日本交通電子付費儲值咭大統一

Recently the FNN on-line reported the following:

 全国で発行されている「Suica」や「ICOCA」など10種類の交通系ICカードが、2013年3月から相互利用できるようになる。
相互利用できるようになるのは、JR東日本が発行しているSuicaや、JR西日本が発行している「ICOCA」など、全国の10種類の交通系ICカードで、2013年3月23日から142社の交通機関で利用可能となる。
これにより、エリアの違う私鉄やバスなどで、これまで相互利用できなかった交通機関も1枚のICカードで乗り降りできるようになり、出張先や旅行先で切符を買う必要がなくなる。
また、それぞれのカードの加盟店で、電子マネーによるショッピングもできるようになる。
鉄道会社各社によると、交通系ICカードの発行枚数は2001年に初めてSuicaを発行してから、これまで10種類あわせて世界最多となる、およそ8,000万枚にのぼるという。

(12/18 21:13)

(試譯文)

Ten kinds of traffic system IC cards such as "Suica" and "ICOCA" etc. which were issued throughout the whole country could be used mutually starting from March, 2013.

The ten kinds of national traffic system IC cards, such as Suica issued by the JR East Japan and "ICOCA" issued by JR West Japan, would become mutually usable. Such a shared use would be possible starting from March 23, 2013 and would cover 142 transportation companies.

According to the arrangement, it would be possible to get on and off a means of transportation that belonged to a private rail line or a bus line in different areas using one IC card which was not mutually usable until now, and there would be no need to buy a ticket in the working or traveling destination.

Moreover, shopping by electronic money would also become possible using the card in stores of the members.

According to the individual railroad company, since the issuing of “Suica” for the first time in 2001, in total ten kinds of traffic system IC cards had been issued. It had reached about 80 million in numbers and became the world most numerous.

It is nice to know that travelling in Japan would become more convenient in 2013 for local people in general and tourists in particular.