Economy & Tech

Tokaido Shinkansen Celebrates 60 Years and 7 Billion Passengers

Celebrating its 60th anniversary on October 1, the Tokaido Shinkansen has efficiently transported seven billion passengers in comfort with good service.

Published

19 hours ago

October 1, 2024

Atsushi Oda

The Nozomi 1 train (right) departs Tokyo Station during the Tokaido Shinkansen 60th-anniversary ceremony on October 1. (©Sankei by Kanata Iwasaki).

On October 1, the Tokaido Shinkansen marked its 60th anniversary with a commemorative departure ceremony at JR Tokyo Station. Representatives from JR Central and JR West, which operates the Sanyo Shinkansen connecting to Shin-Osaka, were in attendance.

Many train enthusiasts also visited the platform to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the "dream super-express."

Over the past 60 years, the Tokaido Shinkansen has transported approximately seven billion passengers. It has played a crucial role in developing Japan's domestic industries, acting as a vital transportation link across the country.

*A banner at the Tokaido Shinkansen 60th Anniversary Departure Ceremony, October 1, Tokyo Station (©Sankei by Kanata Iwasaki).*

Comfortable, Convenient, Safe

The ceremony commenced early in the morning on platform 19 at Tokyo Station. Shunsuke Niwa, president of JR Central, greeted attendees. "We will keep working to create a Shinkansen that is increasingly comfortable, convenient, and safe for our customers," he declared.

At 6:00 AM, the first Nozomi 1 train bound for Hakata (Fukuoka Prefecture) departed smoothly with a whistle. Railway fans on the adjacent platform saw the train off with a round of applause.

Koki Gyobu (12), a sixth grader from Edogawa Ward in Tokyo, was there to see the first train of the day. He said, "I'm so glad to be here for this special moment. It's incredible that it has been running safely for 60 years, especially considering how much faster it is than regular trains." As his eyes sparkled with excitement, he remarked, "It looked really impressive today, too."

The Tokaido Shinkansen opened on October 1, 1964, the same year the Tokyo Olympics were held. Previously, the journey from Tokyo to Osaka on the old limited express Kodama took six hours and 30 minutes. However, the Shinkansen reduced that time to four hours.

*Reisuke Ishida, President of Japanese National Railways, rings the departure bell at the opening ceremony of the Tokaido Shinkansen. October 1, 1964, Tokyo Station (public domain).*

Since then, improvements have continued. The travel time from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka is now just two hours and 21 minutes.

Throughout its history, there have been no passenger fatalities or injuries in train accidents while the passengers were onboard.

Embracing the 'Mobile Office'

In 2020, JR expanded Shinkansen service to Osaka including the Nozomi with up to 12 trains per hour in each direction. President Niwa stated that this achievement marked "a certain milestone" in terms of service frequency and transport capacity.

He also stated that the company's focus will now shift to improving the onboard environment. New seating arrangements better accommodate the diverse needs of both business and tourism, including meeting booths. Passengers can also divide three-seat spaces into two, making it easier to use laptops and enhancing the Shinkansen's identity as a "mobile office."

The opening of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen is expected to serve as an alternative route to the Tokaido Shinkansen. Presently, it is scheduled to begin service in 2026.

For now, however, the Tokaido Shinkansen remains at the forefront of land transportation. President Niwa emphasized, "The Tokaido Shinkansen will continue to play a crucial role in Japan's transportation system in the future. We will keep improving our services."

(Read the related articles in Japanese here and here.)

Author: Atsushi Oda, The Sankei Shimbun