A History of Undergrounds in Japan

By Nobuyuki Sato

The Japanese railway situation is not easily understood in the West due to language problems. However, a growing range of software supports writing in English, even for Japanese who are not good at writing in English. On this occasion, the publication of a book on the complete history of the Japanese underground system was planned. The first underground line in Japan opened in 1927, connecting Ueno and Asakusa in Tokyo. From the beginning of the 20th century, intellectuals, especially those who had studied in the UK, introduced the underground system, which influenced some operators to apply to the state to construct an underground system. However, although the development of trams was well advanced in Japan, the development of elevated high-speed railways had been delayed, and with the exception of some roads, congestion problems were not serious. Therefore, there was no need to dare to introduce new technology to build subways. Japan experienced rapid industrial progress between the Russo-Japanese War 1904 & World War I 1914. its degradation and congestion of trams in the city became serious, and the construction of subways became a reality. Then, in 1927, an underground system opened in Tokyo, followed by Osaka. Before World War II, Tokyo and Osaka were the only cities where subways actually opened. In 1945, Japan lost the war, and as post-war reconstruction was underway, underground extensions were built in Tokyo and Osaka. This was followed in the early 1950s by continued economic growth with support from the USA, leading to a period of rapid economic growth that was unique in the world. In addition to Tokyo and Osaka, construction of subways began in cities with a population of two million, with subways opening in Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe. From 1970 onwards, subways appeared in regional cities with a population of one million, e.g. Sapporo, Sendai, Kyoto and Fukuoka. Although economic growth has slowed and the economic situation is more complex than in other developed countries, subways continue to be built and opened, albeit in reduced numbers, and efforts are being made to improve the living and business environment by developing urban transport.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0CJ49HVKT
• ISBN13: 9798861573573
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 396 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.9" x 6.0"