It has been found that Mr. Masao Yamazaki, former president of West Japan Railway Co., asked a member of the Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission to revise its report on the April 25, 2005, train accident on the JR West Fukuchiyama Line that killed 107 people and injured over 500.
Mr. Yamazaki asked Mr. Koichi Yamaguchi — who had leaked to him the report's content — to delete or soften a crucial passage in the report. The passage in question said the accident could have been avoided if JR West had installed an automatic train stoppage (ATS) system on the steep curve between Tsukaguchi and Amagasaki stations in Hyogo Prefecture where the accident occurred.
Although the final report retained the passage, Mr. Yamazaki's request was clearly inappropriate and could have destroyed the report's core thrust.