Latest news with #Shinkansen
a day ago
- Automotive
Shizuoka: A Global Center for Plastic Modeling
The city of Shizuoka is a modeling mecca. Home to 10 hobby manufacturers—Tamiya, Bandai, Aoshima, and Hasegawa, to name a few—it is where more than 80% of Japan's plastic model kits are produced. The town is so passionate about its status that authorities at city hall created a special department to promote plastic models, playfully proclaiming the municipality 'A Model City.' To highlight its modeling culture, Shizuoka has established 15 life-size monuments shaped like plastic model kits around town. These include information signs as well as working public phones and a mailbox designed to look like kits with pieces still attached to their runners. Clockwise from upper left: a monument in the shopping arcade near Shizuoka Station features parts of a seat and a digital display of a Shinkansen; the monument at the smoking area near the station's north exit consists of parts from a large outdoor ashtray; a monument designed like an old-style model box and a newly opened kit advertises Shizuoka's connection to modeling. (© ) The monument outside Shizuoka City Hall is an actual post box. (© ) The monuments have garnered attention as the modeling market as a whole continues to enjoy broad popularity. According to a Tamiya spokesperson, the pandemic brought a brisk uptick in sales for plastic models as people stayed at home, with the hobby taking on a family flair as parents and children shared in the fun of building replicas together. Makers have also capitalized on the growing popularity of radio-controlled cars as more people take to the outdoors for activities like camping. These trends have fueled the sales of higher-end items as former hobbyists rediscover modeling in middle age and snap up expensive kits that were once beyond their budgets. Tamiya's Hotshot. The four-wheel-drive radio-controlled buggy debuted in 1985 and remains a popular item with hobbyists of all ages. (© ) Hobby Square is another site celebrating Shizuoka's modeling industry. The facility, near the south exit of JR Shizuoka Station, has displays highlighting the history of plastic modeling and exhibits from different makers, including rare and historic items. The onsite shop carries new releases and specialty items. Characters from the Mobile Suit Gundam series, a mainstay among modeling enthusiasts, greet visitors to Hobby Square. (© ) New and historic items are on exhibit at Hobby Square. (© ) An exhibit detailing the manufacturing process for Gundam models. (© ) Manufacturer Bandai offers specially designed model kits as part of its Gunpla Academia, a school-based initiative to introduce students to the world of craftsmanship. (© ) Deep-Rooted Craftsmanship Shizuoka's tradition of craftsmanship was greatly influenced by Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543–1616), the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate that ruled Japan for more than 200 years. As a young boy, Ieyasu was a political hostage in Sunpu, which later became the modern city of Shizuoka. At age 40, he took control of the area, relocating from Hamamatsu to the southwest, and built Sunpu Castle in 1589. Ieyasu gathered master carpenters, sculptors, metalworkers, and other skilled craftsmen from around Japan for the project. He also rebuilt the important Sengen Shrine and later expanded the confines of the castle, where he settled after passing the title of shōgun to his son Hidetada, although he continued to wield power behind the scenes. After Ieyasu's death in 1616, the craftsmen constructed Kunōzan Shrine as his resting place. Later shōguns supported these artisans, and many settled in the area, taking advantage of the surrounding forests to create exquisite crafts. Such traditions as Suruga bamboo craftwork are still produced today. A plastic model monument featuring the golden Kindamigusoku armor worn by Tokugawa Ieyasu. (© ) The Model Industry Lifts Off Shizuoka's modern model-making industry dates to 1924 when aviation enthusiast Aoshima Jirō founded an airplane research center in the city. Using his knowledge and experience, Aoshima started manufacturing wooden model airplane kits, which he began to sell in 1932. The models were used to teach aviation, becoming popular items nationwide. Restrictions in the postwar years forced the area's burgeoning number of manufacturers to shift to selling wooden ships. From the late 1950s, as imported plastic models grew in popularity, they adopted plastic for their kits. Aoshima established Aoshima Bunka Kyōzai in 1961 to develop and manufacture model kits, and the company grew to be an industry leader with its easy-to-build offerings. Early wooden models made by Aoshima's company on display at Hobby Square. (© ) A Global Model