervised by the ministry, which encourages some degree of regulated competition between them.
