INDEX
Chasing colorful 1980s railroads across the country
Takano: I was interested in the “Special Feature: Where Do the Express Trains Go” in “Railway Journal ’81”. What is this?
Risa: In following the 1980s, I also fell in love with railroads. I am what is called an “Train geek” and I like to research the railroads of the 1980s in “Railway Journal” among them. This is my favorite express train, the 185 (Ippago) series.
Celeina: I don’t know anything about trains at all (haha).
Takano: What is the attraction?
Risa: When I was born, most trains were silver stainless steel cars, but the old Japanese National Railways were made of iron, so they were colorfully painted, and I got into them because I thought they looked cute.
Takano: The design is indeed pretty.
Celeina：They are colorful when you look at them like this.
Takano: Do they still remain vehicles from the 1980s?
Risa:They remain. I sometimes go after them and take pictures in the countryside.
Celeina：That’s very authentic.
Risa: The cars that were in use in 1980 still remain in the countryside and are still running, so I research and follow them.
Takano: Is your favorite train called the “101 Series”?
Risa:Yes, the 101 and 103 series. This is the same as what I mentioned earlier, and I think those of you who are in your 40s or older have seen them running, but the cars that used to run as the so-called Yamanote Line or Sobu Line had the entire body painted yellow or green. When I saw that, I was shocked at how cute the old Yamanote Line used to be, and that’s when I started getting into trains.
Celeina：Risa, you love not only music and fashion, but also trains in the 1980s.
Risa: I was born in 2001, and I feel that the 1980s was a bit more booming than today, and fashion and culture were all on the rise. The way fashion was changing and the speed at which new gadgets and walkmans were coming out is very appealing to me.
Celeina：There is a sense of exuberance.
Takano: The economy is booming, and there is a sense that many cultures are about to take off.
Risa: It is colorful and very attractive.
Takano: It was a wonderful talk. I would like to play a song at this point, the one you mentioned earlier. Please introduce the song from Lisa.
Risa: It is “TECHNOPOLIS” by YELLOW MAGIC ORCHESTRA.
