Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen: Kitakyushu and Four Prefectures Seek Selection for the National "Case Study for Basic-Plan Routes" (May to August 2026)Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen: Kitakyushu and others are asking to be chosen for the national "case study"
From May to August 2026 (Reiwa 8), Kitakyushu City published a series of moves toward the Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen (Kitakyushu - Oita - Miyazaki - Kagoshima). The four prefectures and the city passed a resolution and made requests to have the line selected for the "case study for basic-plan routes", which the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is carrying out for the first time with this year's budget, and on August 7 the ministry announced a competitive proposal call for the case study. Construction has not been decided.
- 1973The Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen is set in the basic plan
- May 27, 2026The association resolves to seek selection for the case study (Shimonoseki)
- July 14, 2026Petition to the Director-General of the Railway Bureau
- August 7, 2026The ministry announces the call for case study proposals
- August 31, 2026Fukuoka association inaugural meeting (announced)
Key points
- The Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen is a line set in the basic plan in 1973. The promotion association consists of Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures and Kitakyushu City
- On May 27, 2026, the association's heads met in Shimonoseki and resolved to strengthen cooperation so the line is selected for the case study and that the target route should basically pass through the four prefectures and one city
- On July 14 it petitioned the Director-General of the Railway Bureau of the ministry. The city says it asked that the line be chosen for the "case study for basic-plan routes" included for the first time in this year's national budget
- On August 7 the ministry published a call for competitive proposals for a case study using the Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen as an example. A notice was issued that an inaugural meeting of the Fukuoka Prefecture Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen Promotion Association, aiming for the Nippo Main Line route, would be held on August 31
What to do in practice
- The case study is at the examination stage, so keep checking announcements from the national government, prefectures and the city until it is decided whether and on what route the line will be built
- Do not base investment, store opening or property purchase decisions along the line on the assumption that the Shinkansen will be built
The Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen is a line from Kitakyushu to Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima that was written into a national plan in 1973. But it has not been decided that it will be built. The national government is about to start a "case study" to examine such lines, and Kitakyushu and four prefectures are asking to be chosen.
- ○Applies: The national government plans a case study (an examination) and has issued a notice
- ○Applies: Four prefectures and one city are working together and asking to be chosen
- ×Does not apply: It has already been decided to build the Shinkansen
- ×Does not apply: The route and opening time have been decided
Points
- The line has been in the plan for more than 50 years, but it has not been decided to build it
- The national government plans to start a "case study", a kind of examination, and its notice was issued on August 7
- Kitakyushu and the four prefectures of Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki and Kagoshima are working together on requests and activities
What the words mean
- Basic-plan route
- A line that is in the national plan as a possible Shinkansen but has not been decided to be built
- Promotion association
- A group that works together so that a goal comes true
- City of Kitakyushu: City of Kitakyushu: Resolution toward participating in the national "case study for basic-plan routes" (May 29, 2026)
- City of Kitakyushu: City of Kitakyushu: Lobbying for selection of the route for the case study (July 16, 2026)
- City of Kitakyushu: City of Kitakyushu: Notice of competitive proposals for the "case study for basic-plan routes" (Aug. 7, 2026)
- City of Kitakyushu: City of Kitakyushu: Inaugural general meeting of the Fukuoka Prefecture Higashi-Kyushu Shinkansen Promotion Association (Aug. 25, 2026)
This article previews items that are still under consideration or only requested. Whether they will be adopted, and whether the content or timing will change, is not final. Please check the official source again once a decision is made.
This article summarizes and explains materials published by government agencies and is not advice on any individual case. Rules can change, so for actual procedures and decisions always check the latest original materials and consult professionals such as tax accountants or labor and social security attorneys. English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese versions are translations prepared from the Japanese articles for convenience. If anything differs, the Japanese text and the original source take precedence.