Latest news with #KanaHarada
News18
32 minutes ago
- General
- News18
Sans Footfall, This Train Decided To Stop. Then It Noticed A High School Girl Using It And...
Last Updated: Without the station, Kana Harada would have had to walk 73 minutes to reach another train line for school. A small railway station in a remote Japanese village became popular for an unusual reason. Even with almost no passengers left, railway authorities continued to run a train solely to serve one high school student. Yes, you read that right Even years after its closure, the story of the Kyu-Shirataki Station on Hokkaido Island stands out. There were plans to shut it down due to low ridership, but officials decided to delay the demolition when they learned about its lone passenger, Kana Harada, a dedicated student who relied on the train for her school commute. At first, the trains in the region were used by several students to travel to and from school. In fact, their parents even asked Japan Railways to keep the station running even though only a few passengers used it. Over time, the number of commuters dropped because of the station's remote location. Eventually, Kana became the only regular passenger. To match her school schedule, the train began stopping at Kyu-Shirataki Station only a few times a day: once in the morning to pick her up and a few times after school to drop her off. After reviewing the situation, the railway company decided to keep the station open until March 2016, which allowed Kana to complete her graduation without disruption. 12/24 石北本線 旧白滝駅数年前にも訪問した白滝へ。この駅の唯一の利用者の高校生が来春卒業のため、この駅も来春に廃止。この日は高校生とその取材のためNHKの方がいました。古い待合室の裸電球がまた何とも言えない。 — きこう (@kikou9186) December 26, 2015 The Shirataki Series Kyu-Shirataki was part of the 'Shirataki Series," which included Kami-Shirataki, Kyu-Shirataki, and Shimo-Shirataki stations. All three were scheduled for closure due to dwindling passenger numbers. However, Kana's daily commute from Kyu-Shirataki inspired the railway company to keep it operational until her graduation. Without this lifeline, she would have faced a gruelling 73-minute walk just to reach another train line for school. Her journey, though made easier by the station, was far from simple. Only four trains stopped at Kyu-Shirataki each day, and just two matched her school timings. This forced Kana to rush through classes or skip after-school activities to catch her ride. A Story That Touched Many Online Kana's story has resurfaced online, and social media users reacted with admiration for the railway authorities and Kana's dedication. Another added, 'That's insane. I'm so impressed." 'One student could potentially change the world," someone else remarked while a person shared, 'This is called government service—I wish India gets inspired by this." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kei Nagahashi (@ Farewell To The Beloved Station When Kana graduated in March 2016, Kyu-Shirataki Station was finally closed, marking the end of a remarkable chapter in Japan's rural railway history. To bid farewell, a small ceremony was held where flowers were placed at the station, and a paper banner read, 'Kyu-Shirataki Station, 69 Years, Thank You!" About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : japan train viral news view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 19, 2025, 08:08 IST News viral Sans Footfall, This Train Decided To Stop. Then It Noticed A High School Girl Using It And... Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
India.com
5 days ago
- General
- India.com
This Country kept a railway station operational for years just for one girl due to..., place is...
In today's corporate world, which is focused on reducing costs while speeding up production, Japan has once again demonstrated to the world an example of humanity and commitment that will last for generations. The Kyu-Shirataki Station on Hokkaido Island in Japan operated until 2016 simply to ensure that one high school girl would be able to attend her classes. Might sound fictional? But it is true. Read the story below.. This inspiring story has recently caught everyone's attention. The Kyu-Shirataki Station on Hokkaido Island in Japan is more than just a train station. It shows that when infrastructure is designed for people instead of profit, it serves humanity at its best. Japan's action shows just how far support for education can reach. With fewer passengers and no more freight services, Japan Railways planned to close the little-used station. But when they learned that local students, especially a teenage girl named Kana Harada, depended on it to get to school, they decided to keep it open. For several years, trains stopped only a few times a day—once in the morning to take her to school and once in the afternoon to bring her back. If the train line had not been operational, Young Kana would have otherwise had to walk 73 minutes to catch an express train to get to school. Even with Kyu-Shirataki Station being open, her commute was still challenging ─ only four trains were making the commute daily, of which only two matched up with the timing of her school. View this post on Instagram A post shared by supersoya (@supersoya) Kana wasn't able to participate in any after-school programs due to the train schedule. Many times, she had to run immediately after class to catch the last train. Still, it was the only dependable way to continue with her education. The station eventually closed in March 2016 after the student graduated and the academic year ended. The story made headlines around the world and reached people emotionally, serving as a meaningful case study of how infrastructure can be kept for people, not profit.
