1. The Opening Ceremony of Japan's First Railway at Shimbashi on October 14, 1872
Japan’s first railway line connected Shimbashi and Yokohama. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism explains that the first railway opened between Shimbashi and Yokohama on October 14, 1872 (Meiji 5) [1].
What happened on this day was the opening ceremony. It is said that an imperial train carrying Emperor Meiji and people involved in the construction traveled back and forth from Shimbashi to Yokohama [3]. According to materials from the National Archives of Japan, the Emperor arrived at the Shimbashi Railway Station by carriage around 9:00 AM. He met with foreign envoys and consuls from countries such as Italy, the United States, France, and Great Britain before boarding the train [2].
Some sources state that regular service for general passengers began the next day, October 15 [3]. Because descriptions vary between sources, this article refers to October 14 as the "day of the opening ceremony."
2. Why Rain Moved the Opening Ceremony from September 9 to September 12
The opening ceremony was originally planned for September 9, which corresponds to the Chrysanthemum Festival. However, it was postponed due to rain and held on September 12, as can be read from National Archives materials [2].
It is important to note that both September 9 and September 12 are dates on the old lunar calendar. Japan switched to the solar calendar by an edict on November 9, Meiji 5, setting December 3, Meiji 5, as January 1, Meiji 6 [4]. The opening ceremony took place about two months before the switch to the solar calendar. The old lunar date of September 12 corresponds to October 14 on the solar calendar.
If the ceremony had been held as planned on the old lunar date of September 9, it would have been around October 11 on the solar calendar. If it had not rained, the memorial day might have been a different date. However, it cannot be determined from the materials whether the memorial day was decided based on the ceremony date. The above is purely speculation based on calculation.
3. How the Railway Cut the Shimbashi–Yokohama Trip from 7–8 Hours to 53 Minutes
The distance between Shimbashi and Yokohama is about 29 km (about 18 miles). It is said that the train took 53 minutes to travel this distance without stopping [3]. It is said that walking the same distance without rest would take 7 to 8 hours [9].
Calculating this, 7 hours is 420 minutes. The difference between 420 minutes and 53 minutes is about 8 times faster. Over time, a "leave in the morning, finish errands, and return in the evening" trip became possible on this route. The "7 to 8 hours walking" figure is a rough estimate found in general articles, not a statistic based on data.
A train traveling in 53 minutes moved at a completely different speed than a person walking.
4. How the 50th Anniversary Celebration Led to "Railway Memorial Day"
On October 14, 1921 (Taisho 10), a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the railway opening was held. The first Railway Museum opened at the Marunouchi North Exit of Tokyo Station [6]. It is reported that the celebration was held at Tokyo Station.
The following year, in 1922 (Taisho 11), the Railway Ministry of the time designated October 14 every year as "Railway Memorial Day" [5]. Some sources say the notice was dated October 13, but since these are secondary sources, only the year is treated as certain.
Additionally, the period from 1872 to 1921 is 49 years, but this celebration was called the "50th Anniversary." The reason for this cannot be explained here.
5. How October 14 Became "Railway Day" in 1994
In 1994 (Heisei 6), October 14 every year was designated as "Railway Day." The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism explains it as a day to commemorate the birth and development of railways [7]. In the same year, the former Ministry of Transport, JR, private railways, and the Japan Association of Travel Agents established the "Railway Day Executive Committee." Events are held during the period before and after this date, known as the Railway Ten-Day Period [8].
When the name changed from "Railway Memorial Day" to "Railway Day," it was explained that the position changed to a memorial day celebrated by all railway operators [5]. This happened after the privatization and division of the Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1987.
To a typical railway fan, it looks like a one-character difference in the name. However, reading it as a change from a memorial day for the single company JNR to a day celebrated together by many companies, we can see that the meaning expanded even though the date remained the same.
6. How to Investigate Railway History Near You
What you can do today: Look up the opening year of the nearest station on railway company websites or city materials. Comparing how many years after the 1872 Shimbashi-Yokohama line the railway came to your town reveals the historical differences between lines.
What you can do when you go out: Look for monuments or guide boards commemorating the opening in or around the station. Do not approach the tracks. View them from places that do not obstruct passage.
Official Information: The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s "Railway Day" page introduces current events such as the Railway Festival and the Japan Railway Award [7]. Dates and locations change every year, so please check the latest guidelines.