High-speed trains are the most modern and advanced technology for moving passengers in land transport. Their main advantage is that they achieve high speeds, usually from over 200 to 300 km/h, which significantly shortens the travel time in relation to the time needed to cover the same distance by conventional trains. The article presents the development of high-speed rail in Japan, an island country located within the ring of fire of the Pacific. The analysis of the technical condition and the stages of historical development of high-speed railways were preceded by an assessment of the economy and transport as well as a study of transport intensity. The summary of the article includes the effects and benefits of using high-speed rail, as well as methods of financing and plans for further development.

The article presents the role of marine container transport in the present-day world economy, taking into consideration the position of China, Japan, South Korea and India in the global system of containerized cargo transport. Transshipments in the largest container ports of Asia in the period 1990–2016 are discussed. The container ship tonnage in China, Japan, South Korea and India is analyzed in the studied period. The main institutions financing the transport infrastructure development in the Europe-Asia transport corridors are described.