Japan Railway Journal
# Japan Railway Journal

Japan Railway Journal is a TV program from NHK World TV documenting rail transport in Japan that started broadcasting on March 8, 2015.

## Overview

The program showcases the charm and the cutting-edge technology of rail transport in Japan. New episodes are broadcast 1 to 2 times a month.

At first, many of the talking sections were filmed in a bar with a train diorama, "Bar Ginza Panorama" in Shinjuku. Now, filming these sections on-location at the featured rail facilities is more common.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHK World has been showing Japan Railway Journal repeats in lieu of new episodes. The combination of studio presentation and on-site reporting makes it difficult for video production.

## Broadcast times

* First broadcast: Fridays 0:30 - 1:00 JST on NHK World TV
* Rebroadcasts:
   * NHK World TV (JST): Fridays 6:30 - 7:00 ; 12:30 - 13:00; 18:30 - 19:00
   * BS1 (JST): Wednesdays 3:00 - 3:30 (From 2016 - broadcasts may be cancelled due to sports programs)
      * Broadcasts outside Japan will come 5 days after Japan at the earliest, but on weeks with no new programs, older ones will be rebroadcast.

## Actors

* Presenter: Cathy Cat (2021-)
* Commentators: Takagi Ryo, Ph.D. (Professor at Kogakuin University) and various female tarento who like railways (see "Guest" column of the episode list)

Previous actors

* Presenter: Nathan Berry (2018-2020)
* Presenter: Russell Totten (until 2017)
* Assistant: Sarah MacDonald (in 2017)

## Main topics

### Special Rail Report

    Section which features that week's main topic.

### Railway Topics

    Short segment which features the latest themes in railways.

### Hands-on Railway History

    Russell Totten visits railway museums in Japan and presents railway history.

### Avid Rail Communities

    Russell Totten and a female guest showcase a community related to railways in Japan.

