Trainspotting takes a dangerous turn - 15th April 2022

Japan's railway system has long been the envy of the world. Famed for its punctuality, cutting edge technology and meticulous timetables, it has amassed legions of fans both at home and abroad. While Japanese trainspotters are generally meek and mild enthusiasts who enjoy poring over timetables or recording the sounds of the rumbling locomotives, a small minority is accused of going off the rails.

The group, known as the 'toritetsu' or train photographers, vie with one another to snap the finest shot of approaching trains, but recently fierce competition has resulted in shouting matches, clashes, trespassing on the tracks and even violence. Aficionado, Tsutomu Okawa is unimpressed.

Tsutomu Okawa: "I hear some fanatic train fans went overboard and even stopped a train. It's too much, too heated. Train companies have also had to give warnings that some fans' behaviours may be dangerous. I myself want to show train operators that some fans like me are well aware of safety when taking pictures. In that way, I want to remove the impression that the 'toritetsu' fans are notorious."

Of the estimated five million train buffs in Japan, the majority relish simple rail-related pleasures such as taking a train ride or categorising the various bento boxes available at stations.

Still a trainspotter in his seventies, Masao Oda has spent his life alongside the tracks and he bemoans the decline in behaviour.

Masao Oda: "The number of train fans has increased since digital cameras became mainstream. Now anyone can take train photos with a digital camera. People flock to a place like this more casually, not like before when we had to get a position very early in the morning. And we have better tripods too. Now we are banned from using ladder steps or tripods at a platform. The manners have gotten worse for sure."

While some railway companies now have heightened security along the tracks to keep overzealous trainspotters at bay, the behemoth company East Japan Railway has changed tack by positively embracing the passion of the toritetsu. It's putting their shots to good use by uploading their images onto social media as marketing. It aims to have a knock-on effect on behaviour by establishing a community feel among train fanatics.