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.
WWW www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/e...

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 : Fridays 6:30 - 7:00 ; 12:30 - 13:00; 18:30 - 19:00
  • * BS1 : Wednesdays 3:00 - 3:30
  • ** Broadcasts outside Japan will come 5 days after Japan at the earliest, but on weeks with no new programs, older ones will be rebroadcast.

Presenters

  • Presenter: Hiro Ueno
  • Presenter: Miki Clark
  • Presenter: Cathy Cat
  • Commentators: Takagi Ryo of Kogakuin University
  • Early episodes also included various female tarento who like railways
Previous presenters
  • Presenter: Nathan Berry
  • Presenter: Russell Totten
  • Assistant: Sarah MacDonald

Main topics

; Special Rail Report
; Railway Topics
; Hands-on Railway History
; Avid Rail Communities

Episode list

NHK World

First broadcast date		BS1

First broadcast date		TitleJapanese titleGuest
1March 8, 2015March 11, 2015The Railway Revival: 4 years after the Great Earthquake-
2April 9, 2015April 18, 2015The New Shinkansen: Technology and Economic EffectsJessica Claros
3May 14, 2015May 11, 2015Isumi Railway: There's Nothing Here!Charlotte Kate Fox
4June 12, 2015May 31, 2015Diesel Hybrid Trains: Japan's World-Leading TechnologyRei Kitada
5July 10, 2015June 7, 2015Battery Hybrid Trains: Development of the Global TechnologyRei Kitada
6August 14, 2015July 5, 2015Japan's Subway Technology in High Density OperationRei Kitada
7October 9, 2015September 6, 2015The Secret of Operating Preserved Steam LocomotivesRena Matsui
8November 13, 2015November 22, 2015Special Preview - Hokkaido Shinkansen: Hopes and ChallengesRena Matsui
9December 4, 2015June 29, 2015Yamanote Line: The Green Rotating Heart of Tokyo
10January 15, 2016August 3, 2016Seven Stars in Kyushu: The Local Revitalizing Cruise TrainSaya Ichikawa
11February 12, 2016August 30, 2016Second Chances for Used Trains in Southeast Asia
12March 11, 2016April 27, 2016Earthquake Safety: What 5 Years has Taught Us
13April 8, 2016April 13, 2016Superconducting Maglev: The Extreme Speeds of Tomorrow
14April 15, 2016April 20, 2016Ekiben: A True Rail Traveling Companion
15May 13, 2016May 18, 2016Premium Express Shimakaze: A Train of Dreams to Reality
16May 20, 2016May 25, 2016The Cat Stationmaster Who Rescued a Railway
17June 10, 2016June 19, 2016New Generation Express: Journey to Speed and Comfortability
18June 17, 2016June 21, 2016The Future of Rail Freight Transport
19July 15, 2016July 20, 2016Light Rail Vehicles: Modern Trams Reshaping Urban Transit
20July 22, 2016July 27, 2016Kyoto Railway Museum: The Story of Rail Transport in Japan
21August 5, 2016August 24, 2016Keikyu: The Strive for World-Class Rail Operation
22September 16, 2016October 4, 2016World-Class Maintenance: The Backbone of Shinkansen Operations
23October 7, 2016November 9, 2016Railways Back on Track: Six Months after the Kumamoto Earthquakes
24October 14, 2016November 23, 2016Future Prospects Made in the Past: JR East's Steam Loco Strategy
25November 11, 2016December 11, 2016Picking Up the Pace: JR Shikoku's Tactics for Survival
26December 9, 2016December 21, 2016The Seeds of Success: Kyoto's Sagano Scenic Railway
27January 13, 2017February 1, 2017Turning Problems into Opportunities: The Tsugaru Railway's Strategy
28January 20, 2017February 8, 2017Japan's World-Class Rail and Wheels
29February 17, 2017March 1, 2017Keihan Electric Railway: Advanced Technology that Dominated the Railway Hub
30March 10, 2017March 15, 2017The Long Winter of Discontent: One Railway's Battle against Snow
31April 7, 2017April 12, 2017Dreams of a Texas Bullet Train: Future Plans for Japan's High-Speed RailwaysSarah MacDonald
32April 14, 2017April 19, 2017Using Railways to Promote Local Tourism: Kyushu Railway Company's StrategySarah MacDonald
33May 12, 2017May 17, 2017Toden Arakawa Line: A Hidden Gem for Tourists from OverseasSarah MacDonald
34May 19, 2017June 7, 2017All the Comfort You Require: Onboard Services on Japanese TrainsSarah MacDonald
35June 16, 2017July 5, 2017The Unsung Hero of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel TrainsSarah MacDonald

36July 14, 2017August 23, 2017Airport Express Lines: How Competition is Improving the Ride into the CitySarah MacDonald
37August 4, 2017September 20, 2017Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in JapanSarah MacDonald
38August 11, 2017September 27, 2017HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New HeightsSarah MacDonald

39September 8, 2017October 4, 2017Train Suite Shiki-shima: The High-Tech Luxury Cruise Train
40September 15, 2017October 11, 2017A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival
41October 6, 2017October 24, 2017Rediscovering Old Horizons: Preservation and Utilization of Railway Heritage

