Japan Railway Journal: Season 3
Season 3 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Japan Railway Journal Season 2.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 3 Progress Shield
Turning Problems Into Opportunities: The Tsugaru Railway's Strategy
Jan 12, 2017
Tsugaru Railway is a local private railway that runs for 20.7km in Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan. Its "Stove Train" is now a popular tourist attraction in winter, but 10 yea
Japan's World-Class Rail and Wheels
Jan 19, 2017
Japanese rails and train wheels are currently gaining worldwide attention due to wear and tear resistance and reliability. The durable rails are used for North America's freight tr
Keihan Electric Railway: Advanced Technology That Dominated the Railway Hub
Feb 17, 2017
3 railways have been competing for dominance of the Osaka-Kyoto region since the 1920's. The Keihan Electric Railway's many S-curves made it the underdog against Japan Railway Comp
The Long Winter of Discontent: One Railway's Battle Against Snow
Mar 10, 2017
The Iiyama Line in Nagano Prefecture operates in one of Japan's snowiest regions. 7.85m of snow has been recorded along the line, which is the record among Japanese railways. Heavy
Dreams of a Texas Bullet Train: Future Plans for Japan's High-Speed Railways
Apr 7, 2017
Japan's high-speed rail system, the shinkansen, may soon be flying across the U.S., with plans to connect 2 major cities in Texas. Traveling between Dallas and Houston now takes up
Using Railways to Promote Local Tourism: Kyushu Railway Company's Strategy
Apr 14, 2017
There are currently over 100 tourist trains in service throughout Japan. Among the various companies operating tourist trains, the Kyushu Railway Company, also known as JR Kyushu,
Toden Arakawa Line: A Hidden Gem for Tourists from Overseas
May 12, 2017
The Toden Arakawa Line is a streetcar service in the center of Tokyo. There are over 30 stops on the 12.2km line, and transports over 16.6 million people annually. Throughout the y
All the Comfort You Require: Onboard Services on Japanese Trains
May 19, 2017
From high-speed Shinkansen to tourist trains operated by local railways, onboard trolley services are available on various trains, and is a unique service in Japan. In this program
The Unsung Hero of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel Trains
Jun 16, 2017
Series Kiha 40 diesel trains were mass-produced in the late 1970's, and were highly valued on non-electrified lines. These workhorses are made from durable mild steel, and even aft
Airport Express Lines: How Competition Is Improving the Ride Into the City
Jul 14, 2017
At Narita and Kansai International Airports, railways providing access into the city must constantly offer better services at lower prices to maintain their market share. JR East's
Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in Japan
Jul 21, 2017
15 million people commute in and out of Tokyo every day, and most of them now use prepaid e-money cards. Because one card can be recognized by multiple transport companies, the sys
HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New Heights
Aug 11, 2017
"HIGH RAIL 1375" is JR East's newest tourist train, which started operating in July 2017. The train runs on the JR Koumi Line through the mountains of Nagano and Yamanashi Prefectu
Train Suite Shiki-shima: The High-Tech Luxury Cruise Train
Sep 8, 2017
May 2017 saw the launch of JR East's new cruise train, "Train Suite Shiki-shima". "Cruise trains" are a new type of luxury train that stop at sightseeing spots in Japan. "Train Sui
A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival
Sep 15, 2017
From August 2017, TOBU Railway started operating "SL TAIJU"; a tourist steam train and the first steam service on the railway for 50 years. TOBU Railway discontinued steam services
Rediscovering Old Horizons: Preservation and Utilization of Railway Heritage
Oct 6, 2017
Preservation activities are ongoing for old stations and trains that contributed to the modernization of Japan, as they are a vital part of history. Recent examples include an old
Hankyu Corporation: A Leading Private Railway Company's Business Model
Oct 20, 2017
Hankyu Corporation in Osaka, Japan's second largest metropolitan area, has successfully increased ridership by using diversified business strategies along their railway lines; from
Advanced Urban Travel: Japan's Monorail Systems
Nov 17, 2017
1957 saw the opening of Japan's first monorail. 60 years on, Japan is a world leader in monorail technology with 11 lines currently in operation covering a distance of 100km. In th
Safeguarding the System: Maintaining JR Central's Conventional Line
Dec 15, 2017
JR Central, which operates the Japanese high-speed "Tokaido Shinkansen", also operates 12 conventional lines totaling 1,420km. To ensure stable operation, state-of-the-art equipmen