One month after the April 25 train derailment in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, it is not yet completely clear how and why it occurred, but the government's investigation committee has kept the public reasonably well informed about its progress even before publishing its report. Its positive attitude toward information disclosure is heartening.
During the past month, the Aircraft and Railway Investigation Committee -- which reports to the minister of land, infrastructure and transport -- has held more than 10 press conferences to announce its findings. In past probes of this nature, most information was withheld -- except during occasional on-site briefings -- until an interim or final report was published.
The committee has been forthright. Three days after the accident, which killed 107 people, it effectively rejected an earlier announcement by Western Japan Railway Co. (JR West) that seemed to attribute the derailment to pebbles left on the track by some mischief-maker. The panel believes that the primary cause was excessive speed at a curve.