Latest news with #YoichiKise
Asahi Shimbun
16-07-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
Yamagata bullet train stoppage cause remains unidentified
An E8 series Shinkansen train halts on the tracks mid-journey due to a technical failure in Tochigi Prefecture on June 17. (Koichi Ueda) One month after technical failures halted the Yamagata Shinkansen Line, train operations remain significantly reduced, affecting tens of thousands of passengers and significantly disrupting regional tourism and transportation. Yoichi Kise, president of East Japan Railway Co. (JR East), apologized on July 15 for the inconvenience, as the operator has yet to identify a definitive cause of the malfunctions and resume normal operations. Direct service between Tokyo Station and Shinjo Station in Yamagata Prefecture has been reduced to a single round trip per day, with passengers often needing to transfer at Fukushima Station in between. JR East plans to increase the number to three round trips beginning July 19. Seat reservations, which typically can be made one month in advance, remain suspended for the busy Obon holiday period due to the uncertain timetable. The ongoing disruptions have dealt a significant blow to Yamagata's tourism industry, particularly during the popular cherry-picking season. According to prefectural officials, local accommodations have recorded at least 6,000 cancellations. Some residents and businesses have expressed frustration over what they perceive as insufficient follow-up support from JR East. "The biggest impact is on tourism and business travel," said Hideya Yano, who represents local chambers of commerce, on July 15 after urging the transportation ministry and JR East to take action. "It's impossible to plan ahead and connections are extremely inconvenient," he added. Yamagata Governor Mieko Yoshimura echoed public sentiment earlier this month, stating that some residents feel as though they've been abandoned. Concerns are also rising among stakeholders in the popular Ginzan Onsen spa resort in Obanazawa. "We're facing serious uncertainty about future bookings," said a spokesperson from the local tourism association. "There's a real fear that Yamagata is vanishing from travelers' destination lists." SAME CHIP SUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE The initial failures occurred on June 17, when four E8 series trains suffered malfunctions mid-journey between Tokyo and Yamagata. A critical power supply unit responsible for cooling the motor control system failed, causing the trains to become inoperable. A fifth train suffered a similar breakdown on June 30, raising concerns about a systemic issue in the new fleet that debuted last year. Investigations revealed that a specific semiconductor component within the power units had been damaged in each case. JR East engineers have since determined that each malfunction occurred under a specific combination of circuit boards and semiconductors. While they suspect the issues arose under particular environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, the root cause remains unknown. Currently, only six E8 trains remain in operation, coupled with other models. They are running exclusively on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line, which connects Tokyo Station and Shin-Aomori Station. The stretch between Fukushima Station and Shinjo Station–unique to the Yamagata Shinkansen Line–is currently serviced by older E3 Series trains. However, up to 37 train services are canceled daily due to a shortage of operational vehicles, affecting more than 250,000 passengers so far. (This article was compiled from reports by Ayateru Hosozawa, Koichi Anzai and Toru Saito.)
Business Wire
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
SkyDrive Secures ¥8.3 Billion in Pre-Series D Funding from Suzuki, JR East, JR Kyushu, and Others
TOYOTA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SkyDrive Inc. ('SkyDrive'), a leading eVTOL (*1) aircraft manufacturer based in Japan, today announced that it has raised ¥8.3 billion in Pre-Series D funding through a third-party allotment. This funding round was led by MUFG Bank, Ltd. ('MUFG'), with investments from Suzuki Motor Corporation ('Suzuki'), East Japan Railway Company ('JR East'), Kyushu Railway Company ('JR Kyushu'), and seven other companies. With this latest round, SkyDrive's cumulative funding now exceeds ¥43 billion. New Investors Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) East Japan Railway Company (JR East) UNIVANCE CORPORATION Returning Investors ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Inc. Obayashi Corporation The Kansai Electric Power Company, Incorporated SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION SuMi TRUST Innovation Investment LPS TOYODA IRON WORKS CO., LTD. NHK SPRING CO., LTD. MUFG Bank, Ltd. Background and Purpose of Fundraising SkyDrive, founded in 2018, is working to fulfil its mission of 'taking the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution' and its vision of creating a future in which the general public, in Japan and around the world, use eVTOLs to meet their daily mobility needs. The company has been actively working to obtain type certification, a critical step toward the commercialization of eVTOL. In February 2025, Japan's Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) issued a G-1 certification basis for the SKYDRIVE SD-05, SkyDrive's lightweight, 3-seater eVTOL aircraft (*2). Currently, SkyDrive is advancing its certification plans and coordinating with JCAB on the specifics of upcoming tests and their timelines. Following an agreement on the certification plan, SkyDrive will conduct extensive ground and flight tests in line with the agreed plans. The new funding will be used to strengthen the development team, enhance testing infrastructure, improve