Chairman’s corner

UIC Chairman

Yuji Fukasawa joined the Japanese National Railways (JNR), predecessor of East Japan Railway Company (JR East), in 1978, following graduation from the University of Tokyo where he attained a degree in law. He has long served in a role of leadership in the rail industry, with more than 45 years of experience behind him.
Y. Fukasawa served as JR East’s President from 2018 to 2024 and currently serves as the company’s Chairman. He has unfailingly stood at the company’s forefront even through such unprecedented challenges as those presented by Covid-19, working tirelessly to transform Japan’s railways.
One of the most significant achievements under his leadership was the inauguration of “Takanawa Gateway City”. It is one of the largest urban development projects taking placing in Japan in recent years, now being developed alongside a recently constructed station on land made available through the repurposing of a former rail depot. Takanawa Gateway City is positioned to become a place of experimentation and innovation toward new and fulfilling lifestyles into the century ahead. It aims to become a hub from which solutions for the future are to be generated and shared with the rest of the world in the form of new culture, new business modes and models for a more environmentally viable economy.
Y. Fukasawa believes in the greater potential of railways as leaders in promoting decarbonization initiatives and has been instrumental in making the utilization of hydrogen energy a reality along with other investments to further address issues facing the global environment and reduce CO₂ emissions.
Y. Fukasawa took it upon himself to make sure that the company learned from both operational and technical aspects of past safety-related incidents. He emphasized safety as the company’s top priority, applying lessons from the past to further prevent accidents and ensure safer and more secure railway services.
He has also made important contributions in the development of human resources in the industry through training programs in the fields of operations, maintenance, and customer service. Last but not least, his leadership has been indispensable toward the success of the High-Speed Rail Project now underway in India.
Since 2023, Y. Fukasawa has served as member and is actively involved with both the UIC Executive Board and the UIC Asia-Pacific Management Committee (APMC), where he has emphasized the importance of UIC initiatives, most particularly as an advocate of standardisation. His membership in the APMC has led to participation in activities within the Asia-Pacific region, including Safety Training Session, a major forte of JR East, which he has organized within the framework of regional projects.
Y. Fukasawa has always had great interest in the culinary cultures of the world and is a certified expert in both wine and Japanese sake. A lifelong tennis enthusiast, he has been serving as President of the Japan Tennis Association since April 2025, active worldwide in revitalizing communities through the power of sport.