Tokyo Underground Railway Planning Begins

On June 5, 1905, Tokyo officials formally initiated planning for what would become Asia's earliest subway system, the Tokyo Underground Railway. This visionary project addressed urban congestion in the rapidly modernizing capital, drawing inspiration from London's Underground and New York's IRT. Key figures included engineer Noritsugu Hayakawa, who later oversaw construction using cut-and-cover methods amid earthquakes. The line opened in 1927 with electric multiple units, revolutionizing mass transit. It symbolized Japan's Meiji-era industrialization and influenced global subway designs, providing endless inspiration for model railroaders recreating intricate urban rail networks.