Unlocking Zero Accidents in Traffic: Unified Dedication to Road Safety Overrides Business Boundaries
In the picturesque Tateshina highland of Chino City, Nagano, a unique gathering takes place every year – the Tateshina Meeting. This annual event, held near Shoko-ji Temple, is a testament to Japan's ongoing commitment to a safer mobility future.
The Tateshina Meeting, established by the Toyota Mobility Foundation in 2019, is a collaborative summit that brings together leaders from the automotive industry and related sectors. The goal? To achieve zero traffic accident casualties, a mission that extends beyond Japan's borders to encompass the international community.
The history of the Tateshina Meeting is deeply rooted in tradition and innovation. The temple, where the meetings are held, was constructed during Japan's "Traffic War" about 50 years ago and serves as a poignant reminder of the lives lost on the roads. The temple's purpose is to commemorate those who perish on the road and pray for the eradication of fatal traffic accidents.
The third Tateshina Meeting took place on July 18, 2025, coinciding with the summer festival at Shoko-ji Temple. This meeting marked a significant step towards reducing traffic fatalities, particularly among vulnerable groups like children, elderly pedestrians, and cyclists.
The Tateshina Meeting focuses on three key areas: cars, people’s behavior, and traffic infrastructure. The emphasis is on fostering safety through vehicle technology advancements, road infrastructure improvements, and most importantly, behavioural changes among road users. The meetings encourage conversations around not just car safety features but also immediate actionable changes in driver and pedestrian behaviour to prevent accidents.
High-profile participants include leading executives and experts from the automotive industry, such as Toyota's Chairman Akio Toyoda, and representatives from various companies and organizations involved in mobility and traffic safety. The event is not just a forum for official dialogue but also includes informal, candid exchanges linking motorsport philosophies and product development with safety culture.
This year's 53rd annual event was attended by Chairman Akio Toyoda, President Koji Sato, and other key figures. The meeting discussed three-pronged safety initiatives and preventing fatal accidents involving the elderly.
Despite progress, the global number of traffic accident fatalities increased to 1.3 million in 2021, with Japan accounting for 3,000 of these. However, the number of traffic accident casualties in Japan is currently less than 3,000, a significant decrease from the 1.6 million recorded in 2013.
Chairman Toyoda began the meeting by calling for safety to be the top priority. He expressed hope that the safety meeting represents the 5.5 million people in Japan's auto industry and will serve as a first step in sharing a safety message with the world.
The Tateshina Meeting serves as a unique platform combining industry leadership, cultural tradition, and technical innovation in Japan’s ongoing effort to realise a safer mobility future with zero traffic fatalities. As the meetings continue, so does the hope for a world where roads are safer for everyone.
- The Tateshina Meeting, attended by leaders from the automotive industry, aims to extend its mission of zero traffic accident casualties beyond Japan's borders, requiring collaboration with related sectors such as finance and transportation.
- As theTateshina Meeting continues to advance safety initiatives, it encourages discussions not only about car safety features but also about real-world changes in driver and pedestrian behavior, encompassing various aspects of the automotive, finance, and transportation industries.
