In advance of the Tokyo Olympics to be held in 2020, greater supervision of high pressure gas cylinders appears to be needed in the areas around Tokyo as a measure to counter terrorism and to prevent theft by criminals.

Whenever summit meetings are held in Tokyo, right before these meetings the Metropolitan Police Department requires the gas producers and gas distributers in the Tokyo area to implement greater measures to prevent theft of high pressure gas cylinders which are considered to be hazardous items. While the meetings are being held, roadblocks are also set up. Furthermore, as one gas distributer in the Tokyo area put it, “Trucks in the process of delivering cylinders get caught up in inspections without fail. There are numerous instances whereby the owners of the gas and cylinders carried on the trucks and their destinations are checked.” Even distribution is obstructed.

Summit meetings and international conferences are usually over in a few days, but the Olympics run for about a month, including the period after they are over. Just by virtue of the fact that people from all over the world gather together, of various nationalities, ethnic groups, and religions, there is the danger of their becoming targets of terrorism or crime. Just because gas, which can be flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, can easily be turned into a weapon, supervision of its destination, let alone measures to prevent theft, can also be required. If there is the possibility of crimes being concocted, just having more crime prevention only in the Tokyo Area is not good enough. This is a problem which should be tackled nationwide.

Theft, furthermore, does at times take place at the user’s facility. At filling stations and at locations where cylinders are kept, the doors are locked during the night and on holidays. There are numerous instances whereby contracts are made with security companies to watch the premises during the evenings. In contrast to this, at the users, however, the situation is such that there is little awareness of possible theft. At times like this, the suppliers need to supervise thoroughly where the cylinders are at any given time and what is happening with them. A policy is also required whereby the usage fees and late fees are collected, and also whereby the users are encouraged to bring in a system for monitoring the safety of the cylinders. Only 4 and a half years are left for making preparations.