Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains' nicknames unveiled

Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains' nicknames unveiled

NANAE, Japan - Hokkaido Railway Co. President Osamu Shimada announces the nicknames "Hayabusa" and "Hayate" for the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains in the town of Nanae, Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, on Nov. 20, 2014. The names, the same as the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet trains, were selected due to their familiarity.

Hokkaido Shinkansen's 2 station names decided

Hokkaido Shinkansen's 2 station names decided

SAPPORO, Japan - Hokkaido Railway Co. President Osamu Shimada announces the names of two stations of the planned Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line in Sapporo, northern Japan, on June 11, 2014. The name of one of the stations had been disputed by two relevant cities since the railway earlier unveiled a tentative name.

JR Hokkaido's bullet train

JR Hokkaido's bullet train

SAPPORO, Japan - JR Hokkaido President Osamu Shimada, president of Hokkaido Railway Co., or JR Hokkaido, holds a press conference in Sapporo on April 16, 2014. Shimada said the company will connect southern Hokkaido and Tokyo in four hours and 10 minutes with a new bullet train line planned to begin operating in spring 2016.

Hokkaido Shinkansen to be launched in March

Hokkaido Shinkansen to be launched in March

Hokkaido Railway Co. President Osamu Shimada (C) joins an emergency drill involving a Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train on Feb. 9, 2016, which was carried out prior to the March 26 launch of its service. During the drill, the train was brought to an emergency stop temporarily due to an electric transmission problem, forcing Shimada to make an apology. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train to make debut in March

Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train to make debut in March

Osamu Shimada (L), president of Hokkaido Railway Co., attends a press conference in Sapporo, northern Japan, on Sept. 16, 2015, to announce that the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line will open March 26, 2016. The bullet train will connect Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station in Hokkaido and Tokyo in 4 hours 10 minutes at the fastest. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains' nicknames unveiled

Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains' nicknames unveiled

NANAE, Japan - Hokkaido Railway Co. President Osamu Shimada announces the nicknames "Hayabusa" and "Hayate" for the Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet trains in the town of Nanae, Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, on Nov. 20, 2014. The names, the same as the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet trains, were selected due to their familiarity. (Kyodo)

Hokkaido Shinkansen's 2 station names decided

Hokkaido Shinkansen's 2 station names decided

SAPPORO, Japan - Hokkaido Railway Co. President Osamu Shimada announces the names of two stations of the planned Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line in Sapporo, northern Japan, on June 11, 2014. The name of one of the stations had been disputed by two relevant cities since the railway earlier unveiled a tentative name. (Kyodo)