This year's Tateshina Meeting once again brought together leaders from across industries to discuss how to achieve zero traffic accidents. Participants looked back on the origins of Shoko-ji Temple and reaffirmed their resolve to build a safer society.
2,547 people.
That's how many lost their lives in traffic accidents in Japan in 2025, according to figures released by the National Police Agency. It is the lowest figure since record-keeping began in 1948, though the rate of decline has slowed in recent years.
Leaders from across industries once again came together at this year's Tateshina Meeting, united in their commitment to achieving zero traffic accidents.
This year's meeting began by looking back on the origins of Mount Tateshina Shoko-ji Temple (Chino City, Nagano Prefecture), where the summer festival was held on July 17. In 1970, when annual traffic deaths topped 16,000 in what came to be known as the "Traffic War," Shoko-ji Temple was built as a place to pray for traffic safety and remember the victims of accidents. Participants once again took to heart the commitment of those who worked to establish the temple.
ITS* was a topic of discussion for achieving safer traffic through a "three-pronged approach" focusing on people, cars, and infrastructure. Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota Research Institute CEO Gill Pratt, and others discussed its benefits and challenges.
*Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS): systems that connect people, cars, and roads through communication technology, enabling the exchange of information that vehicles alone cannot obtain to support safer driving.
This year's Tateshina Meeting once again featured a wide range of organizations sharing their efforts, spanning automobiles, bicycles, telecommunications, universities, and more. The words "together" and "united" were heard frequently in the participants’ reports.
Behind these words was the same resolve: to come together and end these tragic accidents.
Since 2023, the Tateshina Meeting has also organized subcommittee activities to make its traffic safety initiatives more effective.
After this year's meeting, an app that helps parents and children learn about traffic safety on school routes together was also unveiled as part of efforts to raise safety awareness among children.