## Episode list

| | NHK World First broadcast date | BS1 First broadcast date | Title | Japanese Title | Guest |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | March 8, 2015 | March 11, 2015 | The Railway Revival: 4 years after the Great Earthquake | 大震災から4 よみがえる鉄路 | - |
| 2 | April 9, 2015 | April 18, 2015 | The New Shinkansen: Technology and Economic Effects | 北陸新幹線 その技術と経済効果 | Jessica Claros |
| 3 | May 14, 2015 | May 11, 2015 | Isumi Railway: There's Nothing Here! | いすみ鉄道 ここには、何もないがあります | Charlotte Kate Fox |
| 4 | June 12, 2015 | May 31, 2015 | Diesel Hybrid Trains: Japan's World-Leading Technology | 世界をリードする ハイブリッドディーゼル車両 | Rei Kitada |
| 5 | July 10, 2015 | June 7, 2015 | Battery Hybrid Trains: Development of the Global Technology | 世界が注目! バッテリー電車最前線 | Rei Kitada |
| 6 | August 14, 2015 | July 5, 2015 | Japan's Subway Technology in High Density Operation | 世界に売れる日本の地下鉄 | Rei Kitada |
| 7 | October 9, 2015 | September 6, 2015 | The Secret of Operating Preserved Steam Locomotives | 動態保存SLの舞台裏 | Rena Matsui |
| 8 | November 13, 2015 | November 22, 2015 | Special Preview - Hokkaido Shinkansen: Hopes and Challenges | ひと足先に見せます 北海道新幹線 期待と課題 | Rena Matsui |
| 9 | December 4, 2015 | June 29, 2015 | Yamanote Line: The Green Rotating Heart of Tokyo | 東京の顔 “山手線”が変わる | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 10 | January 15, 2016 | August 3, 2016 | Seven Stars in Kyushu: The Local Revitalizing Cruise Train | ななつ星in九州 | Saya Ichikawa |
| 11 | February 12, 2016 | August 30, 2016 | Second Chances for Used Trains in Southeast Asia | 東南アジアで人気! 日本製中古車両 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 12 | March 11, 2016 | April 27, 2016 | Earthquake Safety: What 5 Years has Taught Us | 震災の教訓を生かせ 鉄道の災害対策最前線 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 13 | April 8, 2016 | April 13, 2016 | Superconducting Maglev: The Extreme Speeds of Tomorrow | リニア中央新幹線 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 14 | April 15, 2016 | April 20, 2016 | Ekiben: A True Rail Traveling Companion | ニッポンの鉄道の名脇役Ekiben | Atsumi Furuya [ja] |
| 15 | May 13, 2016 | May 18, 2016 | Premium Express Shimakaze: A Train of Dreams to Reality | いざ伊勢志摩へ “しまかぜ”成功の秘密 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 16 | May 20, 2016 | May 25, 2016 | The Cat Stationmaster Who Rescued a Railway | “たま駅長”の再建物語 ～和歌山電鐵～ | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 17 | June 10, 2016 | June 19, 2016 | New Generation Express: Journey to Speed and Comfortability | 次世代特急 “スーパーあずさ”の実力 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 18 | June 17, 2016 | June 21, 2016 | The Future of Rail Freight Transport | 内外から注目 見直される鉄道貨物最前線 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 19 | July 15, 2016 | July 20, 2016 | Light Rail Vehicles: Modern Trams Reshaping Urban Transit | 次世代型路面電車最前線 | Naomi Yano [ja] |
| 20 | July 22, 2016 | July 27, 2016 | Kyoto Railway Museum: The Story of Rail Transport in Japan | 鉄道史が凝縮！ 京都鉄道博物館の魅力 | Naomi Yano [ja] |
| 21 | August 5, 2016 | August 24, 2016 | Keikyu: The Strive for World-Class Rail Operation | 人間主導で安定運行実現 京浜急行電鉄 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 22 | September 16, 2016 | October 4, 2016 | World-Class Maintenance: The Backbone of Shinkansen Operations | 新幹線を支える メンテナンスの裏側 | Naomi Yano [ja] |
| 23 | October 7, 2016 | November 9, 2016 | Railways Back on Track: Six Months after the Kumamoto Earthquakes | 熊本地震から半 九州の鉄道復旧状況 | Naomi Yano [ja] |
| 24 | October 14, 2016 | November 23, 2016 | Future Prospects Made in the Past: JR East's Steam Loco Strategy | SL運行に勝算あり! JR東日本の戦略 | Momo Itō [ja] |
| 25 | November 11, 2016 | December 11, 2016 | Picking Up the Pace: JR Shikoku's Tactics for Survival | 生き残りかけた高速化 JR四国経営戦略 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 26 | December 9, 2016 | December 21, 2016 | The Seeds of Success: Kyoto's Sagano Scenic Railway | 嵯峨野観光鉄道 トロッコ列車成功の秘密 | Tomomi Kuno [ja] |
| 27 | January 13, 2017 | February 1, 2017 | Turning Problems into Opportunities: The Tsugaru Railway's Strategy | 津軽鉄道 危機を救った商社出身社長の戦略 | Naomi Yano [ja] |
| 28 | January 20, 2017 | February 8, 2017 | Japan's World-Class Rail and Wheels | 世界に誇る日本製レールと 車輪の秘密 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 29 | February 17, 2017 | March 1, 2017 | Keihan Electric Railway: Advanced Technology that Dominated the Railway Hub | 京阪電鉄 鉄道激戦区を制した先進技術 | Miki Murai [ja] |
| 30 | March 10, 2017 | March 15, 2017 | The Long Winter of Discontent: One Railway's Battle against Snow | 雪との闘い JR飯山線の長い冬 | Tomomi Kuno [ja] |
