Disruption on the Tohoku Shinkansen

Departure board on the JR East Tohoku Shinkansen platform at Tokyo Station

I recently traveled to the Aizu region in Fukushima Prefecture, about 250 km north of Tokyo, with my family. It was basically a family obligation, so I didn't expect to do any train spotting during the trip. I at least looked forward to visiting the historic sites and relaxing in the hot springs. However, things turned out rather differently...

When we arrived at Tokyo Station to board the Tohoku Shinkansen, we immediately noticed something unusual. Many passengers were standing around the concourse, looking puzzled. Was something wrong?

After checking the news online and looking at the departure board, I finally understood the reason. Please take a look at the photo above—the trains were delayed due to an offshore earthquake in northern Japan. By then, it was already 14:16, yet our train, which had been scheduled to leave at 14:00, had not even arrived at Platform 20. Fortunately, there was no damage to the Tohoku Shinkansen, but according to the announcement, services would be delayed by about an hour. Did I panic?

Not at all—railfans are always optimistic! I quickly adjusted my mindset and decided to make the most of the situation. While my family relaxed in the waiting room, I went out to try a type of train photography that I had never attempted before.

Now, let's take a look at the photo below. On the left is JR Central's Series N700A EMU, wearing its familiar white-and-blue livery on the Tokaido Shinkansen. On the right is JR East's Series E6 EMU in its distinctive red-and-gray livery on the Tohoku (Akita) Shinkansen. I photographed it from Platform 23 on the Tohoku Shinkansen at Tokyo Station.

In fact, Platform 23 is one of the very few places where you can photograph both the Tokaido and the Tohoku Shinkansen trains in a single shot. I was lucky enough to witness this fascinating railway scene and thoroughly enjoyed this unexpected photography opportunity. I'm not trying to boast—I simply hope you can understand how exciting this was for a train enthusiast.

In the end, we were able to board our Tohoku Shinkansen train about an hour late and arrived safely at Koriyama Station on the day.

JR Central’s series N700A (left) and JR East’s series E6 (right) EMUs

Refurbished Tramcar 8501

Refurbished Toei tramcar 8501 at Arakawa Depot

You may remember that, almost two months ago, I wrote about the Toei 8500 series running past the roses in full bloom on the Arakawa Line. At that time, I mentioned that I would save the refurbishment story of the 8500 series for a future post.

Now, I finally have the chance to introduce it here. So, let’s take a closer look.

The photo above shows refurbished tramcar 8501 of the Toei 8500 series, operated on the Arakawa Line by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei).

Tramcar 8501 was built by ALNA in 1990. When new, it carried a pearl-white body with a green stripe, but after 36 years of service it has now received a major refurbishment under the concept of “a fun tramline.” The car returned to service on April 16 this year.

Its new chrome-yellow livery is based on the colour scheme once seen on Tokyo tramcars around the 1970s, so it gives the car a distinctly nostalgic look. I think this style will be especially popular with long-time tram and railway fans. I was also surprised to see that even the pantograph has been painted chrome yellow. By the way, “TODEN” on the body refers to Tokyo’s historic tram system.

The interior of tramcar 8501 is even more distinctive. Please take a look at the photo below. The first thing that stands out is the elaborate wood-grain design used throughout the saloon. I forgot to mention this earlier, but both the exterior and interior were designed by Eiji Mitooka, well known for his work on many Japanese trains, including JR Kyushu’s KiHa 72 series DMU, the 787 series and the 800 series EMUs.

I was very impressed by the design itself, but as a railway enthusiast I was also curious about the materials used inside the car. At first glance, the interior looks as if it is made almost entirely of wood, so I wondered how it had passed Japan’s strict fire-safety standards for railway vehicles. In fact, the surfaces are not solid timber; flame-retardant wood-grain films have been applied over metal fittings and panels. It is a clever way of creating a warm heritage-style atmosphere while still meeting modern safety requirements.

One more point worth mentioning is that tramcar 8501 is not a special event car or a one-off display vehicle. It runs in ordinary passenger service, which makes it even more enjoyable for enthusiasts. Its daily operation can be checked via the official app, “Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) Real-Time Location Information.”

I am sure I will be riding tramcar 8501 again before too long.

Interior of tramcar 8501

Related link:

・Official information from the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (in Japanese)

JR East’s Yagasuri Train

Trainset A28 of JR East’s 211-3000 series EMU, the Yagasuri Train

Today, let me start with a question: Are there any textile regions in your country?

In Japan, the answer is yes. Kyoto, for example, is famous for its traditional high-quality silk textile known as Nishijin-ori. Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture is well known for its high-quality denim. In the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kiryu in Gunma Prefecture is one of the regions famous for weaving Yagasuri textiles.

Yagasuri is a traditional pattern featuring arrow feathers, forming a repeating geometric V-shape. It is considered a lucky pattern because historically it symbolized a safe and happy marriage—just as an arrow shot from a bow never returns.

JR East is leveraging this unique local cultural resource, Yagasuri, to revitalize communities along the Ryomo Line. One such initiative is the Yagasuri Train.

Please take a look at the photo above—yes, that is the Yagasuri Train, set A28 of JR East’s 211-3000 series EMU. This trainset originally featured orange and green stripes, but in April 2021 they were replaced with green and yellow stripes in a Yagasuri pattern. It’s lovely, isn’t it? The interior of the Yagasuri Train is also decorated with Yagasuri patterns, including the passenger seats.

