The resignation of Shizuoka Prefecture¡¯s governor has raised the possibility of a successor who might greenlight the construction of a tunnel through the prefecture for Central Japan Railway¡¯s (JR Central) magnetic levitation line connecting Tokyo and Nagoya.
Tuesday¡¯s surprise resignation announcement by Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu came just days after the operator of the maglev shinkansen said there would be a delay in its opening due to the governor¡¯s refusal to approve construction in the prefecture. The four-term governor is a long-time opponent of construction associated with the next-generation shinkansen.
Citing JR Central¡¯s decision to abandon the planned 2027 opening of the maglev line, Kawakatsu said Wednesday that he chose to resign because it represented a break in the standoff between himself and JR Central, which has centered on environmental concerns.
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