Japan: Hello Kitty Shinkansen Makes Final Run After Eight Years Of Operation

OSAKA, May 18 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- A shinkansen bullet train featuring Hello Kitty made its final run on Sunday after eight years of operation, Kyodo News reported. 

Crowds of fans holding cameras and Hello Kitty merchandise gathered at JR Shin-Osaka Station in western Japan to witness the final departure of the bullet train, which had carried around 1one million passengers since its debut in June 2018.

Featuring pink-themed cars decorated with ribbons and Hello Kitty illustrations on both the exterior and interior, the 500-series Shinkansen operated by West Japan Railway Co. ran between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations.

Fans waved and shouted "Thank you" as the train departed.

Yoshiharu Ikeda, a sixth-grade student visiting from Fukui Prefecture to ride the train, said, "I'm sad that it's retiring, but I'm glad I was able to ride it before it was gone. I want to remember this moment forever."

-- BERNAMA-KYODO