Gov't unveils relief package for fishermen, transport firms

Wednesday 30th July, 06:20 AM JST

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buggerlugs at 09:37 AM JST - 30th July

it is different for the fishermen and truckers because they can actually hurt industries by blockades and strikes, the government don't care about the normal person so we will not get this benefit... I hope that people take notice of this action and take action instead of just winging. Why not geteveryone you know and everyone they know to stop using JAL,Yamato takyubin, Eneos, Idemitsu and Shell. If we all go to the smaller companies their prices willcome down, then the bigger companies will have to lower their prices to become competative and we, the consumer, can begin a price war.
Surge at 09:41 AM JST - 30th July

LDP is taxing people left right and center, just to get votes , disgusting.

Why don`t the Japanese make a stand about this?

Is it fair on people who don`t eat fish?, on other countries that export fish to Japan.

Another example of rip off Japan.
cleo at 09:49 AM JST - 30th July

If the fishermen go on strike (again?) the only effect will be fewer dead fish in the supermarkets and more live fish in the ocean, building up stocks. Can't be a bad thing. Strike, fishermen, strike.

Lowering expressway tolls at night for the truckers is nothing but a bandaid on a broken leg. Get the huge gas-guzzling, exhaust-spewing fleets of trucks off the roads altogether. Japan has a fine railway network that could be used to transport goods long-distance much more efficiently and with a much smaller environmental footprint. The trucks would then be needed only for local delivery. Why subsidise bad habits, just because 'it's what we've always done'?
Surge at 09:55 AM JST - 30th July

Cleo is correct, in other industrialised nations the railways are used for long distance haulage. Japan has excellent infrastructure, why not have freight trains running at night? Mail trains too maybe? THese fishermen should compete on an even footing with other countries fishermen. Stop subsidising expensive food at the taxpayers expense!!!
nutsagain at 09:58 AM JST - 30th July

cleo/Surge you're both on the money with this. Good posts.
Altria at 10:00 AM JST - 30th July

The locals are pretty riled up about this too. People are talking about a fish boycott.
Surge at 10:05 AM JST - 30th July

Cleo, i also agree with your point that more live fish would be best. Fish are for admiring not eating!!! Can`t see Japanese turning veg soon, shame, as it might reduce obesity etc, which is now starting to take hold.

Fishing is huge business in Japan, and a huge vote puller for the LDP,. Cheaper fuels = more votes, sad really.
thedesertfox at 10:52 AM JST - 30th July

Anybody who uses gasoline for work (and does not pay for it but has their employer foot the bill) has little incentive to conserve.

Truckers and cab drivers ALWAYS nap in their cars with the engine idling for hours --wasting loads of fuel. No doubt the fisherman have found ways to waste fuel as well.
cleo at 11:43 AM JST - 30th July

thedesertfox -

I think most of the fishermen are one-man/family affairs, so they pay for their own fuel (and want someone else to pay for it).

The simplest, fairest way is to put the price of the fuel onto the price of the fish. People who support the fishermen will pay the higher prices with a smile on their face, those who don't will either grumble and pay (not being able to kick their piscivoratory addiction), or change their eating habits. Either way the fishermen get just the support the people are willing to give them, no more no less.
FairandBalanced at 11:50 AM JST - 30th July

LDP elite, will you please stop subsidising your voters at the expense of the taxpayers .
Nessie at 11:57 AM JST - 30th July

If the fishermen go on strike (again?) the only effect will be fewer dead fish in the supermarkets and more live fish in the ocean, building up stocks.

On the money, except for the above. The effect will be fewer dead fish in Japanese supermarkets and more live fish caught by other countries, building up THEIR stocks of dead fish in THEIR supermarkets.
Nessie at 12:14 PM JST - 30th July

They'll eventually spin it as a food security thing, even though promoting fuel use detracts from Japan's food security.
DeepAir65 at 01:50 PM JST - 30th July

In japan seafood is obvuiously very popular so the masses won't understand this as their fish stay the same price. But what they can not see (as no government official will spell it out for them) is that taxes will go up to pay for these subsidies. So as cleo said let them put the price to deliver the fish on the price in the supermarket and let the people decide if they want to eat fish, or rice, or milk or whatever it is they complain about next
hermitage at 08:06 AM JST - 31st July

They should reorganize the intermediate distributtion channels, or change the shares of fishermen and distributors, before considering using taxpayers' money.
saru_au at 06:06 PM JST - 1st August

"cut the cost of the tolls at night"

those highway tolls are paying for current retirement payouts.. oh no! the old biddy who goes through my trash will get a "pay" cut ??