A Toden Streetcar Designed by Eiji Mitooka

The Toden Arakawa Line runs very close to Yahata Sushi.

It has become so familiar that I normally do not give it a second glance, but as a child I loved it and would go almost every day to watch it pass by.

One of the older streetcars on the line was recently refurbished.

What is more, it was designed by the renowned Eiji Mitooka.

As you may know, Mr. Mitooka is also known for designing JR Kyushu’s luxury sleeper train, Seven Stars in Kyushu.

I happened to come across this vehicle designed by Mr. Mitooka, and hurriedly snapped this photo.

I was not aiming to take the photo, so the composition is a complete mess, but I hope you can get a sense of the atmosphere.

Above all, the color is wonderful.

All the Toden streetcars were this color when the fifth-generation owner was a child, so it brings back such fond memories!

They had yellow bodies with a red band around them, but in this new design, it has become a thin line.

From what I saw in online news reports, the interior appears to be incredibly gorgeous—just what one would expect from a Mitooka design.

If I get a chance to ride it, I will take lots of photos inside and show them to you all.

Perhaps I should take a little trip on the Toden sometime.