Japan-California Rail Decarbonization Forum
2025/5/30
On May 21, 2025, a Rail Decarbonization Forum was held at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The forum builds upon the 2024 Letter of Intent between the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) and the 2022 Memorandum of Cooperation between the Government of Japan and the State of California.
Japan and California are committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and 2045, respectively, and under this common vision, they are partners in addressing the critical issue of climate change. Consul General Sone welcomed participants at the forum and expressed his hope that the discussion would further strengthen the partnership between Japan and California in their many sustainability efforts to decarbonize.
Government officials, technical experts and business leaders from both Japan and the United States gathered at the event to exchange information and collaborate, including MLIT, CalSTA, Japanese International Transportation and Tourism Institute (JITTI), the California Department of Transportation, California High-Speed Rail Authority and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
The forum topics included government and private sector rail decarbonization strategies, alternative fuel and energy production in passenger and freight rail, and high-speed rail and regional rail transit-oriented development.
Technical cooperation and demonstration projects of Japanese companies were introduced by MLIT, Hitachi Rail STS USA, Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI), Sekisui Chemical, Tokyu Railways, Japan Railway Construction, Transport, and Technology Agency (JRTT), and others.
Press Releases
By MLIT: https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/tetsudo06_hh_000135.html
By CalSTA: https://calsta.ca.gov/press-releases/2025-05-23-ca-japan-strengthen-collab-rail-decarbonization
Japan and California are committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and 2045, respectively, and under this common vision, they are partners in addressing the critical issue of climate change. Consul General Sone welcomed participants at the forum and expressed his hope that the discussion would further strengthen the partnership between Japan and California in their many sustainability efforts to decarbonize.
Government officials, technical experts and business leaders from both Japan and the United States gathered at the event to exchange information and collaborate, including MLIT, CalSTA, Japanese International Transportation and Tourism Institute (JITTI), the California Department of Transportation, California High-Speed Rail Authority and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
The forum topics included government and private sector rail decarbonization strategies, alternative fuel and energy production in passenger and freight rail, and high-speed rail and regional rail transit-oriented development.
Technical cooperation and demonstration projects of Japanese companies were introduced by MLIT, Hitachi Rail STS USA, Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI), Sekisui Chemical, Tokyu Railways, Japan Railway Construction, Transport, and Technology Agency (JRTT), and others.
Press Releases
By MLIT: https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/tetsudo06_hh_000135.html
By CalSTA: https://calsta.ca.gov/press-releases/2025-05-23-ca-japan-strengthen-collab-rail-decarbonization
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| Video message from MLIT Director-General of International Affairs Yuki Tanaka | Remarks by CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin |
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| Remarks by Consul General Sone | Panel discussion |
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| Consul General Sone and CalSTA Secretary Toks Omishakin |