Japan's Most Controversial Otaku - Train Fans Deep Dive
Every few years, something about Japanese trains seems to go viral online, but none of those stories ever got the same reach as this video. Now, if you don't understand Japanese or know much about the train scene here, then I'm sure you are very confused right now. Let me explain. This video is sponsored by my Japan ebook travel guide, "Beyond The Tourist Trail" (more on that later). If there's one thing Japan has become famous for overseas, it's their trains. They're always on time, they're super clean, and there is a huge variety of them. Oh my gosh, let's go!
In a country that's become somewhat famous for its super fans, otherwise known as otaku, it should come as no surprise that there is also a thriving train scene here. In Japan, they're known as tetsudo fans or tetsudo otaku, which translates roughly to "railway fan." "Otaku" is kind of a catch-all phrase that describes people with consuming interests, particularly in anime, manga, video games, or computers. It's had a negative connotation in the past, but more and more these days, it seems like people are starting to use it just as a way to describe something that they're really passionate about. In this 2019 study, research showed that of the nearly 850 people asked, the four most common otaku in Japan are fans of anime, airplanes, manga, and trains. And if you're looking at just the male population,
trains are ranked as the second most common group of fans. This research was, however, conducted by an airline travel agency, so it's not the most reliable source, but it is the only one that we've got, so we're just going to go off that for now. Now, of course, there are train fans in every country. There are countless YouTube channels, blogs, meetups, all dedicated to different models, sounds, merchandise, and toys. We've got a lot of expat Great British people who come over, and they recognize it straight away. You know, they've got the colors right, you've
got the greens right. But it's been said that in Japan, the rail fans can be on another level. In Japan's train scene, there's said to be over 35 different subcategories of rail fans, including standouts such as chibi-tetsu, which is young fans in training, mama-tetsu, which is for all the moms who take their kids to see the trains and have become somewhat of a fan themselves, and onkyo-tetsu, which are fans of the sounds that trains make. Now, I'm not too sure how common or official any of these categories are, but the three main categories that most rail fans would fall under would be nori-tetsu, people who enjoy riding the trains; people who like studying the train timetables; and the one that most people think of when they think of rail fans in Japan, the tori-tetsu, the ones who enjoy taking pictures of trains. Now, personally for me, trains have never really sparked my interest in that way. I've never felt any kind of pull or desire to learn more about them. But that was until I learned all about Dr. Yellow. So, I've already made a whole YouTube short about Dr. Yellow, so go and watch that later. But a quick rundown:
there's only a couple of them, they're super rare, they run tests and diagnose problems on the Shinkansen tracks in Japan, and it makes me uncharacteristically excited. I found it, Dr. Yellow, looking great. It's really like- omg it’s leaving! There are so many kids; it's really, really cute. Like all these dads and moms bringing their kids to come and see the train. It's very endearing, it's really, really lovely, actually. Yeah, it really is like meeting a local celebrity. There are just so many people lining up to take photos and videos, including myself. It's very cool.
Rail fans in Japan range from young to old, and Japan's extensive list of amazing trains means that there's always some new model or event to look forward to. It could be a reason for why the rail fandom is so strong here. The trains are just really, really good. What do you guys think about trains in Japan? They're awesome, amazing, access here is phenomenal. The quality is phenomenal, everything's on time. But another reason that the tori-tetsu is well known is because this particular group of fans has been in the news for some not so great reasons. There have been news reports of tori-tetsu trespassing to get photos, cutting down trees on private property to get unobstructed views, blocking the pathway, and harassing people on the streets for accidentally getting in the way of their shot.
Which brings me to the video that you saw earlier: This was apparently a very rare train and a man on his bicycle turned around the corner at the same time as the train, thus ruining their pictures. It absolutely blew up online and it was turned into a number of memes, artworks, and recreations. The man in the video, his name was Dylan, and according to him, he says that it was all just an accident and a misunderstanding. That he turned the corner on his bike and, surprise, there's a group of photographers there. Um, personally,
I don't know if I really buy that reason. It's like he's got his hand in the air, and he's a local from the area as well. So personally, I don't really buy it, but that is besides the point. The point is that rail fans in Japan can get extremely passionate about their hobby.
