Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation
Encyclopedia
was a public corporation responsible for the construction of railway lines in Japan
.
The JRCC was established in 1964 as the successor to JNR's railway line construction division. Kakuei Tanaka
, then an influential member of the House of Representatives, was said to have been involved in its creation. Since by 1964 the existing railway network had been largely completed, the JRCC's primary responsibility was the planning and construction of the new shinkansen lines, urban railway lines, and third-sector lines.
The opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Seikan Tunnel
and the planning of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project
all proved beneficial to JRCC's bottom line. However, in spite of debate over JNR's plan to eliminate little-used local lines and become profitable again, JRCC was forced to build new local lines in response to pressure from Diet
politicians. Ultimately construction of new lines continued to ensure "balanced development of the nation."
In September 1979, it was revealed that JRCC had used money intended for overtime and other expenses for personal vacations, and it became the target of the Board of Audit of Japan. As a result, six people (including the director, Hiromori Kawashima) were forced to step down and 352 had their salary reduced, received warnings, or were otherwise reprimanded. A special accounting committee was also formed to return the mis-spent funds and pay taxes as was deemed necessary.
In 1998 JRCC assumed the assets and liabilities of the JNR Settlement Corporation
; JNRSC's existing long-term debts were incorporated into the national government's general debt. The JRCC was dissolved on October 1, 2003 and its responsibilities were passed to the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency
(JRTT).
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
The JRCC was established in 1964 as the successor to JNR's railway line construction division. Kakuei Tanaka
Kakuei Tanaka
was a Japanese politician and the 64th and 65th Prime Minister of Japan from 7 July 1972 to 22 December 1972 and from 22 December 1972 to 9 December 1974 respectively...
, then an influential member of the House of Representatives, was said to have been involved in its creation. Since by 1964 the existing railway network had been largely completed, the JRCC's primary responsibility was the planning and construction of the new shinkansen lines, urban railway lines, and third-sector lines.
The opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Seikan Tunnel
Seikan Tunnel
The Seikan Tunnel is a railway tunnel in Japan, with a long portion under the seabed. Track level is about below seabed and below sea level. It travels beneath the Tsugaru Strait—connecting Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido—as part of the Kaikyo Line...
and the planning of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project
Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project
The Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Project is a system of bridges connecting the islands of Honshū and Shikoku across the Inland Sea of Japan, which were previously only connected by ferry. It consists of three major connections. All bridges are now controlled by the and the...
all proved beneficial to JRCC's bottom line. However, in spite of debate over JNR's plan to eliminate little-used local lines and become profitable again, JRCC was forced to build new local lines in response to pressure from Diet
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
politicians. Ultimately construction of new lines continued to ensure "balanced development of the nation."
In September 1979, it was revealed that JRCC had used money intended for overtime and other expenses for personal vacations, and it became the target of the Board of Audit of Japan. As a result, six people (including the director, Hiromori Kawashima) were forced to step down and 352 had their salary reduced, received warnings, or were otherwise reprimanded. A special accounting committee was also formed to return the mis-spent funds and pay taxes as was deemed necessary.
In 1998 JRCC assumed the assets and liabilities of the JNR Settlement Corporation
JNR Settlement Corporation
was a corporation formed to handle long-term debts and redundancies following the privatization and breakup of Japanese National Railways on April 1, 1987....
; JNRSC's existing long-term debts were incorporated into the national government's general debt. The JRCC was dissolved on October 1, 2003 and its responsibilities were passed to the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency
Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency
The , or JRTT, is an Independent Administrative Institution created by an act of the Diet of Japan effective October 1, 2003. JRTT was founded by integrating the Japan Railway Construction Public Corporation and the Corporation for Advanced Transport and Technology .JRTT was a major shareholder...
(JRTT).