ABSTRACT
Chapter 5 has considered the degree to which the shinkansen as a whole makes economic sense. Yet it is too simplistic to merely consider this issue when evaluating the shinkansen. To gain a full appreciation of how the shinkansen operates and how it reflects different aspects of Japanese society, it is necessary to consider other aspects too. This chapter will look at some of these key areas and how they further enable the JR companies to improve the performance of the shinkansen, and their own business performance, as they continue to compete with other forms of transport and try to encourage more people to travel.