| 31 | April 7, 2017 | April 12, 2017 | Dreams of a Texas Bullet Train: Future Plans for Japan's High-Speed Railways | テキサス新幹線計画 JR東海の戦略 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 32 | April 14, 2017 | April 19, 2017 | Using Railways to Promote Local Tourism: Kyushu Railway Company's Strategy | 鉄道は観光資源 JR九州の地域戦略 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 33 | May 12, 2017 | May 17, 2017 | Toden Arakawa Line: A Hidden Gem for Tourists from Overseas | 訪日外国人に人気! 都電荒川線の魅力 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 34 | May 19, 2017 | June 7, 2017 | All the Comfort You Require: Onboard Services on Japanese Trains | 進化する鉄道の車内販売 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 35 | June 16, 2017 | July 5, 2017 | The Unsung Hero of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel Trains | 日本の鉄道の影の主役 キハ40系気動車 | Sarah MacDonald Wakako Miyamoto [ja] (reporter) |
| 36 | July 14, 2017 | August 23, 2017 | Airport Express Lines: How Competition is Improving the Ride into the City | 成田・関空アクセス鉄道 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 37 | August 4, 2017 | September 20, 2017 | Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in Japan | 世界に誇るICカード乗車券 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 38 | August 11, 2017 | September 27, 2017 | HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New Heights | HIGH RAIL 1375の魅力 | Sarah MacDonald Wakako Miyamoto [ja] (reporter) |
| 39 | September 8, 2017 | October 4, 2017 | Train Suite Shiki-shima: The High-Tech Luxury Cruise Train | トランスイート四季島 | Wakako Miyamoto [ja] |
| 40 | September 15, 2017 | October 11, 2017 | A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival | よみがえった汽笛 東武鉄道SL復活 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 41 | October 6, 2017 | October 24, 2017 | Rediscovering Old Horizons: Preservation and Utilization of Railway Heritage | 広がる鉄道遺産の保存と活用 | Wakako Miyamoto [ja] Miki Murai [ja] |
| 42 | October 20, 2017 | November 8, 2017 | Hankyu Corporation: A Leading Private Railway Company's Business Model | 鉄道会社経営多角化のモデル 阪急電鉄 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 43 | November 17, 2017 | December 5, 2017 | Advanced Urban Travel: Japan's Monorail Systems | モノレール大国 ニッポンの技術力 | Wakako Miyamoto [ja] |
| 44 | December 15, 2017 | January 10, 2018 | Safeguarding the System: Maintaining [ja] JR Central's Conventional Line | 在来線の安全を守る JR東海 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 45 | January 12, 2018 | January 31, 2018 | Driving Forward with Steam: Oigawa Railway's Strategy | SL運行で活路を開く 大井川鐵道の戦略 | Miki Clark |
| 46 | January 19, 2018 | February 7, 2018 | Hokuriku Shinkansen Update: Re-assessing the Effects and Challenges 3 Years On | 北陸新幹線金沢開業3 効果と課題 | Sarah MacDonald |
| 47 | February 16, 2018 | February 21, 2018 | JR OITA CITY: The Station Complex that Changed the Game | 駅ビル開発 JRおおいたシティ | Okada Naoka (緒方直加) (NHK Ōita newscaster) |
| 48 | March 2, 2018 | March 7, 2018 | Enoshima Electric Railway: A Good Old 10km Ride | 全線10キロの優良鉄道 江ノ島電鉄 | Miki Clark |
| 49 | April 6, 2018 | April 25, 2018 | A New Generation of Commuter Train: Tokyu Corporation's Series 2020 | 次世代通勤電車 東急2020系新技術 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 50 | April 20, 2018 | May 9, 2018 | The Ultimate in Comfort: New Limited Express Super Azusa | 新型“スーパーあずさ” | Miki Clark |
| 51 | May 25, 2018 | June 13, 2018 | Tobu Railway's Revaty Express: Moving Forward to a Better Nikko | 新型特急でNikko活性化 東武鉄道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] Miki Clark |
| 52 | June 8, 2018 | June 27, 2018 | Gakunan Electric Train: A New Outlook in the Foothills of Mt. Fuji | 富士山と夜景で誘客 岳南電車の挑戦 | Izumo Ayano (出雲あや乃) (NHK Shizuoka newscaster) |
| 53 | July 13, 2018 | August 1, 2018 | Kominato Railway: The Strategy of a Quaint Local Railway | 里山とレトロで誘客 小湊鐵道の経営戦略 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 54 | July 20, 2018 | August 8, 2018 | The Golden Route to Hakone: Limited Express Romancecar and the Mountain Train | 鉄道で行く箱根ゴールデンルート ロマンスカーと登山電車 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 55 | July 27, 2018 | August 15, 2018 | New-Look Railway Museum: A Wonderland of Japan's Railway History | “鉄道博物館” リニューアルオープン | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 56 | September 21, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | Shinano Railway: Managing the Risks of the Next 30 Years | しなの鉄道 30年後を見据えた経営戦略 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 57 | September 28, 2018 | October 24, 2018 | Chartered Tour Trains: Special Times for Special Tours | 時刻表にない観光列車 団体専用列車 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 58 | October 19, 2018 | November 7, 2018 | Nagoya Railroad: Advancing with Easy Airport Access and a Famous Castle Town | 空港特急と犬山観光でおもてなし 名古屋鉄道の観光戦略 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 59 | October 26, 2018 | November 14, 2018 | JR Central: Enticing Tourists with Helpful Services & Events | 観光列車ブームに頼らない JR東海の観光戦略 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 60 | November 9, 2018 | December 5, 2018 | Iwate Galaxy Railway: Launching Services for the Community | IGRいわて銀河鉄道 地域密着サービスで乗客を増やす | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 61 | November 23, 2018 | December 12, 2018 | Echizen Railway:　Heading into the Future with the Community Onboard | 地域が走らせる鉄道 えちぜん鉄道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 62 | December 21, 2018 | January 16, 2019 | Seibu Railway: Setting its Sights on the Chichibu Region | ターゲットは秩父 西武鉄道の観光戦略 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 63 | January 18, 2019 | January 30, 2019 | New Year Trains: Beginning the New Year with a Journey | 新年の特別列車 初詣列車と初日の出列車 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 64 | February 8, 2019 | February 20, 2019 | JR Gono Line: A Popular Local Line Worth the Journey | 日本一乗りたいローカル線 JR五能線 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 65 | February 15, 2019 | March 20, 2019 | Amaterasu Railway: A Tourist Attraction Making the Most of a Discontinued Line | 廃線観光で復活! 宮崎県・高千穂あまてらす鉄道 | Yokoyama Marina (横山真里奈) (NHK Miyazaki newscaster) |
| 66 | March 29, 2019 | May 1, 2019 | Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Ever Evolving Loop Line | JR山手線 進化を続ける東京の環状線 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 67 | April 12, 2019 | May 15, 2019 | JR Hokkaido's Yubari Line: A Beloved Local Line Comes to an End | 廃止に追い込まれるローカル線 JR石勝線夕張支線 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 68 | April 26, 2019 | May 29, 2019 | Tokyo Metro: A Subway Network On Time & On Track | 東京メトロ 世界に誇る正確・安全性 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 69 | May 24, 2019 | July 10, 2019 | Nishi-Nippon Railroad: Fine Dining on an Even Finer Tourist Train | 食にこだわる観光列車 西日本鉄道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 70 | May 31, 2019 | July 24, 2019 | Hiroshima Electric Railway: On Track on the Streets | 都市輸送を担う路面電車 広島電鉄 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 71 | June 28, 2019 | August 21, 2019 | Hankai Tramway: Osaka's One & Only Tram Network | 大阪唯一の路面電車 阪堺電気軌道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 72 | July 12, 2019 | September 18, 2019 | Choshi Electric Railway: Finding New Ways to Get Back on Track | 全線6.4kmの軌跡 銚子電鉄 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 73 | July 26, 2019 | October 9, 2019 | JR Osaka Loop Line: Developing a Better, More User-Friendly Line | 乗りたい路線に大改造 JR大阪環状線 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 74 | September 13, 2019 | November 13, 2019 | Kyoto Tango Railway: A Bus Company to the Rescue | バス会社は鉄道を救うか 京都丹後鉄道 | Ishii Maiko (石井麻衣子) |
| 75 | September 27, 2019 | December 11, 2019 | South Hokkaido Railway: A Tourist Train Developed by a Tour Company | 観光列車 道南いさりび鉄道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 76 | October 11, 2019 | January 8, 2020 | Chizu Express: A Top Tier Third Sector Railway | 三セク鉄道の優等生 智頭急行 | |
| 77 | October 25, 2019 | February 26, 2020 | Hitachinaka Seaside Railway: Pulling Together with the Local Community | ひたちなか海浜鉄道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 78 | November 8, 2019 | March 25, 2020 | JR's Ekinaka Development Project: A New Lifestyle Below the Chuo Line | 進化する“エキナカ”ビジネス JR中央線 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 79 | November 22, 2019 | February 5, 2020 | Introducing the N700S: JR Central's Next-Generation Shinkansen | 次世代新幹線N700Sの全貌 JR東海 | |
| 80 | December 13, 2019 | February 12, 2020 | New Technology Opening the Future of the Railway | 最新テクノロジーが開く“鉄道の未来” 鉄道技術展2019 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 81 | December 27, 2019 | February 19, 2020 | Reviewing the New Trains of 2019 | 次代を映す新型車両2019 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 82 | January 17, 2020 | April 20, 2020 | Sunrise Seto and Izumo: The Last of the Overnight Sleeper Trains | 生き残った寝台列車 サンライズ瀬戸・出雲 | Donna Burke |
| 83 | February 14, 2020 | May 13, 2020 | Echigo Tokimeki Railway: A Railway for Everyone | 鉄道は赤字でも地域は黒字にできる えちごトキめき鉄道 | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 84 | March 27, 2020 | June 10, 2020 | A Guide to Tokyo's Airport Access Lines | 最新情報! 成田、羽田アクセス線 | Marie Yanaka |
| 85 | April 17, 2020 | | Kintetsu Railway's Hinotori: Challenging the Shinkansen with Comfort | | Yasuna Mizobata [ja] |
| 86 | May 1, 2020 | May 26, 2020 | Takanawa Gateway Station: The New Gateway to Tokyo | 高輪ゲートウェイ駅の全貌 | |
| 87 | June 5, 2020 | June 17, 2020 | Securing the Future of Japan's Local Railways | ローカル鉄道活性化への取り組み | |
| 88 | July 10, 2020 | July 29, 2020 | The Blue Ribbon & Laurel Prize: Japan's Best New Trains | ブルーリボン賞・ローレル賞 | |
| 89 | July 31, 2020 | | Bicycle Onboard: Cycling with JR East | | Michael Rice |
| 90 | August 7, 2020 | | Heisei Chikuho Railway: A Tourist Train Recovering from the Pandemic | | Naoka Ogata |

YouTube Playlist of all publicly available episodes (This is not NHK official playlist. Please read playlist comment.)

