Chuo Shinkansen will take you from Tokyo to Nagoya in just 40 minutes…but no one is sure when.
maglev
Japan Railways is taking applications to experience the future of Japanese rail travel nearly a decade ahead of time.
No strings or CG here; it’s all science and craftsmanship.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan took a trip to Yamanashi to try out Japan’s record-breaking Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) bullet train. Travelling with him were executives from the Baltimore-Washington Rapid Rail LLC (BWRR), who, after enjoying a 27-mile-long ride, headed back to Baltimore with the intention of bringing the technology stateside.
When you were a kid, you probably owned (or knew someone who owned) a model train set, or Scalextric-style slot car racing track. You probably also watched Back to The Future and lusted after Marty McFly’s hoverboard. But I bet you never thought that when you grew up, you’d be able to buy your very own hovering high-speed train set! And now you can, courtesy of toy company Takara Tomy!
Remember that scene in the classic 80’s movie Back to the Future Part II, where Marty McFly escapes a group of bullies using a floating skateboard known as a hoverboard? If you do, you probably spent your childhood longing for one of those bad boys and wondering when technology would catch up to the 2015 depicted in the film. Well, it looks like we’ve managed to make it a reality, and just before the cut-off date, too! Join us after the jump for video evidence!
Scientists at Southwest Jiaotong University in China have built a prototype testing platform for a near-vacuum high-speed maglev train that is theoretically capable of reaching speeds up to 2900 km/h or about 1,800 mph. Currently, the fastest commercially operated maglev reaches just 431 km/h and even the world record is just 581 km/hr.
On 13 May, JR Central released station design plans for their upcoming Chuo Shinkansen running from Tokyo to Nagoya and later Osaka. In the words of JR, these stations were designed “not to rely on traditional styles” and “to boldly pursue functionality and efficiency.”
However, when the details emerged to a train station loving public, the reaction was less than enthusiastic with comments along the line of “too bold.”
MOST POPULAR
Now
Kyoto Whopper divides customers at Burger King Japan
Yakuza vending machines coming to real-world Tokyo neighborhood that inspired Like a Dragon games
Chinese internet unusually upset by “most usual Chinese face” composite
Children’s slippers stolen in night at Japanese preschool, police identify weasel who did it【Vid】
Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years
Japanese ramen restaurant serves noodles with a heartwarming side of history
Weekly
One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers- Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
- Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Mario Kart Happy Meal toys arrive at McDonald’s Japan, and SoraNews24 has the whole set!【Photos】
After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
Tokyo park’s sea of clouds, nighttime illumination, and cosplay days make now perfect time to visit
Samurai ritual suicide contest cancelled by organizer in west Japan
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
American jackass tourist arrested after carving name into gate at Tokyo’s Meiji Shrine【Video】
Monthly
Nintendo’s controller capsule toys are so cool, even the machine you buy them from is awesome【Pics】- One of Japan’s most beautiful hot spring towns announces new limits on number of day trippers
Tokyo Disneyland loses top-attendance crown for Japanese theme parks for second year in a row- Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke teams up with Foxfire for outdoor apparel collaboration【Photos】
Ghibli Park debuts first winter illumination display with Howl’s Moving Castle theme
Pringles releases a limited-edition sweet flavour in Japan
Sanrio and magical girl anime PreCure join forces for new merch line【Photos】- Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
- After cancelling Halloween, Tokyo’s Shibuya neighborhood cancels New Year’s Eve too
What’s the deal with akebi, the perfectly purple, alien-like fruit that’s in season now in Japan?
Yearly
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Ghibli founders Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki contribute to Japanese whisky Totoro label design
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
Krispy Kreme releases new zodiac doughnuts for the Year of the Snake in Japan
Kyoto becomes City of Yokai, with Night Parade of One Hundred Demons festival this autumn
Forbidden area at Japanese mountaintop shrine opens to the public for first time in 400 years
Japanese ramen restaurant serves noodles with a heartwarming side of history
Should you warm up your convenience store onigiri rice balls in the microwave?【Taste test】
A visit to T-CAT, Tokyo’s often forgotten City Air Terminal【Photos】
Taking the Kyoto overnight bus for the first time
Japan’s ultra-classy overnight bus gives you your own sleeping pod【Photos】
Japanese public toilet in Tokyo has windows that change colour when you use it
Japanese job-quitting service contacted by other job-quitting service because employee wants to quit
Japanese women reveal how far they’ve gone in “stalking” a guy they like in survey
Flying dango: Unique tourist site where Japanese sweets are flown to you over a gorge
Yokohama restaurant serves fried axolotl, along with giant isopod, camel, and crocodile
-