Toritetsu have been around for years in Japan, but with a sudden increase in decent camera gear, the barrier to entry has gotten lower. Another reason that's been said to explain the increase in bad behavior is that these days, trains in Japan retire less frequently. A retiring train's last run is often seen as a big event that many people would go out to shoot. So now, there are just larger crowds at each location, leading to an increasingly competitive environment. Some companies have started to offer paid opportunities to shoot rare retired trains in Japan, like J.R West, that once charged fans a hundred dollars for a private photo shoot with their trains. There
were a hundred tickets for sale, but apparently, they sold out in under five minutes. One person said when interviewed, "I've seen some nuisance behavior, but I think it's in the tori-tetsu's true nature to enjoy taking the photos quietly. For a photographer like me who really doesn't like the brutally competitive atmosphere that's developed at other train shooting spots, it's really nice to have photo sessions where I can calmly take my pictures, even if I have to pay." I think another possible explanation for the general public's recent dislike of this fandom is that it's a very public hobby. Any other hobbies that you've got, like anime, manga, movies, sports, whatever it is, most people are free to just enjoy those things at home, by yourself, away from the public eye. But taking pictures of trains, you have to be outside amongst the crowds, amongst people that are just trying to get to work on time. You can definitely see the
same disliking influencers who film TikToks in public. It's also worth noting that the link between a love for trains and autism has been well researched and documented. Everybody is different, but for someone with autism, they might find that the repetitive, predictable, and rhythmical nature of trains can be incredibly calming. One article states that the interest is more about distracting their constantly busy, overloaded minds with stimuli, similar to how some people may be calmed by watching and listening to thunderstorms. Of course, not everyone who loves trains falls into this category, but it is worth noting. I'll leave a link to the article down below. So, going back to the guys in that first video, personally, I feel like some of the reactions from some of the really hardcore train fans in these situations are a little bit over the top.
Um, but I'm definitely starting to see how this kind of competitive environment can really create a high-stress atmosphere. Does that now mean that they are free to harass people in public and become a nuisance? Of course not. At the end of the day, we're all in control of our own actions and reactions. But I do think that, like most things online that have a really bad reputation, it's usually just a very loud minority that's ruining it for the rest of them. I truly think that most people just want to enjoy taking pictures of the trains. So, Chris and I are in kind of Oita prefecture, and we've set up a little camera on the tripods here—Oh! Just kidding. Oh Chris!
Stop! There's only one train that goes through here anyway. There's a shot that we both want to get, so we're researching on Google Maps, trying to figure out what time it leaves the previous station, where it's going to end up at this station. You're trying to figure out roughly what time it's going to come through the tunnel, and it's kind of fun to figure out the timing of it and the best angle. Yeah, it's like a mission, like a challenge. You can kind of see the excitement aspect, especially if there's a rare train coming through or, you know, a particular shot that you've been wanting to get or something like that. It's also Hannah's birthday today, happy birthday! It's my birthday today, yay! The tension is killing me.
Let's go! How is it? Yeah, pretty cool! Yeah, oh, very nice! Chris and I also just randomly came across these real-life Thomas the Tank Engine trains that actually run on the tracks. Oh my gosh, let's go! We bought ourselves a little platform ticket for 150 yen. *hiccup* I've got the hiccups so bad right now. I was holding it in, I was like, yeah, I did it! Chris and I also went to the largest Railway Museum in Japan, which luckily for us was in Kyoto, just to see what it's all about, learn a bit more about trains, and meet a few more fans. The place is massive! Even the building is modeled after a train. There
are so many train carriages inside the building. It's massive, it's so big, it's overwhelming. As a kid, I was always into big machines, and as I've grown, the more I've become enamored with public transit, but also, I'm a tech guy interweaving tech into trains and then innovating that into public transit systems. Also, like the mechanics, yeah, the trains, the designs, especially coming here where you can see all the different kinds, they represent history. Obviously, you can learn it from textbooks or the internet, but I think coming to Japan and actually experiencing a piece of Japanese history for yourself is really cool.
Chris and I are now out towards Fuji area now. I thought you just farted! There's a spot here that's apparently quite famous because the Shinkansen flies right past it, so you can get a shot of Fuji and the Shinkansen, and there's a lot of wildflowers, I guess, just growing in the field in front of it. That is pretty cool. The sound it makes as it flies down the tracks is actually very cool. Did you get it? Oh, cool! Yeah, good job.
So, even though up until this point in my life, trains have never really taken center stage in my eyes, in researching this video and meeting lots of different people, I am really, really, really starting to see the appeal. And now, I have a full list of trains that I want to see in person and maybe even ride on. So, let's talk about them! Starting with the Aru Ressha, this whimsical-looking train looks like it's straight out of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Next up is the Sunrise Express, an absolute fridge of a train that actually has a really beautiful interior. It's an overnight train, which I would love to take in Japan. I've taken many buses, but no trains, and now I'm really invested in trains.
