Why model Japanese railways?

The country of Japan is often seen as a land of 'mystery' to many Westerners. Indeed, it still has a fascinating mixture of the latest hi-tech gadgets and the centuries-old religious traditions. Immense strange-shaped glass and steel skyscrapers still mix with tradition wooden temples and shrines. Ladies in traditional kimonos chat to each other on colour-screen video mobile phones.

Even though Japan has taken great strides in dealing with other countries, it can still be a very difficult country to do business with. Traditions are different, and differences in methods and interpretation often come about because of cultural misunderstandings. And we haven't even mentioned the language differences yet ..... !!!

However, I am not trying to put you off !!! With a little patience, it can be a very rewarding experience.

The Japanese railway system is the safest, cleanest, fastest, most punctual but also the most crowded in the world. Since the split up of the government-run Japanese National Railways in 1987, the remaining JR groups have introduced a wide range of new trains to cater for many different needs. The modelling industry has also increased dramatically in both quantity and quality as well. Here are some good reasons why I believe modelling Japanese railways can be very rewarding ....

• The quality of Kato HO and N scale American prototypes is very well-known. Other manufacturers have even used Kato to make their mechanisms for them. But Kato has been around a lot longer than when they entered the US market, and there are many other major manufacturers in Japan as well. Japanese quality, in both detail and reliability, is on par or even better than the well-known European brands. These trains will run continuously for days on end, without the slightest murmur.
  
• Since 1987, the JR groups and the many competing private railway companies have introduced a bewildering range of new trains. The days of cream/red and green/orange being the predominant colours are gone, and although most of the suburban trains are now silver with coloured stripes (to indicate which line they run on), there is still a wide variety of other quite unusual colour schemes. Also the shapes of some of the cars can be quite startling. At many locations, you can easily see a dozen different trains within the space of an hour, and they will all be radically different, both from each other and from anything you have even seen anywhere else before.
  
• A very large range of the prototype trains running have been produced in model form as well, and new models are often released within months of a new prototype commencing service. I don't know of any countries railways where you have such a large range of the different prototypes running, that are available in model form. Between the 3-4 major manufacturers, there would be between 8-12 new model releases EVERY month !!! Compare that to whatever you are modelling now.
  
• All models released are correct for a certain prototype. It is not like the manufacturers in some countries that make 'generic' type rolling stock or paint the models of certain prototype in the colours of many railway companies that never ran them, just to make a sale to their unsuspecting or uninformed customers :-(
  
• Now we come to the point that many people think is a problem - the price !!! Fortunately, exchange rates have changed recently, making Japanese items cheaper than before. However, the old adage that you get what you pay for is certainly true here. The excellent detailing and quiet and reliable running qualities are very well known and well-worth paying a little extra for, and the amount you paid will certainly be forgotten after a long time of happy trouble free running. !!!
  
• Be different !!! How many other modellers do you know that model Japanese railways? Your trains will be the talking point every time you take them to the local club or run them at an exhibition, both in appearance and running qualities. Why not even make a big step forward and build a Japanese layout !!! There are many more resources to help you than you would have imagined.