In my 'former life' (pre-retirement) I did a fair amount of travel to Japan. Made lots of good friends, saw lots of interesting places. Learned about their model railroading hobby.
- Most model railroaders in Japan cannot afford the luxury of dedicated space for a permanent layout.
- An operating session...singly or as a group (also very popular)...often consists of creating a layout with interconnecting track pieces, quick/reliable electrical connections/harnesses, ready-built buildings, etc., for the evening on the tatami (floor grass mat) in a common room. At the end of the session, it's all taken down carefully and stored for the next time.
- Ergo, smaller scales...especially N...are very popular, well supported. O scale?...not so much.
- And, Kato track is, indeed, a benchmark in the industry for accuracy, reliability, portability, flexibility of design.
- Kato's largest market is Japan, not the U.S..
- Kato preferably manufactures complete passenger trains, not an assortment of cars and engines from which a hodge-podge of trains can be made up. This reflects the strategy of their 1:1 railroad equipment, too: Complete trains. If you have an opportunity to see a complete Kato catalog (in Japanese, of course!) of the equipment they manufacture, it will be a mind-blowing experience and insight into their hobby/market.
- Kato models are extremely accurate in their representations. Slathering a bazillion logos/names on common body/engine moldings would seem to be nigh unto heresy.
- Riding the Shinkansen (commonly referred to as 'the bullet train') is an unforgettable experience. But even boarding the train is noteworthy. In the U.S.A., at an urban station awaiting a train that will have very limited station time, crowds of people mill about. As the train slows to a stop, the crowds 'congeal', scamper for a door, creating a blob of humanity trying to funnel through the doorway. At a Shinkansen station?...There are lines on the station platform indicating the door positions for the train. People quietly, politely get in line according to the markings. The train arrives precisely on time, comes to a stop precisely in position according to the door markings. All doors open simultaneously, the people quickly, smoothly file onto the train, the agent blows his whistle, the doors close, the train leaves.....ON TIME!
- So, yes, trains are VERY much a part of Japan life, and proudly so, which is why model railroading is so popular among the people, young and old. Around here?....not so much anymore, sorry to say.
Just a few accumulated thoughts, memories.....FWIW.
KD
I modeled Japanese trains from 2007 until 2012 when O gauge caught my eye. Tomix is the largest Japanese N gauge train and track line and usually first train for Japanese children. Tomy is a sub line of Tomix. Both Tomix and Kato have large showrooms in Tokyo. Most current prototype trains are available, especially in N gauge.
Most Japanese trains are electrically powered, but Japanese modelers do not use working overhead just dummy poles probably because of the small size and temporary nature of layouts.
It is rare to see an O gauge item listed with a Japanese dealer.
For more information on Japanese train modeling try JNS (Japanese Modeling & Japan Rail Enthusiasts Forum.
Hobby Search is a larger Japanese online model train dealer, dealing mostly in N gauge.
