Description

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This book is the first book written in English about the secret story of the birth of the Shinkansen in Japan and its subsequent developments. The author, Mr. Shuichiro Yamanouchi, a former chairman of East Japan Railway (JR East), addresses what the essence of Shinkansen technology is and how it could be achieved in such a short time. And the book, written based on his long experience in railway engineering and management, gives readers a bird's-eye view of the Japanese railway as a whole, and the technical philosophy of his great career behind it.

In this book, its whole picture is clarified, that is, the world's first 200 km/h running, dealing with troubles after the opening, and development of the 300 km/h commercial operation after that, including the failure stories encountered in the process. These gave a big stimulation to the development of other high-speed railways, and this book helps readers to learn about the accumulated experiences of Japanese high-speed railways that have not been revealed so far, such as railway safety, noise against the environment, railway privatization, harmonization of management and engineering, and so forth."

About the Author

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Shuichiro Yamanouchi graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Tokyo in 1956 and then directly joined Japan National Railways. He worked as a director general in Tokyo North Railway Administration Bureau and Head Office Operation Bureau. And then as a managing director worked in Japan National Railways. In 1996, he was appointed to vice president in International Union of Railways (UIC). And in 2000, as a chairman, he work in National Space Development Agency of Japan.Tadamasa Nagai graduated from the Division of Mechanical engineering in Tohoku University and then joined Japan National Railways. He was working as a general manager at Train Control Center in Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen Operation Headquarters and at Operation Department in Sendai Railway Administration Bureau. And also he was a technical advisor at the Japan Railway Technical Service and Japan International Consultants Co.