60th Anniversary of the Tokaido Shinkansen: Giant Commemorative Panel at Shinagawa Station – Nakagawa Brothers Share Anecdotes from Their Early Days

JR Central started displaying a large illustration panel at Shinagawa Station on June 25th to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen. The unveiling ceremony was held at the station with children’s book illustrator Noritake Suzuki, the comedic duo Nakagawa Brothers – Tsuyoshi and Reiji Nakagawa, and the stationmaster of Shinagawa Station, Nobuhide Nagakishi, presenting a talk show centered around stories about the Shinkansen.

The panel, which is displayed at the north concourse of Shinagawa Station, measures 8 meters in width and 4.5 meters in height. According to Suzuki, the concept focuses on passengers rather than the Shinkansen system or hardware, encapsulating travelers ranging from tourists and businesspeople to families and students taking entrance exams, all within the number “60”. The window scenes include Tokyo Tower, Sagami Bay, Mount Fuji, and To-ji Temple, among other landscapes along the line, as well as local specialties like siu mai bento, unagi pie, and “Shinkansen Awesome Katai Ice”.

Suzuki mentioned that obtaining permission for product illustrations can be challenging but received positive responses from many companies for this project, expressing the joy in creating this piece and feeling the power of the Shinkansen.

▲(From left) Stationmaster of JR Central Shinagawa Station Nobuhide Nagakishi, Nakagawa Brothers Tsuyoshi and Reiji, children’s book illustrator Noritake Suzuki

Upon seeing the unveiled panel, the Nakagawa Brothers reminisced about memorable illustrations and shared stories from their youth, including their first nationwide TV gig trip to Tokyo on the Shinkansen, feeling the pressure as they approached Tokyo, and recalling the era before Shinagawa Station opened in 2003.

When asked about what the Tokaido Shinkansen represents, Stationmaster Nagakishi replied, “carrying dreams,” highlighting that the approximately 7 billion passengers over the years all boarded with dreams and aspirations. Suzuki shared a surprising detail of having obtained a Shinkansen driver’s license and driving the Shinkansen around 2001.

Tsuyoshi described the Shinkansen as a “flat place” where one can take a breather between work, while Reiji, known for his love of trains, reflected on the fulfillment of his childhood dream of riding the Shinkansen, now a regular journey for him between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

The Tokaido Shinkansen, which started operations on October 1, 1964, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. JR Central has launched a special website announcing various commemorative events and merchandise sales.

▲Reiji Nakagawa imitating a person drinking beer on the Shinkansen