Don't miss the magnificent sight of trains! From unexplored lines to local routes, a railway geek hits the road again today with a camera in hand—NOSE KNITs Part 3
NOSE KNITs, who loves railways dearly. Last time, we asked about their connection to the local areas along the tracks. This time, we explore how a "railway photographer" takes their pictures! What is the reason they started carrying a camera every day? And they shared the background of their upbringing that led to the creation of "NOSE KNITs." This is the final installment of the interview.
Are there evaluation criteria for railway photography!?
―About "railway photography"
Are there set rules for how to take railway photos?
NOSE KNITs:In the railway geek community, there might be a lot of evaluation based on a point-deduction system.
Railway photos are named differently depending on the composition. For example, in the composition for a "formation photo*" (which is considered standard) (*capturing the entire moving train), there are detailed evaluation criteria such as "the LED display must not be cut off" and "passengers must not have their hands out."
―Wow! That's detailed...! It seems even harder to photograph a moving train. You can't let go of your camera, can you?
Journalism is my father's legacy. Carrying a camera every day since the Northern Osaka Earthquake
NOSE KNITs:I started carrying a camera every day seven years ago, after the Northern Osaka Earthquake. It just so happened that I went to work early that day. I had just arrived in Namba, where my workplace is, when the earthquake hit.
If I had been commuting as usual, I would have been on the Hankyu train.
―You might have been caught in the earthquake while on a packed commuter train.
NOSE KNITs:That's right. In fact, the Hankyu train stopped running due to that earthquake. Passengers were stranded in a packed train. Aftershocks continued, and there was no prospect of service resuming... The people on board were released onto the tracks and had to walk to the station. In such emergencies, Hankyu trains have a structure where the seats can be used as a slide to get off.
―The plush seats turn into a slide!? That allows for a safe escape, doesn't it?
NOSE KNITs:People who escaped from the train that way posted on social media, saying things like "I escaped using the seat as a ladder" or "I was able to get off the train using the chair."
The train equipment for emergencies was actually used and helped many people.
That is a magnificent sight of a train that you don't usually see, and it is a testament to the hard work of the railway company staff.
If only I had been there at the scene, seen it with my own eyes, and been able to capture the experience in a photo... Ever since that day, I have carried a camera every day because I never want to miss such a moment again.
―Does this have anything to do with you posting railway information on the website "NOSE KNITs"?
NOSE KNITs:At that time, I hadn't launched "NOSE KNITs" yet, so it's not directly related. However, I might have inherited a journalistic perspective from my father, who was a newspaper reporter. We rarely talked about work, but he taught me about things like media literacy from a young age.
―So "NOSE KNITs" was created by carrying on your father's journalism. It is deeply moving that you also inherited your grandfather's love for trains, which you mentioned last time.
"I hope to become a bridge between trains and people"
―Please tell us what you would like to work on in the future.
NOSE KNITs:I want to go to stations and places I have never been to before.
There are many places I haven't been able to visit yet. It's as fun as collecting stamps.
I want to continue filling in the lines I have never ridden.
For example, as a rare location, I went to "Sotaro Station," a remote station in Oita Prefecture.
Only one southbound train comes here, in the 6 o'clock hour in the morning. It's a station that express trains just pass through.
—Only one train a day! If you miss it, you'll have to wait until the next day!
You have both a curiosity for new places and a sensibility for savoring the places you've been to time and time again.
NOSE KNITs:That's right. I also value "enjoying" the railway.
And I would be happy if I could play a role in connecting trains and people so that the local community can thrive even more.
Summary
We have brought you the story of NOSE KNITs over three parts.
Trains and their lines, the people involved with trains, the people living in the area, the people coming and going... I can feel the personality and kindness of NOSE KNITs in the connections that spread through trains.
While trains are infrastructure, they are also blended into people's daily lives.
We were able to get a glimpse of such original landscapes of our hometowns.
Why don't you also take a look at your local trains?
And please, do come and visit the "Noseden" and the "areas along the line".
The love for trains goes on and on, forever...!
NOSE KNITs, thank you very much!
Learn more about NOSE KNITs!
【NOSE KNITs—A site supporting the Nose Electric Railway and the areas along its line!—】
【References and Citations】
・Top image provided by NOSE KNITs
・Photos provided by NOSE KNITs
・Nose Electric Railway
・2019 White Paper on Disaster Management: Northern Osaka Earthquake
Interview Date: August 3, 2025
Writer: Yoshiko Ohno