ABSTRACT
The construction investment in and inter cities is still vital need in Japan and the high rate of investment is forecasted to keep in thefollowing 20 years. In this situation the tunnelling technologies keep toplay important roles. Among them a TBM technology will play a major role in the highly mechatronized construction technologies to pursue the high efficiency of excavation and to attain the cost reduction. Japan has greatly contributed in the shield TBM technology and the new technology developments are spouting out. The TBM for rock tunnels is obtaining the important position in the rock tunnelling in Japan. In this paper extensive developments which are being carried out in Japan will be discussed and introduced.
