{"id":65622,"date":"2026-04-22T23:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=65622"},"modified":"2026-04-22T18:33:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T09:33:01","slug":"mobile-suit-gundams-legendary-mecha-designer-kunio-okawara-to-design-real-life-sightseeing-train-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/mobile-suit-gundams-legendary-mecha-designer-kunio-okawara-to-design-real-life-sightseeing-train-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"Mobile Suit Gundam\u2019s legendary mecha designer Kunio\u00a0Okawara\u00a0to design\u00a0real-life\u00a0sightseeing train\u00a0in Japan\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Japan\u2019s 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<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new limited\u00a0express\u00a0will be a refurbished version of the\u00a0\u201c10000 Series New Red Arrow,\u201d a train type\u00a0which was introduced back in 1993\u00a0but is\u00a0set to be phased out by\u00a0spring\u00a02027.\u00a0The modified New Red Arow\u00a0(which\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0have an official name yet)\u00a0will\u00a0operate\u00a0not as a regular commuter line,\u00a0but as a\u00a0posh\u00a0sightseeing\u00a0train\u00a0on Tokyo\u2019s Shinjuku Line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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, \u201cMr. Okawara\u2019s 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.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019t 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<\/a>, \u201cOver 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The refurbished New Red Arrow will come with semi-private booths\u00a0and\u00a0sofas and offer food and drinks\u00a0which, combined with the big name attached\u00a0to\u00a0it, will\u00a0likely make\u00a0it a huge attraction for\u00a0sightseers\u00a0and mecha anime fans.\u00a0The train will begin\u00a0operations in fiscal year 2028,\u00a0connecting\u00a0the\u00a0Seibu-Shinjuku and\u00a0Hon-Kawagoe\u00a0stations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: <\/strong>Mobile Suit Gundam\u2019s Haro to be launched into space as a real-life talking robot designed by Kunio Okawara himself<\/strong><\/a><\/strong> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kunio Okawara will be designing the interior and exterior of Senbu Railway’s limited express, a first for the artist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":65624,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-65622","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nMobile Suit Gundam\u2019s legendary mecha designer Kunio\u00a0Okawara\u00a0to design\u00a0real-life\u00a0sightseeing train\u00a0in Japan\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kunio Okawara will be designing the interior and exterior of Senbu Railway's limited express, a first for the artist.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/mobile-suit-gundams-legendary-mecha-designer-kunio-okawara-to-design-real-life-sightseeing-train-in-japan\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mobile Suit Gundam\u2019s legendary mecha designer Kunio\u00a0Okawara\u00a0to design\u00a0real-life\u00a0sightseeing train\u00a0in Japan\u00a0 - 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