Yorushika x Train Journey ① (Kyoto to Nagoya)
ヨルシカ LIVE TOUR 2025「盗作再演」
— ヨルシカ（n-buna、suis） / Official (@nbuna_staff) September 21, 2025
愛知・IG ARENA 公演 2日目
名古屋公演2日間、終了致しました。
お越しいただいた皆様ありがとうございました。
次回は9/30〜10/1の横浜公演となります。
宜しくお願い致します！#ヨルシカ_盗作 pic.twitter.com/DoGcYyGYPg
The time has finally come for Yorushika's live concert 'Tōsaku Saien' Nagoya 2Days!! I didn't get tickets for Kobe, so the Nagoya performance will be my first. However, there is a strict rule against sharing impressions at this timing. Instead, I will share the train journey I enjoyed along with Yorushika.
1 Year Since Debut: '8A Series'
The Yorushika train journey starts with this train again this year, just like last year.
Over a dozen sets have been manufactured within a single year.
I took the Kintetsu line to Kyoto Station. What I encountered was the 8A series! In the year since its debut last year, over 10 sets have been manufactured at once and introduced to the Nara, Kyoto, Kashihara, and Tenri lines.
When I went to Nagoya for the Yorushika concert a year ago, I was lucky enough to complete the set of the 3 trains that were in operation. They were rare back then, but now they have become the familiar main fleet for everyone.
Ticket
I bought a ticket at Kyoto Station and headed to Nagoya on the local lines. When crossing between JR companies, using an IC card requires paying the fare difference in cash (excluding commuter passes and Shinkansen). This is because the IC card systems are split between 'ICOCA (West Japan)' and 'TOICA (Tokai)' at Maibara. I usually get by with just my IC card, so it had been a while since I bought a paper ticket.
Special Rapid Service
They're like old friends of over 20 years.
I boarded the 7:45 AM Special Rapid Service, heading straight for Maibara. This is the first Special Rapid Service of the day heading east from Kyoto on weekends and holidays.
Even though it's morning, the tunnel is a night song.
The morning sun was shining quite brightly in the southern part of Shiga Prefecture. However, rain is forecast for today. Since Yorushika has many rainy songs, I have high expectations. By the time I reached Moriyama, it started to drizzle. The wipers on the lead car began to move at intervals.
Connection with local trains.
Maibara Station
A large crowd climbs the stairs.
During the 18-kippu season, the 'Maibara Dash' also occurs.
I arrived at Maibara in about 50 minutes. I transferred to the local train bound for Ogaki at platform 8.
Tokaido Line / Local bound for Ogaki
The face of JR Central, found everywhere from the city to the Kiso mountains. The seating is customized depending on the line.
East of Maibara, you enter the JR Central area. The orange trains make their appearance. I was actually aiming for the new '315 Series' train, but I suppose it's a bit hard to encounter at this time of day? Maybe daytime is better?
Back in elementary school, I memorized the real name even though ENEOS was easier to remember.
Rainy Tokaido Line x Yorushika
Once we departed Maibara, the rain gradually turned into a downpour. When it starts raining, I look forward to listening to Yorushika's rain-themed songs. Although one is titled 'After the Rain,' they fit a heavy downpour or a guerrilla rainstorm best.
This vehicle, treated as machinery, is like a nocturnal creature.
The number of 315 Series trains has also increased significantly.
Ogaki Station
Transferring again at Ogaki Station. The train I arrived on turned into a 'Special Rapid bound for Toyohashi,' but it will be the next departure. The first departure is the 'Special Rapid bound for Toyohashi' arriving at Platform 1.
Special Rapid bound for Toyohashi
The fastest service on the Tokaido Line seen during rush hour.
The two top express services in Nagoya, the Special Rapid and the New Rapid, only differ by one stop. Whether they stop at Obu Station or not. Even for the Rapid, the only difference is whether they stop at Kyowa Station or not. Each service runs roughly every 30 minutes, totaling 4 trains per hour. It's not much different from the 15-minute intervals of the New Rapid in the Kansai region.
Operated during rush hour, it carries commuters between the Nagoya city area and the Chita Peninsula.
When there is a Special Rapid, there is a Section Rapid that goes directly to the Taketoyo Line. To separate short-distance commuters during rush hour, the service types are finely divided.
Mars Rendezvous♪
It's a minor detail, but any JR train you take is fast. They race through the Minoji and Owari roads at a top speed of 120 km/h. The sense of speed, comparable to the Special Rapid Service, is similar to the Kansai region.
Special Rapid Service x Yorushika
This song fits that sense of speed. Such rock tunes are decreasing in their new releases. While I think this is what Yorushika is originally about, their changing form is also being accepted.
