Greetings from the Chief Executive
A message from Kiyoshi Takeuchi, the Chief Executive of the National Agency of Vehicle Inspection.
With the expansion of motorization, our country's economy, as well as the national lifestyle, has been changing significantly.
Since the beginning of the so-called "rapid economic growth"-period, which started in the early 1960's, the number of vehicles in this country has grown from an approximate 3.4 million to surpass 79 million in the year 2008.
From trucks responsible for physical distribution to buses and taxis that support our means of transport, and not to forget the most familiar passenger automobiles whose number has increased tremendously over the years, vehicles have become essential to our lives and economic activities.
At the same time, however, car accidents and traffic congestions, as well as environmental deterioration due to noise pollution and exhaust emissions, have created serious social problems. Thus, ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are taking numerous measures to support the substantial development of a safer, more environment-friendly vehicle.
Since its establishment in July 2002 with its aim to secure motor vehicle safety and prevent various pollutions, the National Agency of Vehicle Inspection has been performing the Safety Standards Conformity Inspection (the inspection that checks whether a vehicle meets the government's safety and pollution-preventative technology standards or not) at the inspection stations in 93 Transport Branch Offices and Vehicle Inspection and Registration Offices nationwide.
We carry out these activities strictly and impartially, from a neutral position. Upon doing so, we pay special attention to the fundamentals of the specified independent administrative agency system: "autonomy", "initiative" and "transparency", and all of our staffs strive to provide high-quality services efficiently and effectively, and to contribute to the realization of a safe, environment-friendly society.
Of the approximate 870 staffs, about 800 are responsible for carrying out over 8 million vehicle inspections each year. In an effort to inspect as many vehicles with a limited amount of inspectors, many of our inspection processes have been automated, and our inspectors make objective judgments using these machines. We will continue on with our efforts to improve our facilities, and because some parts of the inspection such as finding defective vehicles, nonconforming vehicles, and unauthorized modified vehicles require personal techniques and skills, we will strive to educate highly qualified inspectors.
Our mission is to prompt vehicle maintenance through inspections and to exclude unauthorized modified vehicles as well as vehicles that do not conform to the standards, but vehicle safety and prevention of pollution cannot be achieved unless proper checks and maintenance are carried out by users and maintenance workshops. We appreciate your understanding in our services of carrying out vehicle inspections delegated by the government, and kindly ask for your cooperation in achieving our goals.
Since the beginning of the so-called "rapid economic growth"-period, which started in the early 1960's, the number of vehicles in this country has grown from an approximate 3.4 million to surpass 79 million in the year 2008.
From trucks responsible for physical distribution to buses and taxis that support our means of transport, and not to forget the most familiar passenger automobiles whose number has increased tremendously over the years, vehicles have become essential to our lives and economic activities.
At the same time, however, car accidents and traffic congestions, as well as environmental deterioration due to noise pollution and exhaust emissions, have created serious social problems. Thus, ministries such as the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are taking numerous measures to support the substantial development of a safer, more environment-friendly vehicle.
Since its establishment in July 2002 with its aim to secure motor vehicle safety and prevent various pollutions, the National Agency of Vehicle Inspection has been performing the Safety Standards Conformity Inspection (the inspection that checks whether a vehicle meets the government's safety and pollution-preventative technology standards or not) at the inspection stations in 93 Transport Branch Offices and Vehicle Inspection and Registration Offices nationwide.
We carry out these activities strictly and impartially, from a neutral position. Upon doing so, we pay special attention to the fundamentals of the specified independent administrative agency system: "autonomy", "initiative" and "transparency", and all of our staffs strive to provide high-quality services efficiently and effectively, and to contribute to the realization of a safe, environment-friendly society.
Of the approximate 870 staffs, about 800 are responsible for carrying out over 8 million vehicle inspections each year. In an effort to inspect as many vehicles with a limited amount of inspectors, many of our inspection processes have been automated, and our inspectors make objective judgments using these machines. We will continue on with our efforts to improve our facilities, and because some parts of the inspection such as finding defective vehicles, nonconforming vehicles, and unauthorized modified vehicles require personal techniques and skills, we will strive to educate highly qualified inspectors.
Our mission is to prompt vehicle maintenance through inspections and to exclude unauthorized modified vehicles as well as vehicles that do not conform to the standards, but vehicle safety and prevention of pollution cannot be achieved unless proper checks and maintenance are carried out by users and maintenance workshops. We appreciate your understanding in our services of carrying out vehicle inspections delegated by the government, and kindly ask for your cooperation in achieving our goals.