Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Groundbreaking

June 20, 1912, saw the groundbreaking for the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Japan's inaugural subway system. This 2.2 km section from Ueno to Asakusa addressed severe urban congestion in rapidly modernizing Tokyo. Designed with cut-and-cover methods under the guidance of engineer Noritsugu Hayakawa, it opened in 1927 using electric multiple units. The project overcame challenges like dense population and seismic concerns, setting precedents for underground rail in earthquake-prone regions. It transformed daily commuting and urban planning, later expanding into one of the world's busiest metro networks and symbolizing Japan's industrial rise post-Meiji Restoration.