The government on Tuesday approved the appointments of new presidents at five expressway operators.
Former Lt. Tokyo Gov. Hideo Sugawara, 65, is set to become president of Metropolitan Expressway Co.
The four other firms will get their new chiefs from the private sector.
East Nippon Expressway Co. will be led by Sumitomo Chemical Co. Vice Chairman Hiroshi Hirose, 67, and former Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. Senior Managing Executive Officer Yoshinari Ishizuka, 63, will become president of West Nippon Expressway Co.
Tomokazu Yamazawa, 64, chairman of Hankyu Hanshin Hotels Co., will serve as president of Hanshin Expressway Co., and Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Co. will be headed by Shuji Mihara, 66, adviser at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd.