Tokyo's First Streetcar Line Opens

July 29, 1900, saw Tokyo's first electric streetcar line commence operations between Shinbashi and Nihonbashi. American and German technology supplied the cars and overhead wiring, replacing slower horse-drawn trams. The project faced resistance from rickshaw operators yet quickly proved popular with commuters. This innovation laid groundwork for Japan's extensive urban rail networks and influenced later subway development. The line carried thousands daily, easing congestion in the rapidly growing capital and demonstrating the shift from animal power to electricity in Asian cities.