Ryu Takahashi

KiHa 40 DMUs on the Yamaguchi Line The KiHa 40 series diesel multiple units, introduced by Japanese National Railways in the late 1970s, remain in regular service on rural lines across Japan. On the Yamaguchi Line—an...

The Freight Trains of Tōkaidō Main Line On the Tōkaidō Main Line in the early morning, just before it gets crowded with commuter trains, freight trains arrive one after another from the west.These trains head...

SL 'Taiju' During the New Year holidays, 1st to 3rd January, the Tobu Railway made eight runs (four round trips) of its themed steam special named 'SL Taiju' ('SL' denotes Steam Locomotive and 'Taiju' denotes...

Issued: February 2026 Contents Editorial, Chairman’s Chat, Letters ················ 3 News Update ·········································· 6 Book Review: Shinkansen Books ················ 14 KiHa 127 and KiHa 122 DMUs ·················· 16 Type 127 EMU ····································· 18 Centenary of the Yamanote Line ················· 20 Hiroden’s New...

Sangi Railway Sangi Railway is a private railway in Mie Prefecture, Japan, known for its two distinct lines: the standard-gauge Sangi Line (freight/commuter) and the narrow-gauge Hokusei Line, famous for its unique, small trains and...

Freight Line in Yokohama 'Minato Mirai 21' The neighborhood southeast of JR Yokohama Station on the other side of the estuary of the Katabira River is the most modern district of Yokohama city named ‘Minato...

Tobu Tojo Line The Tobu Tojo Line is a major commuter railway line operated by Tobu Railway that runs over 75 km between Ikebukuro in Tokyo and Yorii in Saitama Prefecture. It is a popular...

Hankai Tramway The Hankai Tramway is Osaka's only streetcar line, affectionately nicknamed "Chinden" (meaning "bell car"), which connects Osaka city and Sakai city. It has a rich history, operating some of Japan's oldest trams, including...