operational readiness, and accelerate activities related to certification and development. Strategic Alliances with Railway Companies Following on from partnerships with Osaka Metro Co., Ltd. and Kintetsu Group Holdings Co., Ltd., SkyDrive is delighted to welcome JR East and JR Kyushu as strategic equity partners in this new funding round. SkyDrive now maintains capital and business alliances with a total of four railway companies. Integrating SkyDrive's eVTOL capabilities into existing networks operated by these partner companies will create seamless mobility solutions that effectively combine overland and air travel. These collaborations will also focus on the establishment of air routes and the development of vertiports, as well as public relations efforts designed to boost public support for widespread eVTOL use of eVTOL. Comments Mr. Yoichi Kise, President and CEO of East Japan Railway Company 'The history of rail travel in Japan dates back more than 150 years. Since their introduction, railways have continually evolved alongside societal progress, adapting to changing lifestyles and technologies. Our recent partnership with SkyDrive represents an important milestone in our journey to create seamless mobility services that connect ground and air transportation. We believe this collaboration has the potential to address regional transportation challenges and unlock innovative solutions. By integrating railway services with eVTOL technology, we aim to help build a more comfortable and sustainable society. Building on our long-standing commitment to safety and passenger peace-of-mind, the East Japan Railway Company looks to create new value through the next-generation mobility solutions that will shape the future of transport.' Mr. Yoji Furumiya, Representative Director, President and Corporate Officer of Kyushu Railway Company 'eVTOL will not only provide tourists with exciting, memorable air travel experiences, it will also make significant contributions to community development by providing a new daily transportation option for local community residents. This initiative aligns with key strategies outlined in the JR Kyushu Group Medium-Term Business Plan, which outlines our deep involvement in realizing sustainable mobility services, city building through enhanced collaboration among businesses, and planting seeds for the future. Through the introduction of innovations in air mobility, we aim to make the Kyushu region more attractive, and we are committed to working together with the local community to advance this exciting project.' Mr. Norihiko Takao, President of Univance Corporation 'We are thrilled to announce our investment in SkyDrive, a company driving the move towards next-generation mobility services as an innovator at the forefront of eVTOL aircraft development. At Univance, we have spent decades developing and manufacturing advanced drive systems for the automotive industry, and we are confident that, by applying our expertise, we can play a key role in building the infrastructure needed for a new era of transportation. Through our partnership with SkyDrive, we look forward to creating sustainable and innovative mobility solutions, while working together to address critical societal challenges and shape a better future.' Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive Inc. 'Since our additional Series C funding in August 2024, SkyDrive has made steady progress in the development of our eVTOL aircraft. With substantial support from our partner Suzuki, prototypes of our eVTOL have successfully completed numerous flight tests without incident, also achieving a successful demonstration flight at the Osaka-Kansai Expo site in April 2025. We are also pleased with the progress of our certification plans with the issuance by JCAB of the standards that will apply to our application for type certification. On the global business front, we have received over 380 pre-orders across seven countries, further expanding the international reach of our vision. Additionally, in this Pre-Series D round, we are honored to welcome JR East and JR Kyushu as new partners. We are confident that integrating SkyDrive's next-generation mobility solutions into Japan's railway networks will enable us to deliver seamless mobility services that link ground and air transport, providing a fast and convenient customer experience. As we welcome this new investment, we would also like to express our deepest gratitude to all of the investors who have been with us from the earlier stages of our journey. These valuable partners include Suzuki, MUFG Bank, Itochu Technology Ventures, Obayashi Corporation, Kansai Electric Power, Toyoda Iron Works, NHK Spring, and SuMi Trust Innovation Investment. Through their early involvement, these shareholders have shared SkyDrive's vision, significantly contributing to the refinement of our technology and the expansion of our business possibilities. Their unwavering support enables us to push the boundaries of innovation and work toward the wider public acceptance and adoption of eVTOL. We remain committed to advancing our development efforts as a united team, striving to bring the future of air mobility to life as quickly as possible.' About SkyDrive Inc. SkyDrive is an eVTOL company aiming 'to take the lead in the once-in-a-century mobility revolution'. The company began testing eVTOL prototypes in 2014 prior to official incorporation in 2018. Under its future vision for urban transportation, flying in eVTOLs will become a regular part of city life. In 2019, SkyDrive became the first company to fly a crewed eVTOL in Japan. As of 2025, SkyDrive is working with civil aviation authorities in Japan and the US to acquire certification for 'SKYDRIVE', the company's first eVTOL product. SkyDrive showcased the first public flight of the SKYDRIVE at Expo 2025 in Osaka in April 2025, with plans for further demonstration flights in summer. SkyDrive began production of 'SKYDRIVE' in March 2024 at a plant owned by Suzuki Motor Corporation, SkyDrive's official production partner. SkyDrive is headquartered in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, and led by CEO Tomohiro Fukuzawa, an engineer and entrepreneur. For more information, please visit:
