Recently, as world port environment rapidly changes, competition for securing quantity of goods transported among ports becomes fiercer and they seek strategy to develop central ports through broadscale investment on facilities. In case of Japan, they are experiencing tough time as prolonged economic recession and slowdown caused a decrease in the quantity of goods transported, which leads to a search for development through transformation of port management policy and to a strategically concentrated support policy at national level that enables enhancement of international competitiveness of the port as well as reclamation of the position as the hub container port of East Asia which was enjoyed in the past. This study examines the trend of Japan’s port logistics and considers the trend of Japan’s port management policy through review of literature. Moreover, management policy of Hanshin port, appointed as an international container hub in 2010, is looked over and it is summarized as sharp cut in the port use cost and reduction in lead time. The implication of this study is that Korean ports need to prepare policy options to cope with Japan’s port management strategy.

Recently, as world port environment rapidly changes, competition for securing quantity of goods transported among ports becomes fiercer and they seek strategy to develop central ports through broadscale investment on facilities. In case of Japan, they are experiencing tough time as prolonged economic recession and slowdown caused a decrease in the quantity of goods transported, which leads to a search for development through transformation of port management policy and to a strategically concentrated support policy at national level that enables enhancement of international competitiveness of the port as well as reclamation of the position as the hub container port of East Asia which was enjoyed in the past. This study examines the trend of Japan’s port logistics and considers the trend of Japan’s port management policy through review of literature. Moreover, management policy of Hanshin port, appointed as an international container hub in 2010, is looked over and it is summarized as sharp cut in the port use cost and reduction in lead time. The implication of this study is that Korean ports need to prepare policy options to cope with Japan’s port management strategy.

Japan, Hanshin Port, Port Management, Port Policy, International Logistics