Next on the list is the Limited Express Fuji Excursion. It goes around Mount Fuji, which I obviously love. It doesn't have anything really special inside, but I just think the outside of it looks pretty cool. And then we have the Twilight Express Mizukaze, which I love for more reasons than just the name. It looks like it's got one of those American football helmet things on. I don't know, it just looks cool. Gladiator, that's what I was looking for. It looks like a gladiator!
Quick update: We looked up the Twilight Express Mizukaze online. It looks beautiful inside, by the way. There's a suite with your own bedroom and bathroom, and even a bath on board. Crazy! We looked up the price, and for one room for two people, I'm pretty sure it's
like eight thousand dollars per person. So, I guess it would forever have to be a dream. We also have the Chiba Monorail, which is obviously amazing because it's underneath instead of on top of the monorail. I just think that's really cool. Next up, we have the Nankai Airport Express Train, which I think goes to Osaka Airport. It's crazy because I go to Osaka Airport all the time, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen this train before. Or maybe I have,
and I just wasn't interested at the time. But now, I am. It just looks cool. It looks like a freaking gladiator. How good! And last but certainly not least, there's this absolute beast of a train. I don't know if you can even call it a train. It's... I don't think people actually ride it. It's just a snow plow that removes all of the snow during heavy snow seasons in Hokkaido. I don't think I have to explain why I think it's cool. I just really want to take a picture of it, along with Dr. Yellow going past Mount Fuji. That would be perfect.
But yeah, those are my favorite trains. Thank you for listening to my presentation. If you're a rail fan yourself and plan to visit Japan, then you're in for an absolute treat. I highly recommend checking out one of the many Railway Museums in Japan, especially the Kyoto Railway Museum, which is the largest and newest of them all. It's very family-friendly, and I think kids will especially love it. If you'd like to do some Dr. Yellow hunting, it may take a bit of extra effort, but it's surprisingly more common than you'd think. Dr. Yellow passes through Tokyo, Osaka, and Hakata stations a few times a month. I will
link a website down below that predicts the times it's going to arrive. It's in Japanese, but if you use Google Chrome, it will automatically translate it to your desired language. Viewing Dr. Yellow from the station platform is completely fine, as long as you don't step past the yellow line or try to touch the train in any way. Just enjoy it from a distance,
take some photos. And I also have this photo of Dr. Yellow that I took last year, along with Chris's photo of the Shinkansen in front of Mount Fuji, both available as a print on my website. There's a link in the description if you would like to purchase them. If you'd like to ride any of the Thomas the Tank Engine trains in Shizuoka Prefecture, I'll leave a link to the schedule on the website down below. It's in Japanese, so again,
use Google Chrome. There are a number of other rare trains in Japan, but those timetables can be a little difficult to navigate if you don't speak Japanese, unfortunately. But if you know some resources about where people can find more information on trains in Japan, please link them in the comments down below for other people. Aside from that, if you're coming to Japan
and would like to get off the beaten track and experience some truly unique things, I think you're going to absolutely love my travel guide, "Beyond The Tourist Trail," which is available now on my website. "Beyond The Tourist Trail" is my e-book travel guide with over 150 pages of 20 top hidden gems and 100+ extra off-the-beaten-track locations. I've laid out all the research for you, every way to get there with trains or a rental car, created maps, itineraries, and even translated entire bus schedules. So, there's no guessing required. I have been living in Japan for over eight years now, and I've personally traveled to every single hidden gem listed in this travel guide, sometimes multiple times. So, I know that my advice is accurate, realistic, and thorough. If you're coming to Japan and want to avoid the crowds,
explore, and go further than the average tourist does, then you're going to love my travel guide, "Beyond The Tourist Trail," available now on my website. There's a link for it in the description down below. Thank you so much for the support! And with that, that is the end of this video. I really hope you liked it. I thoroughly enjoyed creating it and diving deep into this topic. It's very interesting to me, and it's just really fun to discover all these new things that happen right around us, all the time, in Japan. I'm excited to keep making more videos like this, so I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know what you thought in the comments down below. Please
subscribe if you're not already. I know that most people who watch my videos are not subscribed, so if you've watched it all the way to the end, I would appreciate it if you subscribed and a like and that is all. Thank you so much for watching, and I'll see you guys next time. Bye!
2023-06-27 11:52
