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"Amami" given green light as Gotochi number plate
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on August 2 that it had approved 10 regions-- including "Amami"-- for its "Gotochi Number" system, giving a green light for their regional names to be displayed on car license plates. A total of 11 regions from eight prefectures had applied for the recognition. The authorities are planning to issue the newly approved number plates by the end of 2014. Amami has been the first region among remote islands nationwide that will introduce the system.
The "Amami" plates can be applied for in 12 cities, towns, and villages in its eight islands. According to Kagoshima Prefecture's Traffic Policy Division, a total of 83,667 vehicles, including 26,745 ordinary vehicles and 56,922 light vehicles, had been registered in the islands as of March 2013.
The Gotochi tags will be issued with the purchase of new cars, and current car-owners can also replace their plates with the new ones. Due to the introduction of the regional number plates, Amami residents will not be able to choose the conventional "Kagoshima" license plates when newly applying for car registration.
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「奄美」のご当地ナンバープレートに青信号
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Had approved：承認した　　　including...：・・・を含めて　　　giving ~ plates：（承認したことで）地域名が車のナンバープレートに表示されることに青信号を出した　　　A total of...：計・・・の　　　had ~ recognition：その承認に向けて申請していた　　　The authorities：当局（国土交通省のこと）　　　issue ~ plates：新たに承認されたナンバープレートを交付する
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According to...：・・・によると　　　had ~ registered：登録されていた
＜第３パラグラフ＞
The ~ tags：ご当地ナンバープレート　　　the ~ cars：新車の購入　　　current：現在の　　　replace ~ with...：～を・・・と交換する　　　conventional：従来の