The Mainichi
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: JR East to start new night train between Tokyo and Tohoku in 2027
TOKYO -- East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) has announced a new night train that will run between Tokyo and the Tohoku area (northeast Japan). Services will start in spring 2027. JR East will use one of its older limited express trains and make it into a new night train. Inside, all the seats will be special private rooms. There will be rooms for one, two, or four passengers. Around 120 people will be able to use the train at once. The train will also have two rooms for wheelchairs and a place where people can sit together and relax. The new night train will use blue colors. These colors were also used by famous night trains called "Blue Trains," which traveled many years ago. But the new train will not have beds. Passengers will sleep by reclining (making flat) their seats. The company plans the train to leave Tokyo at night and arrive in Tohoku the next morning. During busy times, it may also travel during the daytime. JR East will give more information, such as ticket prices and train timetables, later. At a press conference on June 10, JR East President Yoichi Kise said, "We hope this will be a new type of fun night trip, not just a long-distance ride." JR East now uses another night train called "Cassiopeia," but this train will stop running in June because it is getting too old. (Japanese original by Yuhi Sugiyama, Business News Department) Vocabulary limited express: a faster train that stops at fewer stations passenger: a person who travels on a train, bus, airplane, or other vehicles private room: a room used by only one person or one group at a time wheelchair: a chair with wheels used by people who can't walk reclining: moving a seat so you can lie back comfortably long-distance: traveling a long way
The Mainichi
26-06-2025
- The Mainichi
JR East's new first-class sleeper train to link Tokyo and Tohoku in spring 2027
TOKYO -- East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) will introduce a new overnight limited express train set to run between the Tokyo metropolitan area and northeastern Japan's Tohoku region from the spring of 2027, the company has announced. The train may also run during the daytime in peak travel seasons, JR East said. The company will modify one of its 10-car E657 series limited express trains, currently used for services such as the Hitachi on the JR Joban Line. All seats will be private, cabin-style Green Car (first-class) reserved seats, with the train able to accommodate about 120 passengers in total. The private compartments will be available for single travelers and groups of two or four people. There will also be two wheelchair-accessible compartments and an open lounge area. The design will feature blue and navy tones inspired by the Blue Train sleeper services that once ran on lines such as the JR Tokaido Line. However, the new train will not include beds, instead using flat-seat configurations among other methods. The planned schedule includes nighttime departures from the greater Tokyo area and arrivals in the Tohoku region the following morning. JR East plans to announce further details including the pricing and timetable in the future. At a June 10 press conference, JR East President Yoichi Kise expressed his hopes for the service, saying, "Rather than just focusing on long-distance travel at night, we want to propose a new kind of enjoyable nighttime journey." JR East currently operates the Cassiopeia sleeper train on a limited basis for tours, but this operation will end in June due to the aging of equipment. (Japanese original by Yuhi Sugiyama, Business News Department)
Yomiuri Shimbun
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan's JR East to Launch New Overnight Train in Spring 2027; Overnight Train to Connect Tokyo, Northern Tohoku Region
Courtesy of East Japan Railway Co. An artist's rendering of East Japan Railway Co.'s overnight express train set to debut in 2027 East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) will launch a new overnight express train in the spring of 2027, connecting the Tokyo metropolitan area and the northern part of the Tohoku region, the company said Tuesday. JR East aims to create an enjoyable travel experience by providing all passengers with their own private compartments. A 10-car express train currently used on the JR Joban Line will be converted into the overnight train, and one of the cars will be made into a dining car. The train will have compartments to accommodate one, two or four people will be able to carry about 120 passengers. The seats in some of the compartments will be able to be converted into sleeping spaces. The exterior of the sleeper train will be mostly blue, reminiscent of Japan's long-distance trains of the past that were nicknamed 'Blue Trains.' JR East will change the train's destination depending on the season and the schedule will be decided at a later date. According to the company, there will be two classes of compartments, and an upper-class compartment will be more expensive than Grand Class premier seats on the Tohoku Shinkansen train. 'We hope this train will be able to provide passengers with an enjoyable overnight travel experience, so that riding the train itself will be the purpose of their trips,' said President Yoichi Kise during Tuesday's press conference.
