Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Sunday called for fully opening up the ride-hailing market, including allowing information technology firms to operate ride-hailing services.
In a speech in the southwestern city of Nagasaki, Motegi also expressed eagerness to expand the so-called sharing economy, in which individuals and companies borrow and lend goods and skills via the internet.
The sharing economy is "growing as a business," Motegi pointed out. "The best policy to promote innovation is not to strictly regulate new work styles and businesses," he said.
"It's not right to think that (fully allowing ride-hailing services) is impossible in Japan," Motegi noted. Ride-hailing services involve ordinary drivers using their personal cars to offer paid rides.
Starting in April, ride-hailing services are allowed in some parts of the country, but operators of such services are limited to taxi companies now.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida considered unveiling a plan in June to draw up legislation to fully allow ride-hailing services, but he has decided to postpone it due to divided opinions within the LDP and persistent opposition from the transport ministry and Komeito, the LDP's coalition partner.
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