42October 20, 2017November 8, 2017Hankyu Corporation: A Leading Private Railway Company's Business Model
43November 17, 2017December 5, 2017Advanced Urban Travel: Japan's Monorail Systems
44December 15, 2017January 10, 2018Safeguarding the System: JR Central's Conventional Line
45January 12, 2018January 31, 2018Driving Forward with Steam: Oigawa Railway's StrategyMiki Clark
46January 19, 2018February 7, 2018Hokuriku Shinkansen Update: Re-assessing the Effects and Challenges 3 Years OnSarah MacDonald
47February 16, 2018February 21, 2018JR OITA CITY: The Station Complex that Changed the GameOkada Naoka

48March 2, 2018March 7, 2018Enoshima Electric Railway: A Good Old 10km RideMiki Clark
49April 6, 2018April 25, 2018A New Generation of Commuter Train: Tokyu Corporation's Series 2020
50April 20, 2018May 9, 2018The Ultimate in Comfort: New Limited Express Super AzusaMiki Clark
51May 25, 2018June 13, 2018Tobu Railway's Revaty Express: Moving Forward to a Better Nikko

Miki Clark
52June 8, 2018June 27, 2018Gakunan Electric Train: A New Outlook in the Foothills of Mt. FujiIzumo Ayano

53July 13, 2018August 1, 2018Kominato Railway: The Strategy of a Quaint Local Railway
54July 20, 2018August 8, 2018The Golden Route to Hakone: Limited Express Romancecar and the Mountain Train
55July 27, 2018August 15, 2018New-Look Railway Museum: A Wonderland of Japan's Railway History
56September 21, 2018October 16, 2018Shinano Railway: Managing the Risks of the Next 30 Years
57September 28, 2018October 24, 2018Chartered Tour Trains: Special Times for Special Tours
58October 19, 2018November 7, 2018Nagoya Railroad: Advancing with Easy Airport Access and a Famous Castle Town
59October 26, 2018November 14, 2018JR Central: Enticing Tourists with Helpful Services & Events
60November 9, 2018December 5, 2018Iwate Galaxy Railway: Launching Services for the Community
61November 23, 2018December 12, 2018Echizen Railway:　Heading into the Future with the Community Onboard
62December 21, 2018January 16, 2019Seibu Railway: Setting its Sights on the Chichibu Region
63January 18, 2019January 30, 2019New Year Trains: Beginning the New Year with a Journey
64February 8, 2019February 20, 2019JR Gono Line: A Popular Local Line Worth the Journey
65February 15, 2019March 20, 2019Amaterasu Railway: A Tourist Attraction Making the Most of a Discontinued LineYokoyama Marina

66March 29, 2019May 1, 2019Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Ever Evolving Loop Line
67April 12, 2019May 15, 2019JR Hokkaido's Yubari Line: A Beloved Local Line Comes to an End
68April 26, 2019May 29, 2019Tokyo Metro: A Subway Network On Time & On Track
69May 24, 2019July 10, 2019Nishi-Nippon Railroad: Fine Dining on an Even Finer Tourist Train
70May 31, 2019July 24, 2019Hiroshima Electric Railway: On Track on the Streets
71June 28, 2019August 21, 2019Hankai Tramway: Osaka's One & Only Tram Network
72July 12, 2019September 18, 2019Choshi Electric Railway: Finding New Ways to Get Back on Track
73July 26, 2019October 9, 2019JR Osaka Loop Line: Developing a Better, More User-Friendly Line
74September 13, 2019November 13, 2019Kyoto Tango Railway: A Bus Company to the RescueIshii Maiko
75September 27, 2019December 11, 2019South Hokkaido Railway: A Tourist Train Developed by a Tour Company
76October 11, 2019January 8, 2020Chizu Express: A Top Tier Third Sector Railway
77October 25, 2019February 26, 2020Hitachinaka Seaside Railway: Pulling Together with the Local Community
78November 8, 2019March 25, 2020JR's Ekinaka Development Project: A New Lifestyle Below the Chuo Line
79November 22, 2019February 5, 2020Introducing the N700S: JR Central's Next-Generation Shinkansen
80December 13, 2019February 12, 2020New Technology Opening the Future of the Railway
81December 27, 2019February 19, 2020Reviewing the New Trains of 2019
82January 17, 2020April 20, 2020Sunrise Seto and Izumo: The Last of the Overnight Sleeper TrainsDonna Burke
83February 14, 2020May 13, 2020Echigo Tokimeki Railway: A Railway for Everyone
84March 27, 2020June 10, 2020A Guide to Tokyo's Airport Access LinesMarie Yanaka
85April 17, 2020September 16, 2020Kintetsu Railway's Hinotori: Challenging the Shinkansen with Comfort
86May 1, 2020May 26, 2020Takanawa Gateway Station: The New Gateway to Tokyo
87June 5, 2020June 17, 2020Securing the Future of Japan's Local Railways
88July 10, 2020July 29, 2020The Blue Ribbon & Laurel Prize: Japan's Best New Trains
89July 31, 2020August 5, 2020Bicycle Onboard: Cycling with JR EastMichael Rice
90August 7, 2020October 7, 2020Heisei Chikuho Railway: A Tourist Train Recovering from the PandemicNaoka Ogata
91September 18, 2020October 14, 2020Tsugaru Railway: Surviving the Coronavirus Pandemic-

YouTube Playlist of all publicly available episodes