As we approach Nagoya, the occupancy rate increases. At the very back, there are wheelchairs and strollers, so it's quite packed.
Nagoya Station
Arrived at Nagoya Station after about two and a half hours! I passed through the ticket gate and transferred to the subway to head for the IG Arena.
Subway Sakura-dori Line
Taking the Higashiyama Line and Meijo Line is faster, but that's the most crowded section from Nagoya to Sakae. Knowing it would be crowded, I headed for the detour route, the "Sakura-dori Line." They say "haste makes waste" for a reason.
It seems many people who want to take the Higashiyama Line come to the Sakura-dori Line by mistake, so there is even a handwritten information whiteboard placed there.
No, please use the Sakura-dori Line too
The face of the line that has been active since its opening in 1989.
The driver's cab is on the right side of the direction of travel, not the left, making it easier to monitor the platform.
I descended three flights of stairs to reach the Sakura-dori Line platform. A train bound for Taiko-dori arrived immediately, so I took a picture. Since it was a train heading to Nagoya Station, a large number of people got off.
Bound for Tokushige
The Sakura-dori Line runs once every 10 minutes, which is infrequent. The Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line, which I personally compare it to, runs about every 7 minutes. It is on the sparse side for an urban subway. Is it the influence of a car-oriented society?
Even so, the train that arrived was a large-sized 5-car train. It can carry quite a lot compared to the smaller Higashiyama Line. It became full, and the area near the stairs got crowded. Ah, it really is like the Yotsubashi Line, haha.
Prototype train!
The others use 'Helvetica'.
By the way, the train I boarded was surprisingly the first set! It was manufactured as a prototype set before the opening of the Sakura-dori Line and underwent various tests. You can distinguish between the prototype and mass-produced models on the Sakura-dori Line by the typeface of the numbers.
The vehicle on the right is a prototype and has puffy cheeks.
The mass-produced model on the left has no bumps and is sleek.
Regardless of whether it is a Shinkansen or a conventional line, prototype sets have differences from mass-produced models. Some have become difficult to distinguish due to mass-production modifications, but seeing their unique appearance, which allows for a game of 'spot the difference,' gets me excited.
Hisaya-odori Station
Spacious, just like Umeda Station on the Midosuji Line.
The fact that the train is also red makes the resemblance even more striking.
I rode for 3 stops and got off at Hisaya-odori Station. The horizontally long platform, which rivals Umeda Station on the Osaka Subway, has a strong 'Midosuji Line vibe.' From here, I will transfer to the purple Meijo Subway Line, aiming for Meijo Koen Station.
Meijo Subway Line
The Meijo Subway Line has a similar configuration to the Yamanote Line or the Osaka Loop Line. It is divided into Meijo Line loop trains and Meiko Line through-trains that branch off from Kanayama and head to Nagoya Port.
Counter-clockwise and clockwise
Loop trains are not called 'inner loop' or 'outer loop,' but 'counter-clockwise' and 'clockwise.' (In English, they are 'Clockwise' and 'Counter Clockwise,' the same as other lines.)
It is very similar to the relationship between the Osaka Loop Line and the JR Yumesaki Line.
Because it passes through busy districts like Sakae and Kanayama, there are many passengers. A women-only car (yellow sticker) is also provided on weekday mornings. Like the Higashiyama Line, the trains are also on the smaller side. The frequency is quite high, with trains every 5 minutes.
It is said that when it was Shiyakusho Station, many people would get off at Meijo Koen Station and take a detour.
If you ride in the very back, it is relatively less crowded and there are scattered empty seats. Since the previous stop was Sakae Station, it seems everyone got off there.
Nagoya Municipal Subway x Yorushika
For the subway, I selected "Plagiarism" and "Haru Hisagi." It started from putting them in a subway playlist titled "Songs I want to listen to on the metro," but the jazz-like feel is so urban that it brings the subway to mind.
There are also more timetable revisions that are reverting the service reductions caused by COVID.
The loop line clad in purple
Meijo Koen Station
It's sparkling clean!
Arrived at Meijo Koen Station, the nearest station to IG Arena! Perhaps in time for the opening of IG Arena, it has been renovated to look brand new. It is a station with over 40 years of history, but you wouldn't think so.
After arriving, I head to IG Arena. I am heading to the battle known as Yorushika merchandise sales.
Kintetsu + JR West + JR Central + Subway x Yorushika
The playlist from Kyoto to Nagoya looks like this. If it's only Yorushika, I think I could make it all the way to Nagoya.
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
ストリートミュージシャンの投げ銭のような感覚でお気軽にどうぞ。