Main content
Japan's Bullet Train
Japanese railways launched the fastest train the world had ever seen in October 1964, just a week before the Tokyo Olympics got underway.
On 1 October 1964, the fastest train the world had ever seen was launched in Japan. The first Shinkansen, or bullet train, ran between Tokyo and Osaka, and had a top speed of 210km per hour. Lucy Burns spoke to Isao Makibayashi, one of the train's first drivers.
This is a rebroadcast
(Photo: Shinkansen, or bullet train. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images)
Last on
Tue 27 Jul 202102:50GMT
BBC World Service
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Mon 26 Jul 202107:50GMTBBC World Service
- Mon 26 Jul 202111:50GMTBBC World Service Australasia, Online, Americas and the Caribbean & News Internet only
- Mon 26 Jul 202117:50GMTBBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Tue 27 Jul 202102:50GMTBBC World Service
Featured in...
![]()
Inventions, technology and AI—Witness History
How groundbreaking ideas were brought to life
Podcast
![]()
Witness History
The story of our times, told by the people who were there


