Launch of Japan's First Shinkansen Service

On June 22, 1964, just before the Tokyo Olympics, Japan National Railways launched the world's first dedicated high-speed rail service on the Tokaido Shinkansen. Designed by engineers like Hideo Shima, it used advanced electric multiple units to achieve unprecedented speeds and punctuality on a standard-gauge line built parallel to existing narrow-gauge tracks. This innovation addressed post-war congestion and symbolized Japan's economic miracle, inspiring high-speed networks worldwide while demonstrating the viability of dedicated passenger corridors separate from freight.