Mike Foo, Shinkansen 新幹線 (TRAVEL 2025)

Shinkansen 新幹線 means “new rapid line”. Being on the Shinkansen bullet train is a marvellous experience. As a tourist new to Japan, you can experience the Tokyo crowds, the traditional culture of Kyoto, the snowy towering heights of Mount Fuji, the numerous temples and shrines dotted everywhere, the subtle flavours of Japanese food, but you must not miss out on taking the Shinkansen. The fastest bullet train travels at 300km/h and the Shinkansen connects you from one tip of Japan to another in a matter of hours. It symbolically underscores a facet of post war Japanese culture - efficiency, speed, technological advancement, smooth, quiet, cleanliness, punctuality, respect, etc. It's a must for any traveller who wants to experience Japan beyond the usual sightseeing destinations. In my pictures, they capture the train captains making routine safety checks to see there's no obstruction on arrival and departure. They ensure everyone is safely onboard while keeping watch of the clock, making sure there's no unnecessary delays. These captains perform their work with responsibility and pride and I recognise their effort here in my 2025 entry.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.