Tokyo Musen
Tokyo Musen is Japan's largest taxi radio cooperative, organizing taxi operators across Tokyo's 23 wards, Musashino and Mitaka since 1961.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
Tokyo Musen (東京無線協同組合, Tokyo Musen Kyōdō Kumiai), also known as Tokyo Musen Taxi, is a cooperative association of taxi companies operating in Tokyo's 23 wards, Musashino City and Mitaka City. It is the largest taxi radio group in Japan. Founded in 1961 as the Tokyo Josai Passenger Automobile Business Cooperative (東京城西旅客自動車事業協同組合), it was created to enable multiple taxi operators to cooperate on centralized radio dispatching rather than each operating independently. The organization is headquartered in a building completed in March 2010 at 2-18-12 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, and is governed by a board of directors drawn from member companies. As of October 2020, 50 companies with 55 business offices were members, and member operators are prohibited from simultaneously joining other radio groups or using their own independent radio systems. As of April 2020, the group operated 3,706 radio-equipped vehicles out of 3,507 radio cars. The cooperative provides centralized radio dispatch, driver education, street guidance, and shared payment and ticketing services. Its education center, certified by the Tokyo Metropolitan Governor as vocational training, has operated for over 50 years and provides new driver training, geography training, UD (universal design) training, and customer service programs. The group is known for its distinctive green and orange livery and its Tokyo Tower-motif roof lantern (andon). It offers both standard taxis and black high-grade vehicles, the latter requiring advanced driver qualifications. Tokyo Musen has developed a tiered driver qualification system including Service Leaders (サービスリーダー), Tower Leaders (タワーリーダー), and Odaiba-area selected drivers. It also operates dedicated taxi stands at hospitals, hotels, and office buildings across Tokyo. In recent years, Tokyo Musen has pursued partnerships and integration with Checker Cab Radio Cooperative (チェッカーキャブ無線協同組合), including shared tickets, unified driver education, and a planned merger of operations. The cooperative also participates in taxi dispatch apps such as GO and S.RIDE, and has been transitioning from digital GPS-AVM radio to IP radio since 2021. The current chairman is Akihiro Nishizawa of Yoyogi Automobile, who took office on May 29, 2026.
History
Tokyo Musen was established in 1961 as the Tokyo Josai Passenger Automobile Business Cooperative (東京城西旅客自動車事業協同組合), formed to allow multiple taxi operators to cooperate on centralized radio dispatching instead of each operating independently. In 1965, 21 companies including Keio Kotsu (now Asuka Kotsu), Koenji Kotsu, Tokyo Condor Taxi (now Condor Taxi), Showa Jidosha, Silver Taxi, Shinsei Jidosha, Shin Nihon Kotsu, Suginami Kotsu, Tairiku Kotsu, Date Kotsu, Tokyo Western Kotsu, Domei Kotsu, Nihon Jidosha Kotsu, Nerima Kotsu, Nerima Taxi, Higashi Nihon Kotsu, Fuji Kotsu, Heiwa Taxi, Misuzu Taxi, Miyazono Jidosha and Yoyogi Automobile began radio operations. In 1975, Miyazono Jidosha became the first in Japan to employ a physically disabled driver. In 1979, the cooperative began operating a Mitsubishi Electric signpost AVM system, and in 1980 Kokusan Jidosha Kotsu joined. In 1984, the organization was renamed Tokyo Musen Taxi Cooperative (東京無線タクシー協同組合), and several companies joined or transferred from other radio groups. In 1985, Honjo Taxi transferred from Chuo Musen (now Shinwa Jigyo). In 1986, Sugai Kotsu joined and the education center was certified as a Tokyo Metropolitan recognized vocational training school. In 1989, a Mitsubishi Electric signpost Super AVM system began operation. In 1990, membership reached 41 companies and the Tower Card system was introduced. In 1994, Doshin Kotsu joined. In 1998, Nittsu Himawari Kotsu, formerly part of the Nippon Express Group, was absorbed by Keio Kotsu and disappeared. In 1999, Tokyo Condor Taxi (later Condor Taxi) and Daisan Condor Taxi were reorganized. In March 2010, the cooperative moved from its old headquarters in Koenji, Suginami Ward to a newly built headquarters building at 2-18-12 Hyakunincho, Shinjuku Ward. In August 2010, it adopted a digital GPS-AVM automatic dispatch system linked with car navigation, using 11 radio waves. In 2011, the group had 3,995 digital GPS-AVM vehicles and 573 non-radio vehicles, totaling 4,568. In 2011, reports emerged of a partnership with Checker Cab Radio Cooperative to rationalize operations through shared tickets, joint equipment purchasing, integrated radio dispatch and unified driver education, though actual results until 2020 were limited to shared tickets from April 2012 and the joint Taxi Service Championship final from 2018. On October 29, 2020, the cooperative announced a business partnership with Checker Cab Radio Cooperative starting April 1, 2021. The plan included changing Checker Cab's roof lantern to Tokyo Musen's tower type, applying Checker's checkered band to Tokyo Musen vehicles other than green ones (mainly Japan Taxi), unifying ticket systems, integrating settlement operations, unifying driver education, and aiming to integrate radio dispatch systems and operations. The Checker side's radio numbers were maintained, while Tokyo Musen numbers overlapping with Checker's were changed. The cooperative also decided to support S.RIDE, which Checker Cab had introduced. On June 25, 2022, Tokyo Musen co-hosted Checker's traffic safety campaign 'Crayon Taxi' for the first time. On November 13, 2023, it was reported that Checker member operators would join Tokyo Musen as dual members in April 2024, with Checker's radio switching to Tokyo Musen specifications from January 2024 and radio operations unified the following month. The dispatch apps remained S.RIDE for former Checker members and GO for existing Tokyo Musen members. Checker's two cooperatives were to remain for the time being and move from the Automobile Hall to Tokyo Musen's headquarters by April 2024. Areas outside the special wards and Musashino/Mitaka were excluded from organizational integration. In 2021, the cooperative began transitioning from digital GPS-AVM radio to IP radio. Leadership changed over the years: Chairman Yasutoshi Kawamura of Miyazono Jidosha was succeeded by Atsushi Sakamoto of Jitsuyo Kogyo on June 1, 2018; Yoshio Murasawa of Nihon Jidosha Kotsu on May 30, 2022; and Akihiro Nishizawa of Yoyogi Automobile on May 29, 2026.
- 2026
Akihiro Nishizawa becomes Chairman
- 2024
Checker member operators join Tokyo Musen as dual members; radio operations unified
- 2022
Co-hosts Checker's 'Crayon Taxi' traffic safety campaign
- 2021
Transition from digital GPS-AVM radio to IP radio begins
- 2020
Business partnership with Checker Cab announced, effective April 2021
- 2018
Joint Taxi Service Championship final with Checker Cab begins
- 2012
Shared tickets with Checker Cab begin
- 2011
Group fleet totals 4,568 vehicles
- 2010
New headquarters building completed in Shinjuku; digital GPS-AVM automatic dispatch system adopted
- 1998
Nittsu Himawari Kotsu absorbed by Keio Kotsu
Products and positioning
Japan's largest taxi radio cooperative, offering safe, comfortable and high-quality taxi transport across central Tokyo.
Radio-dispatched taxi service
Centralized radio dispatch for member taxi companies
Tower Network tickets
Post-paid taxi tickets usable across partner networks nationwide
Black high-grade taxi
Premium black vehicles requiring advanced driver qualification
Driver training programs
New driver education, geography training, UD training certified by Tokyo Metropolitan Governor
Taxi Service Championship
Annual customer service competition with Checker Cab
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