Trains in JapanReturn to Essay List

Today commuter transportation in large cities is still dominated by trains. The fastest trains in the world connect the major cities of the country together. Subways under the ground connect expansive metropolises. Above ground and around shopping and residential areas efficient commuter trains bring people to work and school. Despite the numerous taxis, buses, airplanes, and the growing number of privately owned automobiles, commuter transportation by train remains dominant in non-rural areas. How is it that the country that is viewed as one of the most modern still uses a technology that countries like the United States view as inefficient for commuter travel? The answer lies in the way Japan became an industrial powerhouse, and also because it is only roughly the size of the state of California with a population of 127,000,000 people.

Japan’s first trains were imported from America and Britain. Before trains the country transported the majority of its freight by sea and river. Trains made the transportation of freight by water near obsolete and before long the country had expansive train networks to transport freight and people.

As Japan became an imperialist country, trains were prioritized to serve the military’s needs. In 1938 at the beginning of World War II the country began plans for higher speed trains; this was the start of the Shinkansen, or bullet train, project. The Shinkansen was meant to connect Japan with Korea and Manchuria in order to improve transportation between sections of its new empire. But as the war grew worse this project lost financial backing and it was scrapped.

The Japanese economy suffered greatly after the defeat in World War II, but began to regain momentum in the late 1950’s and older rail lines began to reach their limits. The Tokaido line in particular, connecting Tokyo, Osaka, Nagaya, and Kyoto, was exceedingly overcrowded. Only consisting of 3% of Japan’s total railway, it carried 24% of the transport volume. In 1958 it was decided to revive the Shinkansen project, only this time the project was focused on the mainland. The high speed train line was completed in 1964, just in time for the 1964 Summer Olympic Games held in Tokyo. The original Shinkansen ran at 210km/h, 130mph. The rail line was a huge success and produced greater economic benefit than originally expected.

Despite the ever increasing train networks, train car sizes, and stations, the most popular train lines in Tokyo that were designed to carry 42,000 people per hour were in reality carrying 100,000 people per hour. Train cars that could seat more people and new subways were constructed to take the load off the transit system. Even today Tokyo and other major cities get so packed at peak hours that people are literally stuffed inside by station personnel.

During the later 1900’s automobiles began to take over the transportation of freight throughout the country, and the number of people commuting by train also decreased. Due to the country’s small size it became cheaper and more efficient to transport freight by car or truck. Automobiles were also taking over commuter transportation in the rural areas of Japan. However, due to overcrowding in large cities, trains remain the dominant form of commuter transportation.

Despite modern Shinkansen being able to reach speeds of 220km/h, 135mph, the demand for faster commuter trains still exists. Development began in the 1970’s for a Maglev train, a train that runs by using magnets to reduce the friction between it and the track. Maglev trains are capable of speeds up to 581km/h, 361mph. High production, running costs, and noise pollution concerns have prevented this project from reaching completion.

The safety record of Shinkansen in a country that suffers from typhoons and earthquakes is nothing less than impressive. No fatalities have occurred due to a Shinkansen derailing or colliding with another train. There has only been one fatality and a few injuries due to doors closing on passengers or their belongings.

The huge public transit system in Japan is not only beneficial to the Japanese, but also to foreign visitors. The stations and trains have adapted to tourism by posting the names of destinations and prices in English and Japanese.

Without the train Japan would not be the same country it is today. The early steam and coal engine trains, imported from the West, allowed Japan to industrialize during the modernization period by becoming the backbone of its heavy industry economy. During wartime, the train system supplied military bases and troops throughout the country. After World War II, the modes of freight and public transportation that were repaired and put into use first were the railroads. As the country went through an economic and baby boom demand for new trains, combined with monopolization of the industry, allowed for huge network expansions. The building of the Shinkansen showed the world that train technology was not obsolete, and has been adopted by many other countries as a form of efficient and safe travel. The electric trains also help the environment by reducing air pollution.