Text by MOOK Scenic Spots House, compiled and reported
A painted train jointly launched by Japan’s Nankai Electric Railway and Taiwan’s Vision Culture made its first appearance on January 15.
The Blue Samurai. (Photo / Taiwan Railways Administration, the same below)
Famous sights in Osaka such as “Osaka Castle,” “Glico Running Man,” and “Tsutenkaku Tower,” which could previously only be seen while traveling in Kansai, Japan, can now also be spotted on Taiwan Railways trains.
This collaborative painted train was modeled after the limited express Rapi:t train that runs directly from Kansai Airport to Namba Station in central Osaka. The front of the train is even painted with the special “Nankai Blue” paint used on the Rapi:t train, which was flown in from Osaka, ensuring complete authenticity so that all Taiwanese passengers can enjoy an authentic Osaka experience in Taiwan.
As the name “Rapi:t,” the limited express train of Nankai Electric Railway, is difficult for Taiwanese people to pronounce and not well known, Nankai Electric Railway held a nickname voting campaign during the ITF Travel Fair in November 2018 to make it easier for the public to refer to it. The campaign attracted nearly 1,300 participants in just four days, with the name “Blue Samurai” taking the top spot. Therefore, based on the election results, the nickname for the Rapi:t limited express in the Taiwanese market has been announced as “Blue Samurai.” The Blue Samurai began service on January 15 on the Western Trunk Line, operating between Qidu and Chaozhou.
At the same time, there are two types of painted collaboration trains with Taiwan Railways: the “Blue Samurai” and the “Japan-Taiwan Friendship.” The “Blue Samurai” is led by Nankai Electric Railway’s mascot “Kanku Warrior,” with the train body incorporating a variety of popular Osaka attractions as creative inspiration—its rich elements are very eye-catching. The other train, the “Japan-Taiwan Friendship,” features the national flags of Japan and Taiwan, symbolizing the friendship between the two countries and expressing hopes for more exchanges in tourism resources in the future.