By the way, you might be surprised to learn that the Yagasuri Train entered service in 2021. That was quite a long time ago. Haven’t I had a chance to share this unique train until now?

Thanks for wondering. I actually tried to visit Gunma Prefecture several times to photograph the Yagasuri Train. However, something always got in the way. For example, please see the photo below. I tried to take it in 2024, but I was caught in a sudden shower, which made the photo blurry. It was unlucky, but looking at this photo now makes me feel nostalgic.

I’m not a native English speaker, but I think I can say now, “All’s well that ends well.”

The Yagasuri Train photographed during a sudden shower in 2024

Related link:

・Official information from JR East Takasaki Branch Office (in Japanese)

Seibu's SAMURAI BLUE TRAIN

Set 40156 of Seibu’s 40000 series EMU fleet, the SAMURAI BLUE TRAIN

Is the FIFA World Cup creating a huge buzz in your country?

In Japan, yes. As evidence, the Bureau of Waterworks of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government recently released data on “match-day changes in water distribution volume” and found that water usage increased sharply just before kickoff, during halftime, and immediately after the final whistle. I hope you can imagine what that means.

I’m not a soccer enthusiast, but as a train enthusiast, I can’t get World Cup-related trains out of my mind.

For example, on June 7, Seibu Railway introduced a specially wrapped train, the SAMURAI BLUE TRAIN.

Please take a look at the top photo—yes, this is the SAMURAI BLUE TRAIN. You can see the vibrant two-tone blue and green livery on the train. The blue represents the team color of Japan’s national team. Meanwhile, the blue and green also represent the corporate colors of the sponsor, Credit Saison.

Along the sides of the train, you can see players from the national team. For example, the bottom photo shows Kubo Takefusa, who plays as a right winger. He is very popular with children because he is kind to them. He has a small build, but he is very fast—like JR East’s Series E6 Shinkansen EMU. Is this analogy a bit of a stretch?

As a train enthusiast, I would also like to touch briefly on the technical aspects of the train itself. The SAMURAI BLUE TRAIN is Set 40156 of Seibu’s 40000 series EMU fleet. The 40000 series entered service in 2017. A total of 26 sets, or 248 cars, were introduced between 2017 and 2025. Each car has a 20-meter aluminum-alloy body and an IGBT-based VFD traction system with 190 kW fully enclosed permanent-magnet synchronous motors. The 40000 series trainsets have a special space called the “Partner Zone” for wheelchair users and passengers with prams.

For your information, there are several variations within this fleet. For example, 20 sets, including Set 40156, are composed of 10 cars, while the other six sets consist of 8 cars. Another difference is that six sets have convertible cross/long seats and a wheelchair-accessible restroom, while the other 20 sets, including Set 40156, have longitudinal seating only. Furthermore…

Sorry to be so specific... I always geek out over this kind of topic.

Close-up view of the SAMURAI BLUE TRAIN

Art Train on the Den-en-toshi Line

Set 2145 of Tokyu's 2020 series EMU in special art-train livery

Do wrapped trains run in your country? If so, here's another question: do any of them feature artwork?

In Japan, art-themed wrapped trains are not particularly common, but we do occasionally come across them. One memorable example for me was Tobu Railway's "Ikebukuro–Kawagoe Art Train", which operated in 2020. To promote tourism in Kawagoe City, illustrations of the city's historic landmarks, local food, and specialty products were painted on the train by a Japanese-style artist.

Another example was Saitama Railway's "Thanks 25 Train". Created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Saitama Stadium Line, it featured abstract artwork by a local artist.

Today, I would like to introduce another art train currently operating on Tokyu's Den-en-toshi Line. Please take a look at the photo above. This is "A Special Train That Paints Color for People, Towns, and the Future."

The train was created through a collaboration between Tokyu Corporation and Heralbony, a talent agency that works primarily with artists with intellectual disabilities. The company signs licensing agreements with these artists and promotes their artwork through various projects.

Incidentally, the name "Heralbony" itself does not have any particular meaning. It was coined by the older brother of the company's CEOs, who has an intellectual disability.

Now, let's take a closer look at the artwork. The train features various scenes found along Tokyu's railway lines, including urban buildings, riverside parks, and a historic station building.

Among these scenes, my personal favorite is the depiction of everyday local life shown in the photo below—a father pushing a stroller. There is something heartwarming about such an ordinary moment captured in art.

Finally, as a railway enthusiast, I would like to touch briefly on the technical aspects of the train itself.

The art train is Set 2145 of Tokyu's 2020 series EMU fleet. The 2020 series is a commuter EMU designed for 1,500 V DC electrification and operation on Japan's 1,067 mm narrow-gauge network. The series entered service in 2018.

Each trainset consists of ten 20-meter stainless-steel cars arranged in a 5M5T configuration (five motor cars and five trailer cars). Many of its running components are shared with JR East's E235 series.

The train is equipped with a SiC-based VFD traction system and 140 kW fully enclosed induction motors. Thanks to these advanced technologies, power consumption has been reduced to approximately half that of the older 8500 series, while exterior noise levels have been lowered by around 10 dB.

Close-up view of the artwork on the side of the train

Related Link:

・Official information from Tokyu (Japanese only)