Electric Trains and Japanese Technology

1872 marked the start of commercial railway operations in Japan, nearly half a century after railways had started in the UK. However, electric railways did not appear until 1890 at an exhibition held in Ueno, 10 years after the start in Europe but only 2 years after Frank J. Sprague (1857–1934) started running electric streetcars in Richmond, USA, in 1888, which triggered the rapid spread of electric rolling stocks. Although the introduction of electric railways in Japan was not far behind Europe and America, Japan could not design or build electric rolling stock. Some of the locomotives imported in the early stages were still in the development phase, so Japan acquired basic technologies by overcoming challenges and making incremental improvements. Japanese engineers also studied overseas and entered into partnerships with European and American manufacturers to learn the new technologies. By the 1930s, Japanese engineers had become adept at designing and building electric rolling stock. However, since the two World Wars made import of material and technologies difficult, Japan was forced to design and manufacture on its own. By the 1950s, Japan reached a technology level equal to that of Europe and the USA but was still behind in terms of speed. However, while Europe and America remained at a standstill, Japan went on to develop the shinkansen, contributing to electric railway technology and rail redevelopment worldwide.