Giant Emerges Tamiya is another Shizuoka success story. Founded as a lumber company in 1946, it began selling wooden model kits in 1948, making these its primary offering after closing the lumber mill in 1953. It released its first all-plastic kit, a 1/800 scale of the Japanese battleship Yamato , in 1960, but it was the Panther, a 1/35 scale motorized tank issued in 1962, that gave the firm its first major hit and led to the establishment of a separate plastic molding division. Tamiya continued to find modeling success, including the 1976 release of the 1/12 scale radio-controlled Porsche 934 Turbo and its mini 4WD models of the 1980s. It began expanding overseas, and in 1994, it set up its only factory abroad, in Cebu, Philippines, making the firm one of the largest model manufacturers in the world. Clockwise from upper left: Wooden boat models; the 1/800 scale model of the Yamato ; Tamiya's Panther tank. (© ) Tamiya's radio-controlled Porsche 934 Turbo (right), which triggered an R/C car boom in Japan, and other offerings in the series. (© ) Tamiya Craftsmanship Tamiya offers fans several exhibits of interest at its head office. The Archive Room displays products from early wooden models to modern creations, and the lobby of its headquarters features actual sports cars and other vehicles, many of which have been turned into R/C models. The exhibits are open to the public by reservation. Racing cars on display at Tamiya's headquarters. (© ) Tamiya's Archive Room. (© ) Tamiya has also helped in establishing Takumishuku, a center highlighting the traditional crafts of the region. Visitors to the facility can try their hand at techniques like Suruga bamboo lattice ware, hand-dying, pottery, and lacquerware, providing a sense of the centuries-old culture of craftsmanship that remains the backbone of Shizuoka's plastic model industry. The interior of Takumishuku. (© ) A display of Suruga bamboo lattice ware and indigo dying. (© ) An artisan shows how Suruga bamboo lattice ware is made. (© ) (Originally published in Japanese. Reporting, text, and photos by . Banner photo: Different plastic model monuments around Shizuoka. © .)
SoraNews24
a day ago
- SoraNews24
What to do if you forget your camera or other belongings on the Shinkansen
We get an unexpected lesson in bullet train property retrieval procedures. 'Ahhh, that was fun!' said our Japanese-language reporter Natsuno Futon, sitting down at her desk the morning after coming back from a research trip for her upcoming project. As she fired up her PC and got ready to start putting the article together, she grabbed her backpack and reached in to pull out her camera, so that she could transfer the photos she'd taken while in the field. And it was only then that she realized she'd lost her camera. Yes, Natsuno's fancy new mirrorless camera, which she'd just bought the other day and was so excited to get to use, was gone, and since its list of features doesn't include an autonomous free-roaming mode, that means that she'd left it someplace. Thinking back, she clearly remembered using during her Shinkansen ride home, but couldn't recall touching it again after that, meaning the most likely scenario was that she'd forgotten to stick it back in her backpack before she got off the bullet train. Now that she was pretty sure what had happened, the next step was to figure out how to get her camera back. Generally, there are two places you want to report your lost property to: the police, and whoever manages the facility or location where you think you lost it. For the police, Japan's National Police Agency website has a list of links to prefectural police lost and found departments, in English here and Japanese here. There's also additional information about the process, in English, on their website here and here. Since Natsuno had gotten off the Shinkansen at Tokyo Station, she filled out a report with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, following the link from the NPA page and providing information about what she'd lost and where/when she thought she'd lost it. Next, Natsuno needed to contact JR/Japan Railway Company, the Shinkansen operator. However, here's something important to remember: while most JR lines in the Tokyo area are operated by JR East/East Japan Railway Company, the Tokkaido Shinkansen, the Shinkansen line which connects Tokyo with Kyoto and Osaka, is an exception. The whole Tokkaido Shinkansen is administered by JR Central/Central Japan Railway Company (also known as JR Tokai), so they're who you need to contact about lost property on that part of the bullet train network, and their lost property forms can be found in English here and in Japanese here. Meanwhile JR East's English guidance page for passengers with lost items can be found here, JR West's here, and JR Hokkaido's