Nihon on the Net – 6/1/08

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:00:51 +0000

The little yellow happy face that was all the rage in the 1970s is back, but chic and not hippy.

Prime Minister Fukuda will give up wearing a tie to help save the environment and try to improve his flailing popularity.

Also in fashion, a look at how Japanese fashion was influences by the opening of Japan to the west 150 years ago. We might see flapper skirts and ‘hakama pants” in New York next year.

A Tokyo crane operator tells us about his job and how cranes get up on top those tall buildings under construction in Reaching from the skies.

Lastly, take a moment to check out some information on Tokyo’s newest subway route, the Fukutoshin line, which is set to open on June 14th.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia, Hihakama

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

Fukutoshin – Tokyo’s Newest Subway Line

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:00:05 +0000

Commuting from southwest Saitama prefecture to Ikebukuro and Shibuya will get a lot easier with the opening of the newest subway line in Tokyo. The brand new Fukutoshin line is due to open June 14 and is the 13th urban line in Tokyo. It will also be the last line constructed by Tokyo Metro and will utilize the modern looking 10,000 series train pictured below.

The Fukutoshin line is the deepest line of the 13 at 40 meters (131 feet) underground and it will be the first to offer express service. The express will make the run from Shibuya to Ikebukuro in 11 minutes and the local will take 16 minutes.

There are 16 stops on the Fukutoshin line and the line ~~is so new that it is not on~~ has now been added to the English Route Map (PDF) provided online by Tokyo Metro. Here is a list of the 16 stations with their city or ward in parenthesis:

F1 Wakōshi (Saitama)
F2 Chikatetsu-Narimasu (Itabashi, Tokyo)
F3 Chikatetsu-Akatsuka (Nerima, Tokyo)
F4 Heiwadai (Nerima, Tokyo)
F5 Hikawadai (Nerima, Tokyo)
F6 Kotake-Mukaihara (Nerima, Tokyo)
F7 Senkawa (Toshima, Tokyo)
F8 Kanamechō (Toshima, Tokyo)
F9 Ikebukuro (Toshima, Tokyo)
F10 Zōshigaya (Toshima, Tokyo)
F11 Nishi-Waseda (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
F12 Higashi-Shinjuku (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
F13 Shinjuku-sanchōme (Shinjuku, Tokyo)
F14 Kitasandō (Shibuya, Tokyo)
F15 Meiji-Jingūmae (Shibuya, Tokyo)
F16 Shibuya (Shibuya, Tokyo)

Recently a reporter with the Asahi Shimbum had an opportunity to preview the line and learn more about it’s construction. The article, Reporter digs up the dirt on a new subway line, is an well worth reading.

For more information on how to use the subway system in Tokyo you will want to read Taking the Subway in Tokyo – The Basics. It may help you if you have a chance to check out the new Fukutoshin line.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia, Tokyo-metro 10000
Station Name Source: Wikipedia, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line

Post from: The Tokyo Traveler

The Tokyo Traveler » Fukutoshin

Nihon on the Net – 6/1/08

Fukutoshin – Tokyo’s Newest Subway Line