Although the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus is declining nationwide, it remains unabated.

Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth of England, and their appearance was broadcast on TV. Most of them were maskless.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare is broadcasting a publicity message on television that says it is okay to wear no mask when walking or jogging without talking. However, the uptight Japanese who care about how they are viewed by others will not be able to easily stop the custom that has lasted for three years. Maybe being cautious is good, but…

From October 11th, the government will implement a tourism support measure “National Travel Discount”. He announced that he will abolish the entry limit for foreigners visiting Japan and lift the ban on individual travel and visa-free travel. Finally, we will enter with corona. I just pray that the 8th wave won’t come with that policy.

In other words, the promotion and expansion of vaccination should be hastened, and all that is required is to proceed with socioeconomic activities while taking precautions to prevent infection as much as possible.

On September 23, the shortest 66-kilometer section of the Nishikyushu Shinkansen from Takeo Onsen to Nagasaki opened partially. However, there is no prospect of opening the entire line from the Shin-Tosu connection.

I happened to have a job near Takeo Onsen, so I decided to return to Tokyo from the platform where the relay Kamome and the Shinkansen Kamome connect. The square in front of the station was a lively event, lined with food and drink and product event tents. Lines had formed at the ticket vending machines to purchase admission tickets, and the platforms were crowded with children who did not ride the Shinkansen and train geeks who took photographs.

The N700S of the Tokaido Shinkansen is familiar, but the red stripe of JR Kyushu is very fresh. At the same time as the bullet train enters, the shutter sounds of the visitors all at once. Of course, many people get on and off from the Shinkansen that arrives, neither for sightseeing nor for work, but from their belongings and appearance.

Unfortunately, this type of passenger or bystander is temporary. Proposals on what to do with the shortened 30 to 40 minutes are being sought, and the opening of the Shinkansen will only be effective if the proposals are accepted.

Looking at many cases in the past, there are many cases where conventional lines are separated from JR and become local 3 sectors near the opening of business. Stations that have been closely connected to the community will inevitably experience a decrease in operation schedules, such as a reduction in the number of trains and the disappearance of limited express trains. Always the same, the starting and ending stations develop.

On the Kyushu Shinkansen, it is Hakata Station and Kagoshima Chuo. The Hokuriku Shinkansen is at Kanazawa Station. Even at a station in the middle of the Shinkansen, it is not safe. Stations on the way will be transit stations, and customers will not get off unless there is an appeal and purpose proposal for getting off at that station.

It will be a convenient way for local residents to go to the city for shopping and leisure, and the economy will flow to the city. The only way to make up for the outflow of the economy and revitalize it is to attract tourists. Even without temples and shrines, nature such as mountains, forests, fields, rivers, and the sea, and the lives and lifestyles of the people who live there, can be attractive resources for experience-based tourism. I would like to expect the development of the region.

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