The National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) conducted a legal workshop for 10 officials from the Office of the Council of State (OCS) for 5 days from May 26 to 30, 2025. ?This workshop has been held almost every year since 2014, with each program based on a theme requested by OCS.

This workshop, themed “Japan’s Experiences and Challenges for Urban Railway Services”, and included lectures by GRIPS faculty and an external lecturer, as well as visits to two major railway companies. The participants took lectures on the historical development of urban railway services, regional public transportation policy, cooperation between railway services and other fields, urban development, analysis of changes in railway demand, and the role of local governments. They also visited and deepened their understanding of train operation management in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the spatial planning of Tokyo Station, and regional development initiatives surrounding the Minami-Machida and Shibuya stations on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, with the cooperation of the Association for Planning and Transportation Studies (Professor Yuichiro Kaneko of Nihon University, a director of the association).

On the final day, a comprehensive discussion was held in which the participants raised topics of interest that had emerged through the lectures and site visits during the program. Senior Professor Hitoshi Ieda, the program director, provided explanations and insights on each of these topics. During the wrap-up session, participants shared their impressions, such as “I found the training valuable as it provided an opportunity to learn from experts in railway transportation,” “I will refer to the takeaways when drafting legislation,” and “I intend to share knowledge with colleagues in different fields upon returning home.” These comments suggest that the training was highly beneficial. The program concluded with the Professor Hirofumi Takada (Vice President and Director of the Executive Development Center for Global Leadership), awarding certificates to all participants.