Thanks for creating this. The Joetsu Shinkansen was the first Shinkansen I rode. It was to Gala Ski Resort and I was Impressed immediately. Too bad about the E4 double deckers, they served well.

Thank you Takeshi-san for explaining the name of the Joetsu Shinkansen. The history of each station is very informative and entertaining. Looking forward to the next videos!

This is hugely informative, thank you so much for your vids and effort, we need this kind of videos, we foreigners also love shinkansen.

Fantastic video thank you for all these explanations!

These videos are all super informative. Thank very much for doing.

Between Jomo Kogen and Echigo Yuzawa stands some of the highest mountains in the Japanese Alps. It is also where the weather is divided between the milder Pacific airmass and the Siberian flow. Sometimes there will be no snow at all on the ground at Jomo Kogen station, and over a metre of snow once you exit the tunnel before you arrive at Echigo Yuzawa, which are only 10 minutes away from each other.

If I was to make a suggestion I would recommend a line between Nigata and Almori

Great video. I love videos about history like this

Great video Takeshi, thank you. The etymology of Joetsu in the two different cases is interesting. It’s quite easy to understand with the on-screen explanation.

I appreciate the point that you have mentioned the hurdle of Nakayama tunnel, which is the hardship when the line was being constructed. The water flow rate when the tunnel was bored is at maximum 340 metric ton/min, that is, it can fill up a 50m standard swimming pool withing 7m20s. The route has revised twice to avoid the enormous amount of water. 1) The elevation of route between Takasaki and Niigata is ~470m and the highest point is 583.6m 2) The maximum operating speed was once 275kph because JR East wanted take back the highest operating speed record of 270kph made by TGV. But half year later TGV has a new operating speed record of 300kph. 3) As the E2 series was introduced, JR East has de-tuned the speed limit of Joetsu Shinkansen to 240kph because E2 has much better acceleration at higher speed and better climbing ability. Its performance can save time even the max speed was lowered. Again, great video as always.

Good video, it was fun hearing about the politics and local rivalries between cities that shaped the creation of the route.

Thanks for the great info. The last line on the Japan Shinkansen network that I haven't been on. Thanks Covid!! I was due there Nov. 2019.

Thanks for this video! Always wondered about the Joetsu Line / Joetsu-Myoko situation, so this is very helpful to know.

Takeshi-san, would you have the time or interest to do a video like this for why the stations of the Nagano/Hokuriku Shinkansen were chosen?

Nice explanation of the names!

nice video takeshi san

great content with heavy of research as usual. thanks Takeshi

Amazing video as always, Thank you Takeshi-san!!

すげー

Wow, I knew about Tanaka's pushing the line to get built, I didn't realise how much he micromanaged the stations! That said I don't think the Joetsu Shinkansen would have ever been built had it not happened during the high-growth period when Tanaka was dominant, or at least it would have been some sort of mini-shinkansen. The terrain is difficult, population density low and its main destination is so far from other Shinkansen lines (unlike Akita and Yamagata). Shows the influence politicians have. And I think Takeshi understates how powerful Tanaka was, not just as secretary General of the LDP and PM but also as leader of the largest LDP faction in the LDP till the mid-1980's. His proteges would dominate Japanese politics for a further two decades in LDP till Obuchi's death in 2000 and in the Opposition till Ozawa's marginalization after 2011.

It would be great if you can add the kanji of the place name you mentioned in the video😉

Thanks again

Do you have a video on the Uetsu shinkansen?

鉄坊主さん？

It's not surprising that politics played a huge role in this episode. This is shortly after the huge Lockheed scandal of the late 70s. Coruption was the biggest game in town, back then. Probably still is.