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. The show returned from the hiatus in May 2021.

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.

Presenters

Presenter: Hiro Ueno (2025-) Presenter: Miki Clark (2024-) Presenter: Cathy Cat (2021-2025) Commentators: Takagi Ryo of Kogakuin University (2015-) Early episodes also included various female tarento who like railways (see "Guest" column of the episode list)

Previous presenters 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 WorldFirst broadcast dateBS1First broadcast dateTitleJapanese titleGuest1March 8, 2015March 11, 2015The Railway Revival: 4 years after the Great Earthquake -2April 9, 2015April 18, 2015The New Shinkansen: Technology and Economic EffectsJessica Claros3May 14, 2015May 11, 2015Isumi Railway: There's Nothing Here!Charlotte Kate Fox4June 12, 2015May 31, 2015Diesel Hybrid Trains: Japan's World-Leading TechnologyRei Kitada5July 10, 2015June 7, 2015Battery Hybrid Trains: Development of the Global TechnologyRei Kitada6August 14, 2015July 5, 2015Japan's Subway Technology in High Density OperationRei Kitada7October 9, 2015September 6, 2015The Secret of Operating Preserved Steam LocomotivesRena Matsui8November 13, 2015November 22, 2015Special Preview - Hokkaido Shinkansen: Hopes and ChallengesRena Matsui9December 4, 2015June 29, 2015Yamanote Line: The Green Rotating Heart of Tokyo10January 15, 2016August 3, 2016Seven Stars in Kyushu: The Local Revitalizing Cruise TrainSaya Ichikawa11February 12, 2016August 30, 2016Second Chances for Used Trains in Southeast Asia12March 11, 2016April 27, 2016Earthquake Safety: What 5 Years has Taught Us13April 8, 2016April 13, 2016Superconducting Maglev: The Extreme Speeds of Tomorrow14April 15, 2016April 20, 2016Ekiben: A True Rail Traveling Companion15May 13, 2016May 18, 2016Premium Express Shimakaze: A Train of Dreams to Reality16May 20, 2016May 25, 2016The Cat Stationmaster Who Rescued a Railway17June 10, 2016June 19, 2016New Generation Express: Journey to Speed and Comfortability18June 17, 2016June 21, 2016The Future of Rail Freight Transport19July 15, 2016July 20, 2016Light Rail Vehicles: Modern Trams Reshaping Urban Transit20July 22, 2016July 27, 2016Kyoto Railway Museum: The Story of Rail Transport in Japan21August 5, 2016August 24, 2016Keikyu: The Strive for World-Class Rail Operation22September 16, 2016October 4, 2016World-Class Maintenance: The Backbone of Shinkansen Operations23October 7, 2016November 9, 2016Railways Back on Track: Six Months after the Kumamoto Earthquakes24October 14, 2016November 23, 2016Future Prospects Made in the Past: JR East's Steam Loco Strategy25November 11, 2016December 11, 2016Picking Up the Pace: JR Shikoku's Tactics for Survival26December 9, 2016December 21, 2016The Seeds of Success: Kyoto's Sagano Scenic Railway27January 13, 2017February 1, 2017Turning Problems into Opportunities: The Tsugaru Railway's Strategy28January 20, 2017February 8, 2017Japan's World-Class Rail and Wheels29February 17, 2017March 1, 2017Keihan Electric Railway: Advanced Technology that Dominated the Railway Hub30March 10, 2017March 15, 2017The Long Winter of Discontent: One Railway's Battle against Snow31April 7, 2017April 12, 2017Dreams of a Texas Bullet Train: Future Plans for Japan's High-Speed RailwaysSarah MacDonald32April 14, 2017April 19, 2017Using Railways to Promote Local Tourism: Kyushu Railway Company's StrategySarah MacDonald33May 12, 2017May 17, 2017Toden Arakawa Line: A Hidden Gem for Tourists from OverseasSarah MacDonald34May 19, 2017June 7, 2017All the Comfort You Require: Onboard Services on Japanese TrainsSarah MacDonald35June 16, 2017July 5, 2017The Unsung Hero of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel TrainsSarah MacDonald (reporter)36July 14, 2017August 23, 2017Airport Express Lines: How Competition is Improving the Ride into the CitySarah MacDonald37August 4, 2017September 20, 2017Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in JapanSarah MacDonald38August 11, 2017September 27, 2017HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New HeightsSarah MacDonald (reporter)39September 8, 2017October 4, 2017Train Suite Shiki-shima: The High-Tech Luxury Cruise Train40September 15, 2017October 11, 2017A Long-Awaited Whistle: Tobu Railway's Steam Service Revival41October 6, 2017October 24, 2017Rediscovering Old Horizons: Preservation and Utilization of Railway Heritage42October 20, 2017November 8, 2017Hankyu Corporation: A Leading Private Railway Company's Business Model43November 17, 2017December 5, 2017Advanced Urban Travel: Japan's