The government said Tuesday it will ask companies operating bullet trains to accelerate construction work that will boost the earthquake resistance of shinkansen lines where technically viable.
The move comes after Tohoku Shinkansen services were suspended for about a month due to a magnitude 7.4 quake hitting the country's northeast in March.
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuo Saito said the ministry will hold its first meeting of experts on May 31 to examine reinforcement work to improve the quake resistance of bullet trains and measures to prevent their derailment.