👋 The second car is the “Kawaii! Room”. 🐱
May 21, 2018 11:18 AM   Subscribe

A Look Inside The Hello Kitty Bullet Train [Kotaku] “Previously, Kotaku reported that Japan is getting a Hello Kitty bullet train. All we saw was the outside. Now, we get concept art showing what inside the train looks like. The train will begin service between Osaka and Hakata on June 30. The train’s first car is called “Hello! Plaza!” and features a Hello Kitty shop, selling cute merchandise.”
posted by Fizz (27 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite
 
It means nothing, unless the crew must dress in theme park style Hello Kitty costumes
posted by thelonius at 11:28 AM on May 21, 2018 [2 favorites]


I look forward with extreme delight to all the publicity photos featuring local prefecture mascots.
posted by poffin boffin at 11:30 AM on May 21, 2018 [4 favorites]


When reached for comment, Gudetama seemed unimpressed and in fact would not get out of bed.
posted by Kafkaesque at 11:34 AM on May 21, 2018 [13 favorites]


If there's ever an Aggretsuko train, I will somehow come up with the funds to visit.
posted by asperity at 11:41 AM on May 21, 2018 [11 favorites]


Also, I just did some googling and this Gundam themed train exists and now my life is truly complete.

• Nankai Railway Collaborates with Gundam, Operating Char Aznable-Themed Train on the Rail
“The train is beautifully decorated with a design inspired by the most iconic character from the series, Char Aznable. Rapīt, ever since its installation, has had reputation of looking like Mobile Suit Zaku. With the Char version operating, now it’s officially a Mobile Suit train.”
posted by Fizz at 11:46 AM on May 21, 2018 [2 favorites]


I once went from Okayama to Marugame in an Anpanman train, just to take the train over the bridges to Shikoku. It was the longest I could do for a day trip from Kyoto.
posted by sukeban at 11:55 AM on May 21, 2018


My favorite tweet I saw in relation to this was "Snowpiercer, but it's this train"
posted by msbutah at 12:06 PM on May 21, 2018 [14 favorites]


For some reason I immediately tasted Pocky.
posted by carter at 12:11 PM on May 21, 2018 [2 favorites]


what kind of pocky though.
posted by poffin boffin at 12:12 PM on May 21, 2018


Strawberry of course!
posted by carter at 12:36 PM on May 21, 2018


Strawberry of course!

I was going to say cat-guts, but I think that'd be more in line with the Snowpiercer train.
posted by Fizz at 12:48 PM on May 21, 2018 [2 favorites]


Can you imagine the Aggretsuko commuter train?
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:55 PM on May 21, 2018 [3 favorites]


Matcha Pocky is the only Pocky.
posted by holborne at 2:11 PM on May 21, 2018


I would love a Miyazaki catbus-themed shinkansen.
posted by carter at 3:37 PM on May 21, 2018 [1 favorite]


I would love a Miyazaki catbus-themed shinkansen.

Enjoy.
posted by Fizz at 4:04 PM on May 21, 2018 [3 favorites]


I mean it's close.
posted by Fizz at 4:04 PM on May 21, 2018 [1 favorite]


Bullet Train

NEW TRUNK LINE.
posted by The Tensor at 4:16 PM on May 21, 2018


> Gundam themed train exists

Existed, past tense, sadly. That blog post was datelined 2014 and said the themed line was only until June 30 of that year.
posted by ardgedee at 5:04 PM on May 21, 2018




My first thought was "this is going to be absolutely wonderful when it's all grimy from running for half a decade". Then I read the part where it's only running until the end of September and I was sad.
posted by egypturnash at 8:19 PM on May 21, 2018




My first thought was "this is going to be absolutely wonderful when it's all grimy from running for half a decade". Then I read the part where it's only running until the end of September and I was sad.
Don't worry, it'll end up in some junkyard and it will slowly decay Fallout 4 style. Just like this.

I can't wait.
posted by Fizz at 8:32 PM on May 21, 2018 [3 favorites]


If you like Kitty-chan, you may be interested to know that each prefecture has at least one unique Kitty-chan keychain that you can't buy anywhere else. It's a good thing to collect, though not really my cup of tea. I wonder if they'll have the ones for Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and Fukuoka prefectures on board. I also wonder if the snack trolley woman will be forced to wear some awful pink costume, because that would be too much.
posted by Juso No Thankyou at 1:07 AM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]


Aw man, I was kind of excited about the new Crossrail line in London but now I'm really deflated that there's zero chance of it having a Hello Kitty bar.
posted by like_neon at 1:56 AM on May 22, 2018 [2 favorites]


My first thought was "this is going to be absolutely wonderful when it's all grimy from running for half a decade".

Come to France and take a TGV from Paris to Lyon! Enjoy 1980s style, half a decade later. They're still grey and blue and pink. No true-80's-orange ones left, unfortunately. Not very grimy either, I take them regularly.

I would definitely take a Hello Kitty train, and very especially an Aggretsuko Shinkansen.
posted by fraula at 3:43 AM on May 22, 2018


Ain't no catbus like a Burning Man catbus.

My favourite thing about this picture is the fire extinguisher tucked inside the doorway, a silent acknowledgement that
  1. There may be certain safety considerations in driving around a hot dusty desert in a van covered in thick plush fabric
  2. nobody wants a burning Burning Man catbus, man.
posted by zamboni at 5:25 AM on May 22, 2018 [5 favorites]


> I see your Hello Kitty train and raise you a fleet of Hello Kitty airplanes operated by Taiwan's EVA Air.

I call your EVA Air and raise EVA Shinkansen (more photos from JPRail)
posted by ardgedee at 5:22 PM on May 29, 2018


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