A high-speed intercity train network that currently consists of more than 2,600 kilometers of rail lines, the Shinkansen was first launched more than 50 years ago. Its inaugural segment, the Tokaido Shinkansen, started operation on October 1, 1964, shortly before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics.

The foundational design and planning for the first bullet train, the Shinkansen, began in earnest in the late 1930s under the "Dangan Ressha" (Bullet Train) project in Japan. This early design aimed to connect Tokyo and Shimonoseki with high-speed tracks, and several tunnels were even partially constructed before the project was halted due to World War II. After the war, the project was revived in the mid-1950s as Japan’s economy boomed and the existing narrow-gauge lines reached their capacity. The modern technical design was finalized in 1958, and construction began in 1959. This culminated in the official launch of the Series 0 Shinkansen on October 1, 1964, just in time for the Tokyo Olympic Games. This groundbreaking design utilized dedicated standard-gauge tracks, aerodynamic "bullet" noses, and an innovative "Automatic Train Control" system, proving to the world that high-speed rail was not only possible but would become the gold standard for efficient, safe, and punctual mass transit globally.