here. JR Kyushu doesn't appear to have an English lost and found page, but its Japanese-language page is here and directs users to its Line chat. Natsuno filled out and submitted her report to JR Central, and about three hours later, she got a politely worded email response regretfully informing her that, at the present time, her camera had not been found. However, it did leave a sliver of hope, telling her that they would continue looking for it and contact her if it turned up. As Natsuno kept her fingers firmly crossed, she took solace remembering the time she'd found a child's bag that had been dropped on the sidewalk in front of an elementary school, and turned it in to office. She thought back about the time she'd turned in a 100-yen coin someone had left behind at a coin locker, apparently not realizing they'd get their money back when they returned the key. She even reminisced about the time she'd found someone's grocery shopping list wedged between two books on a library shelf, and had turned that in to the staff. After doing so many good deeds herself, surely Natsuno had built up enough karma to be rewarded the same way, right? And sure enough, later that day Natsuno got a second email from JR Central, this one telling her that the camera had been found! JR Central can mail recovered property back to owners, with the owner responsible for paying shipping fees on delivery. They also have a lost and found office at Tokyo Station, though, located outside the ticket gates of the Yaesu-chuo entrance, so Natsuno opted to pick it up there. You'll need to bring some form of photo ID with you, and you'll also need to provide a six-digit confirmation code that JR Central will provide you with when they contact you to tell you they've found your stuff. After waiting for the staff at the counter to reunite someone else with a bag that they'd left on the Shinkansen, it was Natsuno's turn. After showing her ID, giving her confirmation code, and filling out and signing some paperwork, Natsuno and her camera (still inside its spiffy carrying case) were at last together again! So while it's never a good thing to realize you got off the Shinkansen with fewer items than you got on with, don't panic if it happens to you. Photos ©SoraNews24 Screenshot: National Police Agency ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Delhi-Bhubaneswar in less than 6 hours? Govt likely to introduce THIS superfast train, it's not Vande Bharat, Rajdhani, name is..., top speed to be...
Indian Railways News: The Narendra Modi government, in the last 10 years, has introduced a slew of measures that have transformed the face of Indian Railways. From introducing trains like Vande Bharat to 100 percent electrification of the railway tracks, the sector has witnessed many changes that have made the traveling experience of passengers convenient and comfortable. In addition to this, the government is also set to launch superfast bullet trains. According to the reports, the first Shinkansen bullet trains now undergoing trials in Japan for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, a future of rapid rail travel seems more tangible than ever. Although Odisha isn't included in the initial corridor, the impact of this major development could soon pave the way for cities like Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Puri to feature on India's high-speed rail map. India's First Bullet Train: In a major development, India's first bullet, which is part of the India-Japan collaboration under the MAHSR project, mark a historic first for Indian Railways. According to the reports, the trial runs of two Shinkansen train sets, one each from Japan's E5 and E3 series, are underway in Japan to test their performance under various climate and terrain conditions. These trains are capable of speeds up to 320 km/h and are expected to arrive in India by early 2026 for further testing on Indian soil. High-Speed Future of Odisha: Though the current project is confined to western India, its success is likely to fast-track the nationwide rollout of bullet train corridors. If Odisha is incorporated in the upcoming phases, the impact could be transformative. Here are some of the key details: The travel time between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi could be reduced to under six hours. Currently, the travel time between Bhubaneswar to Delhi is 27-30 hours The journey to Visakhapatnam likely to come down from nearly seven hours to less than five. A high-speed rail link to Kolkata could bring down the travel duration to around two hours and forty-five minutes. Bhubaneswar to Bengaluru, which currently takes over 24 hours, could become a manageable five-and-a-half-hour ride. Reaching Hyderabad may take just over four hours, and Chennai around four and a half.
