Japanese train names used outside Japan.

[ben_issacs]

Folks, 

The train names 'Nozomi' and 'Hikari' are well known as Shinkansen express names.

Not so well known is that these names were used in the 1940's for express train outside the Japanese home  islands.

In late 1940, Expresses 'Nozomi' and "Hikari' ran between the port city of Pusan in Korea and Shinkyo (now Changchun) in Manchukyo, a distance of 1,530.4 km.

The Down  'Nozomi' left Pusan at 0800 hrs and arrived at Shinkyo next day at 1350 hrs., running time, 29 hrs. 50 min.

The Down ''Hikari' left Pusan at 1850 hr. and got to Shinkyo at 2212 hrs next day, running time 27 hrs, 22 min.

So, in those days the 'Hikari' was faster than the 'Nozomi'.

Both trains were steam hauled, locos changed at the  Korea-Manchukyo border, and would have been made up of a mixture of Korean Govt. and South Manchuria carriages, sleepers, sitting cars and a dining car.

A bit different to the present day trains of the same names!

Regards, 

Bill, 

Melbourne.

 

 

[chadbag]

Except at the time, Korea was considered (by Japan) to be part of greater Japan.   And Koreans were encouraged to use Japanese names and speak Japanese.

[ben_issacs]

Chadbag,

Yes, that's a reasonable explanation!

Regards, 

Bill, 

Melbourne.

 

[trainsforever8]

Let's not forget the Azuma that's in operation in the UK!