Tokyo taxis ensure dominance over on-demand private driver company, Uber Technologies Inc. Whereas, Uber draws blood in its fights in the US., Europe and Brazil, the company is de-clawed in Japan with making about 1 percent of sales.
One of the major person’s behind this is Ichiro Kawanabe, creator of taxi-hailing app called, Japan Taxi Co.. He is also the chairman of Japan’s taxi federation and grandson to the founder of popular cab company, Nishon Kotso. Kawanabe rallied taxi fleets and lawmakers to pass tough regulations for licensing and ensure competitive rates.
In Tokyo, catching a cab is expensive. For a 5-mile ride, it costs ¥ 2,700 yen or US $24 dollars. A fierce nemesis of Uber, it is reported that he is banned there. But Kawanabe shrugs that off because his advocacy has been quite effective on the island-nation.
