Two Indonesians Successfully Become Bus Drivers in Hiroshima, Japan

KOMPAS.com - A transportation company in Hiroshima, Japan, has hired two Indonesian nationals as bus drivers.

This move comes as Hiroshima Kotsu faces an increasingly severe shortage of bus drivers.

They are also the first foreign recruits by any bus operator in Hiroshima Prefecture.

According to The Mainichi (September 19, 2026), Saeful Ulum (49) and Thiery Corompis (36) joined Hiroshima Kotsu in April 2026 as trainee drivers.

They began training on public roads in June as they worked toward becoming full route bus drivers.

Before starting the training, Saeful and Thiery had to exchange their Indonesian driving licenses for Japanese ones.

This process was assisted by a driving school that developed a special 20-hour training program tailored for them.

Both finally passed the practical test on their fourth attempt and completed their license conversion process in June 2026.

These two Indonesian drivers are expected to start carrying passengers on regular routes by the end of this year.

Japan’s Worker Shortage Worsens

Hiroshima Kotsu, which primarily operates in the city of Hiroshima, currently has 195 drivers — 20 percent fewer than a decade ago.

Citing Kyodo News (September 19, 2026), this shortage has made it difficult to maintain routes, forcing the company to reduce services twice in 2024.

This shortage is due to a lack of younger generations interested in the profession, and an aging workforce whose current average driver age is 53 years.

The company sees recruiting from abroad as one way to address the problem.

In fact, company president Tadayuki Teshima personally visited Indonesia to seek candidates.

The choice was influenced by the similarity in vehicle controls—right-hand drive—and left-side traffic flow as in Japan. Nonetheless, there are still many adjustments they have to make.

Hiroshima Kotsu plans to continue hiring foreign nationals as drivers as it seeks ways to sustain local bus services amid labor shortages.