The Japanese government is getting on board with the private sector in promoting the sale of bullet trains in America and Brazil, believing that global warming is spurring a boom of interest in environmentally friendly high-speed railway systems. In the short-term, the government is expected to devote itself to public relations activities on behalf of Japanese businesses with America and Brazil. The Foreign Ministry believes the government’s promotion of the speedy trains will become a drawing card in its diplomacy efforts to brand Japan as an eco-friendly nation. Obama in April announced a sweeping environment-oriented stimulus package and said, “I’m announcing my administration’s efforts to transform travel in America with an historic investment in high speed rail.”
The measures included a grandiose super express network linking major American cities, including a rail line between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Brazil is believed to be ahead of the United States in starting the construction of a high-speed rail system as it is scheduled to host the World Cup finals in Rio de Janeiro in 2014. The country is gearing toward opening a fast rail line measuring about 550 kilometers, including between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populated city.