Thursday 6 August 2015

The Shogun Train on the Shizuoka-Shimizu Line

Set number 1002F, "Shogun Train", of the EMU Shizutetsu 1000 series
 
Tokugawa Ieyasu was the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate. In 1603, he was appointed as a commander-in-chief of an army in pre-modern Japan, called 'Seii-taishogun', by the Emperor after the Battle of Sekigahara. The Tokugawa shogunate had been ruling this country until the Meiji Restoration in 1868.

This year is the 400th anniversary of the death of Tokugawa Ieyasu. For the anniversary of 400 years, many ceremonies and exhibitions are being held in Japan. Specifically, Shizuoka City is very enthusiastic about the memorial events, since it was the place of Ieyasu's death. For your information, Shizuoka is the main city of Shizuoka Prefecture, some 180 km west of Tokyo.

To create the events atmosphere, a local railway company, Shizuoka Railway (Shizutetsu), launched a special poster train early this year. Shizutetsu has been operating the 11km-long Shizuoka-Shimizu Line since 1908. Connecting Shin-Shizuoka and Shin-Shimizu, the whole route is electrified double track. The gauge size is 1,067mm and the electric system is 600V DC overhead.

The special poster train, 'Shogun Train', has black-colored body with large gold-colored Aoi-no-Gomons on the front and side of the train's body. What an up-front design it is! Aoi-no-Gomon, which is also known as Mitsuba-aoi (three leaves of hollyhock), is the Tokugawa family's crest. Shogun Train is the two-car train, set number 1002F of the EMU Shizutetsu 1000 series.

The shogun train appears. Does the crest not get into your eyes? Bow your head! Down on your knees!

 
Set number 1005F (standard color) of the EMU Shizutetsu 1000 series
 
Official promotion movie of Shizuoka Railway (Shizutetsu):
Official movie of Shizutetsu's EMU, A3000 series under development: