Drastic solution required to remove cheeky locomotive.
Most of us are familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine, the popular kids TV show about a group of engine buddies on the island of Sodor. Thomas and his friends are well-known for getting into all kinds of mischief, but this is one incident that even Sir Topham Hatt couldn’t have seen coming down the track.
While the eponymous Thomas gets most of the limelight, his friends get a fair share of it too; for this tale, the red engine James gets the starring role. And for one unfortunate Japanese Twitter user @kuzeikumi, James ended up being a bit of a problem when he got entangled in her hair.
▼ “Unbelievable… I got James stuck in my hair. Couldn’t get it out at all, so I just left the house looking like this.”
信っじられない・・・
— 久瀬いくみ (@kuzeikumi) December 12, 2019
ジェームスが頭に絡まって取れなくなりました。
結局このまま出掛けました。取れないんだもん。 pic.twitter.com/zJghl91AgM
While @kuzeikumi doesn’t mention what exactly she was doing with the toy in order to get it caught in her hair, it’s clear from her tone that she had made an error in judgement. Still, we have to commend her bravery for actually leaving her house with a toy train stuck in her hair.
Twitter users had this to say about the woman’s literal train wreck:
“‘How James got caught.’ Sounds like the plot of an episode!”
“When I was in kindergarten, I got part of a Thomas toy caught in my teeth. I had to go to the dentist with a freight car dangling from my mouth. It was so embarrassing…”
“The fact that you went outside looking like that is amazing!”
“Why do Thomas and his friends always cause problems like this? They’re gonna end up in the scrap heap!”
The accessory brought to mind a historic fashionista for Twitter user @rainywoods2001 –
“Marie Antoinette was famous for wearing miniature ships on her head as an accessory. Maybe this is the locomotive version!”
帆船はマリー・アントワネットの時代に流行ったそうですので、
— amamori (@rainywoods2001) December 13, 2019
機関車もありかもw pic.twitter.com/2OHUYPXmik
One clever Twitter user went a step further and gave a new name for the accessory; the Jemusubi (The James Topknot), combining the Japanese reading of the name James (‘Jeemusu‘) with the word for topknot (‘musubi’).
If you’re worried about whether or not @kuzeikumi is still wandering around the streets of Japan with an engine entangled in her hair, fear not; she posted an update two days later, saying that her sister had cut her hair and removed the toy. James was thankfully unharmed in the incident.
ジェームスですが、姉に該当の髪を切ってもらい無事外れました。
— 久瀬いくみ (@kuzeikumi) December 14, 2019
鉄道の混乱と遅れ、及び私の頭につき、たくさんのご心配をいただき本当にありがとうございました(T_T) pic.twitter.com/hyattfsqRc
While we’re pretty sure we won’t be seeing this new style debuting at Paris Fashion Week anytime soon, Japan is well-known for its unique and unusual trends, so we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw this look popping up in the streets of Harajuku in the weeks to come. If anything, @kuzeikumi‘s admission has encouraged other Twitter users to come forward with their tales of tangled toy torment, such as this.
https://twitter.com/key_nissy0318/status/1205434288147025923And it’s certainly not the first time Thomas has terrorized the Twittersphere – check out these stories about a Thomas toy getting stuck in a vacuum cleaner, or the terrifying drawing that will probably ruin your childhood.
Source: Twitter/@kuzeikumi via Jin
Featured image: Twitter/@kuzeikumi
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Thomas the Tank Engine toy trolls Twitterer, terrorizes vacuum
Thomas the Tank Engine locomotive coming to Japan in 2014!
Well-meaning creator makes nightmare-inducing Thomas the Tank Engine ceiling-crawling abomination
Japanese theatres welcome Thomas the Tank Engine’s newest train, a Japanese shinkansen, in 2021
Thomas the Tank Engine in Ramune candy form is actually pretty terrifying 【Pics】
Solo travel in Japan: Hidden beer garden in Tokyo is a haven for single visitors
Studio Ghibli unveils new anime calendars and diary planners for 2027
Family Mart releases new Human Made Cup Noodle in Japan, with freebies for Nigo fans
Hobonichi unveils new 2027 planners, diaries and stationery with One Piece, Suica Penguin, Hello Kitty and a must-buy Mini Techo
Janken Kebab: Win at rock-paper-scissors and get extra fillings at this fun Japanese kebab shop
Family Mart joins forces with legendary sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji for new Convenience Wear collection
Is Tokyo’s Odaiba, once one of its trendiest neighborhoods, becoming a ghost town? [Photos]
Mister Donut releases new doughnuts that look and taste like Japanese sweet potatoes
Japan’s final Penguin Suica train cards have already shipped, and when they’re gone, they’re gone
This Japanese 7-Eleven has the most expensive drinks, and item, we’ve even seen at the chain
Japan approves foreign resident visa renewal fee increases of up to 967 percent, starts soon
Japan tripled its departure tax to fund tourism but is using the money on cherry blossoms and bears
Farewell Final Ceremony announced for Tokyo’s life-size Gundam statue, will stream live
Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear in Japan
We recommend not buying one pack of Japan’s new convenience store corn soup-flavor fried chicken
Police in Japan looking for who’s responsible for dumping 80 loaves of bread on side of road [Video]
Nephew of Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki serves up Totoro Shaved Ice in Tokyo
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
7-year-old boy left behind on Mt. Fuji by his own dad
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Sushi Bus: Japan’s first conveyor-belt bus lets you eat sushi while sightseeing around Tokyo
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Life-size Thomas the Tank Engine begins running on Japanese railroad
Japanese Twitter user gets help from Thomas the Tank Engine for cooling drinks 【Video】
Japanese Twitter user ruins Thomas the Tank Engine for everyone with ultra-creepy drawing
Thomas the Tank Engine’s video visit to Japan is more Japanese than life in Japan
Thomas the Tank Engine transforms into gorgeous horror with Chinese smartphone face filter
Japanese microcar owner’s tiny automobile collection turns heads in Japan