Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Tramway Opens

On June 1, 1889, the Tokyo-Yokohama Electric Tramway inaugurated Japan's first electric railway, running 18 km between Shimbashi in Tokyo and Yokohama. Powered by overhead trolley wire and using imported American equipment, the line carried both passengers and freight at speeds up to 25 km/h. The project overcame significant engineering challenges, including steep grades and frequent typhoons, and demonstrated the viability of electric traction in a monsoon climate. Its success encouraged rapid adoption of electric streetcars across Japanese cities and influenced the later development of the nation's extensive suburban rail network.