Japan’s Seibu Railway, which operates in Tokyo and Saitama, announced on April 21 that it plans to introduce a sightseeing limited express train set with cars designed by acclaimed mechanical designer Kunio Okawara (source: Tetsudou)
The new limited express will be a refurbished version of the “10000 Series New Red Arrow,” a train type which was introduced back in 1993 but is set to be phased out by spring 2027. The modified New Red Arow (which doesn’t have an official name yet) will operate not as a regular commuter line, but as a posh sightseeing train on Tokyo’s Shinjuku Line.
As for why Seibu Railway chose Kunio Okawara, the mecha designer of numerous Mobile Suit Gundam titles including the original 1979 series, to design the train cars, the company said, “Mr. Okawara’s designs, which convey a sense of warmth and friendlines within a refined functional beauty, are fitting as a new symbol for the Shinjuku Line, which continues to evolve through projects such as the continuous grade-separated intersection system.”
Although Okawara is predominantly active in the anime industry, he is known for an approach to mechanical design that assumes functionality and feasibility for real-life manufacturing, so it doesn’t come as a big surprise that his talents are sought out from all sides. Still, this project will be his first time designing the exterior and interior of a train, as he comments, “Over the years, I have designed numerous mecha for anime productions, including trains. While I have extensive experience designing trains that transform into mechs, I am both grateful and humbled to have been given the opportunity to work on an actual railway project. I am committed to doing my utmost to create a train that will bring joy to as many people as possible.”
The refurbished New Red Arrow will come with semi-private booths and sofas and offer food and drinks which, combined with the big name attached to it, will likely make it a huge attraction for sightseers and mecha anime fans. The train will begin operations in fiscal year 2028, connecting the Seibu-Shinjuku and Hon-Kawagoe stations.
