Bus, Taxi Driver License Exam to be Given in 20 Languages; Fewer than 1% of Class 2 License Holders Now Foreign
![](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/10984269.jpg)
A “Driver wanted” message is displayed electronically on the rear of a bus.
12:21 JST, December 26, 2023
The National Police Agency has decided to provide a written exam for the class 2 drivers license — which is required to drive taxis and buses — in foreign languages, although it is available only in Japanese now.
Behind the move are calls from the transportation industry, which hopes to cure a shortage of drivers by offering the test multilingually.
The NPA will distribute sample questions translated into 20 languages, including English, Korean, Portuguese and Vietnamese, by the end of March to police headquarters nationwide that compile actual questions. The languages to be introduced will be determined by the police in each prefecture based on the population of foreign residents there.
As of the end of 2022, there were 885,536 class 2 standard and large-vehicle license holders who can drive taxis and buses, respectively, with only 5,189 of them being foreign nationals.
Sample questions for a class 1 license have already been translated into 20 languages and distributed since 2009.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Typhoon Shanshan Forms, Slowly Moves Toward Japan; Govt Says Typhoon No. 10 Likely to Approach Japan Next Week
-
Typhoon Ampil Approaching Japan
-
Shizuoka Pref. City Offers Foreigners Free Japanese Language Classes; Aims to Raise Non-Natives to Daily Conversation Level
-
Typhoon No. 10 Forecast to Develop; Move into Pacific Ocean South of Japan on Aug. 26
-
Tokyo Companies Prepare for Ashfall From Mt. Fuji Eruption; Disposal Of Ash, Possibly at Sea, A Major Challenge
JN ACCESS RANKING