Children celebrate Railway Day at western Japan station | NHK WORLD

Children celebrate Railway Day at western Japan station

Children in Japan's western prefecture of Kochi marked Railway Day on Wednesday by taking on the role of stationmaster. Japan's first railway line was opened on that date in 1872.

JR Kochi Station invited 25 children from Asakura Kinomaru nursery school to the event.

Two of the children, Fujita Haruki and Kakemizu Tsumugi, received letters of appointment. They were asked by the head of Kochi Station to be stationmasters for the day.

As their families and local residents watched, the children cheerfully sang songs, including "Tenohira o Taiyo ni," or "Palms to the Sun."

The two stationmasters gave the departure signal for a limited express train bound for Okayama, crying out, "All clear!"

Fujita said the train was cool and he enjoyed giving the signal.

Kakemizu said she enjoyed being a stationmaster and she would like to get on the train with her family.