Local News

Long distance ferry travel between Kyushu and the Kansai and Kanto regions posted double-digit declines in FY 2009, the Kyushu District Transport Bureau reported. A total of six companies operate eight ships, on which passenger traffic was down 13.3% and vehicular traffic was down 12.6% from the previous year. This second consecutive annual decline was attributed to the discounted tolls on expressways during holidays and the economic turndown.