Tokyo, May 19 -- Sapporo city in Japan's Hokkaido prefecture has launched a new initiative to train foreign drivers before recruiting them to work in the city, marking the first time a Japanese local government has directly supported training for overseas bus drivers, with Vietnam selected as the first trainee supplier. Official data showed that Sapporo operated 7,153 bus trips per day in 2024, down 24% compared to 2019, largely due to a severe driver shortage. The city's three main bus operators - Hokkaido Chuo Bus, JR Hokkaido Bus and Jotetsu - employed around 1,500 drivers in 2024, approximately 300 fewer than in 2020. About 70% of drivers are currently in their 50s or 60s, raising concerns over a wave of retirement in the coming years. ...