The global coronavirus pandemic has severely restricted people's movement. As a result, times continue to be challenging for the tourism and transportation industries. Of course, high-speed rail is no exception. Even under such circumstances, high-speed rail continues to operate, believing that "it's always darkest before dawn". In March of this year, a special Shinkansen carrying the hopes for the future operated through the Kyushu region as a glittering shooting star.

The Kyushu Shinkansen opened fully on March 11th, 2011, the day after the Great East Japan Earthquake, which caused tremendous damage to Japan’s Kanto and Tohoku regions. The Kyushu Shinkansen was not critically damaged by that earthquake, but, alas, during the Kumamoto Earthquake on April 14th, 2016, a deadhead Shinkansen train heading back to the yard derailed. This gave the impression that it would take a long time for service to be fully restored. Fortunately, stringent seismic standards instituted in the wake of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 prevented major structures from suffering serious damage in Kyushu. In addition, as a result of concerted restoration efforts by other railway operators, the Kyushu Shinkansen was able resume operations much quicker than anticipated.

Overcoming many difficulties, the Kyushu Shinkansen celebrated its 10th anniversary in March 2021. Kyushu Railway Company decided to run a special one-night-only Shinkansen (the “Nagareboshi Shinkansen”), not only to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Kyushu Shinkansen, but also in memory of those who suffered damage in the Great East Japan Earthquake and in anticipation of the end of the pandemic.

The first and last cars of this special Shinkansen were decorated with a festive wrapping, and 777 wishes were posted inside and outside the train, chosen from a total of 8,350 wishes collected from people from all over the country. Carrying many people's wishes, this special Shinkansen departed from Kagoshima-Chuo Station for Hakata Station, all the while casting beams of light from its windows in seven colors. More than 2,000 people attended a viewing event held at Chikugo Regional Park, where the Shinkansen briefly stopped. During the event, a search-light was illuminated and music was broadcast from the windows of the Shinkansen while fireworks filled the night sky.
　
A special movie of the Nagareboshi Shinkansen, which carried people's hope for the future, can be found in the following link.
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2002jGlh7yU>

Although the Nagareboshi Shinkansen was a one-night-event, it gave courage and hope to many people. We at IHRA look forward with great anticipation to the day when people can move freely again. Until that time, as always, the Shinkansen will faithfully continue its operation.