Sanrio taking over the shinkansen!

One of the things I love most about Japan is hands down the bullet train. I’ve used it that much I really should invest some shares in JR, and I think when I eventually go back to the UK I’ll have some withdrawal issues.

Anyone who knows me knows my love for Hello Kitty too, so naturally when JR announced a limited edition Hello Kitty train, I died and went to cutesy heaven.
Thankfully I already had a trip to Osaka planned, so it worked out perfectly. Even if it hadn’t, you know I’d have made some excuse to get on it.

Pulling into the station all I could see was a wave of passengers swamping the platform to take pictures. While some were definitely surprised, most, like me, already knew what to expect and had planned our spot on the platform accordingly. Since the train only makes one round-trip per day, the cleaning time allowed for some ample photo taking before boarding. The exterior of the train is adorned with a large ribbon, pretty iconic for Hello Kitty, and is as pink as you’d expect. 

Although it’s the slowest of the shinkansens, there’s a reason for this, as it stops at every station between Shin Osaka and Hakata. This is because this specific train was designed to pay homage to all of the prefectures along JR’s western Japan route. 

Each car had a motif outside for each prefecture the train passes: Fukuoka, Yamaguchi, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, Hiroshima, Hyogo, and Osaka. All of which showed Hello Kitty holding a local delicacy.

The first car, Hello! Plaza, isn’t a passenger car, but rather a gift shop. Exhibitions are also held here focusing on two prefectures at a time, showcasing local foods and souvenirs from the regions.
When I rode the train, this space was dedicated to Shimane and Tottori, famous for their black shells and green apples. 

Being the two of the least populated prefectures in Japan, I can only hope that this train helps raise some awareness to some of these lesser known but just as beautiful areas that many travellers overlook.

The second car, Kawaii! Room, was a passenger car with unreserved seating, decked out to the max with Hello Kitty as far as the eye could see. I rode the train on a long weekend, so this area was a nightmare to navigate, and rather than fight my way to a seat, I’d booked a seat in advance further back.

Cars 2 to 8 aren’t as decorated, but attention to detail wasn’t overlooked, even in the more subtle spaces. From window screens and doors to toilet signs, everything had a special touch.

As is always the case in Japan, the little things really add to making the experience even more immersive. This shinkansen wasn’t an exception, with a special Hello Kitty melody playing upon arrival at the stations.

At Hakata station there is a themed café, which I’m yet to visit, and also a shop to buy themed ekiben (train lunchboxes) if you want to eat Hello Kitty as well as ride on her train. I resisted the urge, but that didn’t stop me from losing my restraint and buying some socks.

The shinkansen started began on June 30^th of this year, and while it was only scheduled until early November, the service has already been extended due to its popularity.
That’s right, expect pictures of my dad on a pink bullet train in the imminent future.

Summer, the time to refresh.

Summer is now over and classes are in full swing, so now I have time to reflect on my long vacation. As it is every year, summer in Kumamoto was positively soul destroying, but I think I am slowly (major emphasis on how slowly) getting used to living somewhere that makes me a sticky, nauseous mess for three months of the year. 

It’s been an unintentionally crafty summer break, starting with a visit to Mifune to make some pottery. Hidden down some of the quietest roads is the tiniest pottery studio, very rustic and family run.  Simona, Ruth and Sheridan decided to make bowls, Olivia a mug and I decided to make a vase. A risky choice that wouldn’t have gone as well without the guy coming to “fix” any issues, but I’m hoping it turns out all right. All I can hope for is that mine isn’t the one that explodes in the kiln and shatters everyone else’s. I nicknamed my vase Aso-kun for its resemblance to Mt. Aso, but I don’t need it to really embody its namesake. 

More recently I attended a glass art workshop, where I made a nice little holder decorated in coloured film. It looks exactly like stained glass, and it was the most therapeutic thing I’ve done in a while. I’ll be attending another next week where we can advance to slightly more intricate designs now that we have the basics down, and I’m hoping to make a Charles Rennie Mackintosh inspired rose design.

Despite still working every day, I’ve enjoyed rekindling friendships in summer that somewhat lost their way in the madness of the semester. Numerous nights were spent enjoying each other’s company, whether it be at BBQ’s, riverside picnics or even trips to the onsen. 

I’ve had a few dips in rivers and the sea throughout my gallivanting, even checking a new prefecture, Yamaguchi, off the list. Ironically, most Japanese visitors come to Tsunoshima to see the famous bridge and seldom spend time exploring the island. It was a fleeting road trip there and back in one day, but eating shaved ice on the beach and swimming in the bright blue water made me appreciate living in a country that is so diversely beautiful, no matter the season.

A huge amount of new faces came to Kumamoto this summer, something new for us all. The scariest thing is how much of a senpai I am now to the newbies, and that anything I tell them is taken so seriously with wide eyes and thanks. It’s made me realise how I’ve grown so much in the past two years here. It’s not been without struggles, mainly coming to terms with myself that I can’t change some aspects of Japanese culture as much as I’d like, but I know I wouldn’t change this experience for the world. The conflicts will only help me grow as a person.