There are two traditional tram routes in the Tokyo metropolitan area. One is the Toei (Tokyo Metropolitan Government) Arakawa Line and the other is the Tokyu-Setagaya line. Today's topic is the latter.
The Setagaya line, connecting Sangenjaya and Shimotakaido (5.0 kilometers), is a branch route of "Tamaden (the Tamagawa line)". The main route of Tamaden was opened in 1907 connecting Shibuya and Futako-tamagawa via Sangenjaya. The main route was constructed as a shared track on highway Route 246; meanwhile, the branch route (the Setagaya line) was then constructed as an exclusive track. Unfortunately, the main route was abolished in 1969, due to heavy traffic jams. As a result, only the branch route was left as the Setagaya line.
On March 6th in 2017, Tokyu Corporation celebrated the 110th anniversary of Tamaden. In commemoration of the anniversary, Tokyu launched a special poster train, "Happy Maneki-neko" on the Setagaya line. The design of the poster train came from Maneki-neko, whose birth place is Gotoku-ji Buddhist temple on the Setagaya line. "Maneki-neko" is an ornament in the shape of a cat beckoning with a forepaw. It is said that Maneki-neko brings good luck.
The formal name of the Happy Maneki-neko train is set number 308 of the electric car Tokyu 300 series. It was built in 2001 by Tokyu Sharyo. The original body color of set number 308 was "sunshine red", which was also a beautiful color.
The Setagaya line and the Tokyu 300 series are true descendants of Tamaden.
The Setagaya line, connecting Sangenjaya and Shimotakaido (5.0 kilometers), is a branch route of "Tamaden (the Tamagawa line)". The main route of Tamaden was opened in 1907 connecting Shibuya and Futako-tamagawa via Sangenjaya. The main route was constructed as a shared track on highway Route 246; meanwhile, the branch route (the Setagaya line) was then constructed as an exclusive track. Unfortunately, the main route was abolished in 1969, due to heavy traffic jams. As a result, only the branch route was left as the Setagaya line.
On March 6th in 2017, Tokyu Corporation celebrated the 110th anniversary of Tamaden. In commemoration of the anniversary, Tokyu launched a special poster train, "Happy Maneki-neko" on the Setagaya line. The design of the poster train came from Maneki-neko, whose birth place is Gotoku-ji Buddhist temple on the Setagaya line. "Maneki-neko" is an ornament in the shape of a cat beckoning with a forepaw. It is said that Maneki-neko brings good luck.
The formal name of the Happy Maneki-neko train is set number 308 of the electric car Tokyu 300 series. It was built in 2001 by Tokyu Sharyo. The original body color of set number 308 was "sunshine red", which was also a beautiful color.
The Setagaya line and the Tokyu 300 series are true descendants of Tamaden.
Official information about the Happy Maneki-neko train (in Japanese):