Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Opens

On August 21, 1927, Tokyo's Ginza Line inaugurated Japan's inaugural subway service, running 2.2 kilometers from Ueno to Asakusa with electric multiple units built by Hitachi. Designed by engineer Tokuji Hayakawa amid rapid urbanization after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, the line featured cut-and-cover tunnels beneath busy streets to alleviate surface congestion. Initial trains carried 100,000 passengers on opening day, using 600-volt DC third-rail power. This innovation introduced modern urban transit concepts to Asia, reducing reliance on streetcars and inspiring post-WWII expansions. Key figures included Mayor Hidejiro Nagata, who championed the project for economic recovery. Its impact transformed Tokyo into a global metropolis with one of the world's densest rail networks, influencing subway designs worldwide.