VNExpress/VietnamNewsAgency-July 21
Two Vietnamese nationals have become the first foreign bus drivers to operate regular routes in Japan’s Shikoku region as the country grabbles severe manpower shortage. Vo Van Hieu, 43, and Ho Van Quy, 33, have taken the wheel for Iyotetsu Bus, a local transport company in Matsuyama, under the country’s Specified Skilled Worker program. The two men joined Iyotetsu Bus in September 2025. After obtaining licenses for large passenger vehicles and completing extensive training in driving and customer service, they began operating selected routes on June 25. On July 3, the pair visited the Ehime Prefectural Government offices alongside Iyotetsu Group President Ichiro Shimizu. During the meeting, Governor Tokihiro Nakamura welcomed the new drivers and expressed hope for their success in supporting public transportation in the prefecture, Iyotetsu announced in a press release posted on its official Facebook page. Both Hieu and Quy previously lived in Japan as technical intern trainees and can communicate comfortably in Japanese. They are continuing to study the language while working and interacting with colleagues at the bus depot. Speaking to The Mainichi, Hieu said he feels a strong sense of responsibility and hopes to provide a safe, comfortable service that passengers can trust. Quy emphasized the importance of mastering Japanese traffic regulations and prioritizing passenger safety. Their appointment comes as Japan faces a worsening shortage of bus drivers. The Nihon Bus Association estimates the country could face a shortage of about 36,000 drivers by 2030. Iyotetsu Bus has already been forced to reduce some routes and service frequencies in recent years due to declining ridership following the Covid-19 pandemic and difficulties in recruiting staff, according to The Mainichi. To improve employee retention, the company has raised driver salaries by more than 7% on average for three consecutive years. Although these measures have helped, the total number of drivers has continued to decline. Japan expanded its Specified Skilled Worker system in March 2024 to include the automobile transportation sector, allowing companies to hire foreign bus drivers under the Type (i) visa category.
