An event was held in Isahaya City, Nagasaki Prefecture to walk along the Shinkansen tracks in an attempt to boost momentum toward the opening of the West Kyushu Shinkansen, which is scheduled for the fall of next year.
This event was held by Nagasaki Prefecture and Isahaya City, and about 1000 people selected from about 7,500 applicants inside and outside the prefecture participated.
A pre-departure ceremony was held at JR Isahaya Station, where the Shinkansen platform is located, and participants began walking on the already completed railroad tracks toward Nagasaki at the signal of Mayor Yukishige Okubo of Isahaya City.
Then, while slowly walking the 800-meter round-trip section, I took a picture of the scenery from the railroad track.
According to the Railway and Transportation Organization, which carries out the maintenance work on the West Kyushu Shinkansen, the work at Isahaya Station is almost complete, leaving some electrical equipment.
A boy in the third grade of elementary school who participated from Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, said, "I was impressed to see the Shinkansen track for the first time. I want to take the Shinkansen to Hokkaido."
A local woman in her 40s said, "I enjoyed walking as a memorial to my life. I want the Shinkansen to be easy to use."