Monorail Systems44December 15, 2017January 10, 2018Safeguarding the System: JR Central's Conventional Line45January 12, 2018January 31, 2018Driving Forward with Steam: Oigawa Railway's StrategyMiki Clark46January 19, 2018February 7, 2018Hokuriku Shinkansen Update: Re-assessing the Effects and Challenges 3 Years OnSarah MacDonald47February 16, 2018February 21, 2018JR OITA CITY: The Station Complex that Changed the Game(NHK Ōita newscaster)48March 2, 2018March 7, 2018Enoshima Electric Railway: A Good Old 10 km RideMiki Clark49April 6, 2018April 25, 2018A New Generation of Commuter Train: Tokyu Corporation's Series 202050April 20, 2018May 9, 2018The Ultimate in Comfort: New Limited Express Super AzusaMiki Clark51May 25, 2018June 13, 2018Tobu Railway's Revaty Express: Moving Forward to a Better NikkoMiki Clark52June 8, 2018June 27, 2018Gakunan Electric Train: A New Outlook in the Foothills of Mt. Fuji(NHK Shizuoka newscaster)53July 13, 2018August 1, 2018Kominato Railway: The Strategy of a Quaint Local Railway54July 20, 2018August 8, 2018The Golden Route to Hakone: Limited Express Romancecar and the Mountain Train55July 27, 2018August 15, 2018New-Look Railway Museum: A Wonderland of Japan's Railway History56September 21, 2018October 16, 2018Shinano Railway: Managing the Risks of the Next 30 Years57September 28, 2018October 24, 2018Chartered Tour Trains: Special Times for Special Tours58October 19, 2018November 7, 2018Nagoya Railroad: Advancing with Easy Airport Access and a Famous Castle Town59October 26, 2018November 14, 2018JR Central: Enticing Tourists with Helpful Services & Events60November 9, 2018December 5, 2018Iwate Galaxy Railway: Launching Services for the Community61November 23, 2018December 12, 2018Echizen Railway:　Heading into the Future with the Community Onboard62December 21, 2018January 16, 2019Seibu Railway: Setting its Sights on the Chichibu Region63January 18, 2019January 30, 2019New Year Trains: Beginning the New Year with a Journey64February 8, 2019February 20, 2019JR Gono Line: A Popular Local Line Worth the Journey65February 15, 2019March 20, 2019Amaterasu Railway: A Tourist Attraction Making the Most of a Discontinued Line(NHK Miyazaki newscaster)66March 29, 2019May 1, 2019Yamanote Line: Tokyo's Ever Evolving Loop Line67April 12, 2019May 15, 2019JR Hokkaido's Yubari Line: A Beloved Local Line Comes to an End68April 26, 2019May 29, 2019Tokyo Metro: A Subway Network On Time & On Track69May 24, 2019July 10, 2019Nishi-Nippon Railroad: Fine Dining on an Even Finer Tourist Train70May 31, 2019July 24, 2019Hiroshima Electric Railway: On Track on the Streets71June 28, 2019August 21, 2019Hankai Tramway: Osaka's One & Only Tram Network72July 12, 2019September 18, 2019Choshi Electric Railway: Finding New Ways to Get Back on Track73July 26, 2019October 9, 2019JR Osaka Loop Line: Developing a Better, More User-Friendly Line74September 13, 2019November 13, 2019Kyoto Tango Railway: A Bus Company to the Rescue75September 27, 2019December 11, 2019South Hokkaido Railway: A Tourist Train Developed by a Tour Company76October 11, 2019January 8, 2020Chizu Express: A Top Tier Third Sector Railway77October 25, 2019February 26, 2020Hitachinaka Seaside Railway: Pulling Together with the Local Community78November 8, 2019March 25, 2020JR's Ekinaka Development Project: A New Lifestyle Below the Chuo Line79November 22, 2019February 5, 2020Introducing the N700S: JR Central's Next-Generation Shinkansen80December 13, 2019February 12, 2020New Technology Opening the Future of the Railway81December 27, 2019February 19, 2020Reviewing the New Trains of 201982January 17, 2020April 20, 2020Sunrise Seto and Izumo: The Last of the Overnight Sleeper TrainsDonna Burke83February 14, 2020May 13, 2020Echigo Tokimeki Railway: A Railway for Everyone84March 27, 2020June 10, 2020A Guide to Tokyo's Airport Access LinesMarie Yanaka85April 17, 2020September 16, 2020Kintetsu Railway's Hinotori: Challenging the Shinkansen with Comfort86May 1, 2020May 26, 2020Takanawa Gateway Station: The New Gateway to Tokyo87June 5, 2020June 17, 2020Securing the Future of Japan's Local Railways88July 10, 2020July 29, 2020The Blue Ribbon & Laurel Prize: Japan's Best New Trains89July 31, 2020August 5, 2020Bicycle Onboard: Cycling with JR EastMichael Rice90August 7, 2020October 7, 2020Heisei Chikuho Railway: A Tourist Train Recovering from the PandemicNaoka Ogata91September 18, 2020October 14, 2020Tsugaru Railway: Surviving the Coronavirus Pandemic

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

See also See the World by Train

References

External links