India.com
2 days ago
- Automotive
- India.com
India's first-ever bullet train trial for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor begins in this country, set to arrive in India in...
India's First Bullet Train Project, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor, spanning across 508 kilometres, will offer fast connectivity between Maharashtra and Gujarat states in western India. In a landmark move to revolutionize India's railway network, the inaugural Shinkansen bullet trains, integral to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, have entered the trial phase in Japan. This progress represents a significant milestone in India's path toward launching its first high-speed rail corridor. As per a report by The Financial Express, under the Indo-Japanese partnership, Japan will gift India two Shinkansen bullet trains — one each from the E5 and E3 series — for early testing and checks. These high-speed trains, which can run at speeds of up to 320 km/h, are expected to reach India by early 2026. After their arrival, the trains will go through detailed testing to see how well they perform in India's local weather and climate conditions. The trial trains come fitted with advanced inspection systems to check key factors like driving conditions, temperature tolerance, and dust resistance — all of which are important for running bullet trains smoothly in India. As reported by The Japan Times, the information gathered from these tests will also support India in developing its own next-generation E10 series Shinkansen trains under the 'Make in India' initiative. The bullet train project, in partnership with Japan is a significant move towards the country's infrastructure development and is expected to boost regional connectivity, economic development, and employment in the western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. MAHSR is a visionary project of the government which will herald a new era of safety, speed and service for the people and help Indian Railways become an international leader in scale, speed and skill. MAHSR project passes through high growth rate States of Gujarat and Maharashtra connecting business centres of Mumbai, Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad. According to news agency ANI report, the sanctioned cost of MAHSR project is Rs 1,08,000 crore As per the official website of National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), after starting from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area in Maharashtra, the high-speed train running at a speed of 320 km/h will revolutionise intercity travel in the region and will integrate the economies of Mumbai, Vapi, Surat, Anand, Vadodara & Ahmedabad. It will have stops at 10 cities in between namely Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and will terminate at Sabarmati. The entire journey will be completed in about 2 hours 7 minutes with limited stops (at Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad), which is substantially less than the time taken by conventional trains or road journeys. The design of each of the 12 stations on the MAHSR line will reflect the spirit of the city it is located in.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Getting around Japan: Travel tips to know before you go
Article content Article content Canadians are currently enjoying a very favourable exchange rate with the Japanese yen. Travellers of all stripes, from budget to bougie, are taking advantage of this boost in purchasing power to put Japan on their immediate travel radar. Article content Travel initiatives, packages and promotions make experiencing Japan more accessible than ever. Riding Japan's world-famous Shinkansen is a bucket list experience in its own right. Yet it is also the key to going beyond the well-travelled areas of Japan and discovering the wonders of more distant prefectures. Article content Article content Article content Canadians are enjoying more airlift into Japan than ever before with direct flights on five carriers departing from four Canadian cities. In addition to grabbing the best deals during airline seat sales, you can also save on airfare domestically with low-cost carriers and special discounts like ANA's Discover Japan Fare and JAL's Japan Explorer Pass. Article content Train travel in Japan is the most beautiful, immersive and convenient way to see the country and there are many scenic railway journeys which are just as impressive as the destination. The options are endless: city subways, local trains, express trains and high-speed bullet trains criss-cross the country, making rail travel both highly convenient and highly confusing. JNTO's complete guide explains exactly how to navigate train and bus lines and provides all the information you need to make day trips and regional visits easy. Article content Article content For years, the Japan Rail Pass has been the best-known way for overseas travellers to save on train travel. Covering all Japan Railway (JR) lines across the country, the pass is available in 7-, 14-, or 21-day lengths and can be used on all but the top two speeds of Shinkansen bullet trains. Article content Beyond the all-encompassing countrywide pass, there are a plethora of different railway companies operating in different regions, each with their own discount offerings. Those who prefer a slower, more in-depth look at an area may want to consider the more localized regional passes and city subway passes.
