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Hello Kitty bullet train to debut in Japan on June 30
The Hello Kitty themed bullet train will debut on June 30, featuring a pink interior, decorated with images of the beloved character as well as its trademark bows and ribbons.
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The exterior of Hello Kitty shinkansen, that will debut in Japan on June 30. (WEST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY/-)
Hello Kitty fans, here is your first look at what Japan's themed bullet train will look like when it debuts on June 30.
The Hello Kitty-themed shinkansen will feature a pink interior, decorated with images of the beloved character as well as its trademark bows and ribbons.
The 500-series shinkansen will be used for daily round trips connecting Osaka and Fukuoka.
Based on the artist renditions released on the West Japan Railway website, the train will also include a Hello Kitty-themed photobooth area in one car, named the Kawaii! Room.
This carriage will include seats with Hello Kitty armrests, windows, floors and headrests.
Another car, called the Hello! Plaza, will have no passenger seats and instead will be used as an exhibition area and gift shop featuring regional specialities including souvenirs and food products.
Read also: Puma x Hello Kitty collection to launch in Indonesia
The car, located in the first carriage of the train, will promote various areas in Japan. From June 30 until September, it will showcase the prefectures of Shimane and Tottori in the San'in region, reported Japanese website SoraNews24.
From October, Yamaguchi prefecture will be featured. Other regions that will be featured in the exhibition area include Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima and Fukuoka.
The train's usual jingle played when approaching a station will also be replaced with a Hello Kitty theme song.
The specially themed shinkansen was designed in collaboration with Hello Kitty creator Sanrio, which is also teaming up with a sightseeing bus operator and airplane company for similar themed projects.
Rail operator JR West has also released the operations calendar for the Hello Kitty shinkansen, which will run on most days from June 30 to Sept 29. Dates of operation from October will be released "as soon as it is decided", said the company.
More photos of the themed train will be released soon, it added on the website.
This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
