“Let’s Torekatsu!” (Let’s Training) on BS FUJI JAPAN was posted on the official YouTube Channel. The show is hosted by joshitetsu announcer, Kuno Tomomi.
For episode 12, Joshitetsu announcer Kuno Tomomi is on location at Kagoshima-Chuo Station in Kyushu.
The number of new trains arriving and departing from Kagoshima Chuo Station has been increasing for the past several years.
It has become a popular destination for people to see the JR Kyushu 36 + 3, a special train which goes around Kyushu over a period of days and it’s been a hot topic since the train started operating.
The name of the train is derived from the fact that Kyushu is the 36th largest island in the world and by introducing 35 episodes along the railway line in a 5-day process, the 36th episode can be told by the user themselves.
The “+3” are the points to the passengers and the local residents of JR Kyushu.
For “Let’s Torekatsu!”, they will deilver the charm of the special project 36+3 in two parts.
Kuno watches the 787 arrive and comments about the cool headlights on the train. The 36+3 was made by remodeling the 787 series which was used as the main vehicle for the JR Kyushu Conventional Line.
The 787 was born back in 1992 on the Kagoshima Main Line. The Sahashi 787 Buffet Car became a hot topic at the time.
The 787 has been diverted to various lines and continues to play an active role.
Kuno goes aboard on the 36+3 and is impressed by the interior and is shocked to find RAG FAIR’s Tsuchiya Reo and Darling Honey’s Yoshikawa Masahiro. Both men were given a special ride on the out-of-service train before departure.
The men comment how the space doesn’t have a sense of everyday life and how there is a sense of distance. They move to the next car and expected a car that would be similar but realized it’s a little different inside.
The men are just enamored by how luxurious the train looks with the wooden flooring and side wall panels with black and gold trim.
As the train moves, the men are shocked because the train goes with no special announcements like one would hear in a regular train.
While the two look through the train conductor’s window, they see many JR Kyushu trains.
When the men enter the next car, it looks like a Victorian setting with lamps, designed walls, posh seating.
The men then enter the dining car and then car 4 they see a multi-car with a shared space. This space can be used by anyone riding on the train and they can dine and watching “Discover Kyushu Express 36+3″. Cars 5 and 6 are green car seating with large luggage racks above.
The men comment on what they saw, they would be satisfied because they were blown away.
As for the dining, the dinging features various foods featuring ingredients from Kyushu and delicious meals such as Kagoshima Takamori Cafe’s Satsuma Black Chicken Curry, a fragrant curry blended with bamboo charcoal powder, and is moderately spicy, so children and adults can enjoy it. And through BS Fuji Japan Shopping, one can order Black Chicken Curry 6-set for Y3,888. Also including 36+3 pamphlets and 3 hand flags for 30 people chosen through lottery.
The three now meet with Mitooka Eiji, trhe man who designed the 36+3.
Yoshikawa asks how Mitooka got involved with JR Kyushu. Mitooka said through the design of a hotel and the first president of JR Kyushu was sitting next to his table at an opening party. And the President said it would be nice to have common sense and a sense of beauty from a designer and because he wanted to have fun trips, he got involved.
Seated in the rear center is a 787 silver train and it was an original concept design created by Mitooka. A train that would take 4 hours and 10 minutes from Hakata Station to Kagoshima Station.
Tsuchiya then talked about how it’s cool to see a train that was made not about just getting around quickly.
Mitooka said the 787 took elements from the best train cars from around the world and the concept was brought to Japan with added Japanese elements to create a special one-of-a-kind car in advance.
Mitooka said he lived a busy life that he never turned on the TV.
Yoshikawa talked about how Mitooka’s trains are big hits among children. Mitooka said when create a train for the future, he wanted to provide the best for his children and children in general. But also creating a train that would be easy to maintain and work with.
While the three are riding on the 36+3, they come across the predecessor train, the 787.
Then they spot Mount Sakurajima. Kuno explains that many times you can’t see it but today, you could. They are very lucky!
Tsuchiya then talks about how the train is not loud and the design is really nice on the 36+3. Tsuchiya said riding on the train makes him want to drink sake.
A stewardess then comes to ask what they want to drink but the men abstain because there is a camera filming them and they’ll take juice. But Kuno tells everyone,”That because the cameras are filming, I’ll have sake”. The three then look at the waitresses 36+3 uniform.
The bento arrives and the three make a toast for their awesome trip on the 36+3.
The show shows a teaser for the next episode as the trio enjoy Kyushu and also the guys become “toritetsu” train photographers.
