Japan expands multilingual license tests for taxi and bus drivers

TOKYO — Japanese authorities are offering taxi and bus driver’s license tests in more languages, in a bid to ease an acute labor shortage in the transport industry by lowering hurdles for foreign applicants who struggle with the Japanese-only exam.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department in late April made it possible for applicants to take an examination for Class 2 commercial licenses, which are required for transporting passengers, in English at three test centers in the capital.