First electric streetcar line in Japan opens

On August 3, 1890, the Kyoto Electric Railway began operations with battery-powered cars on a 2.5-mile route between Kyoto Station and the city center. Engineer Ichisuke Fujioka led the project after studying American systems. The cars reached speeds of 8 mph and carried thousands daily, replacing horse-drawn trams. This innovation preceded widespread electrification across Japan and influenced the development of the nation's extensive rail network. It demonstrated the viability of electric traction in dense urban areas and helped modernize Kyoto during the Meiji era's rapid industrialization.