The Transport Ministry plans to allow local authorities to put the geographical names of their choice on automobile license plates.
Under the current system, Japanese license plates carry the name of the location where the Transport Ministry's motor vehicle registration offices are based, and not prefectural names, as in some countries. Officials said the ministry plans to change the system, possibly by fiscal 2003, allowing more flexibility on the use of municipalities and other geographical names on the license plate.
Some local authorities -- particularly those keen to promote their names as a tourist attraction -- have already expressed interest in the idea.
Among the first new geographical names that may appear on future Japanese license plates are Izu, in in Shizuoka Prefecture, and Aizu, in Fukushima Prefecture.