Tokyo's First Subway Line Groundbreaking

On August 15, 1906, construction began on Tokyo's pioneering subway line, the Tokyo Underground Railway, designed to alleviate street congestion in the rapidly growing capital. Engineer Noritsugu Hayakawa led the project, adapting European cut-and-cover techniques to Japan's seismic conditions with reinforced concrete. The 2.2 km line opened in 1927 using electric multiple units, setting standards for urban rail in Asia. It connected key districts and carried millions during the post-war boom. The event influenced Japan's extensive subway networks and modern Shinkansen integration, demonstrating how rail infrastructure could support dense urban populations.