Officials attend a ribbon-cutting commemorative ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen at Tokyo Station in Tokyo on October 1, 2024. High-speed shinkansen trains, or bullet trains, began running between Tokyo and Osaka on October 1, 1964, heralding a new era for rail travel as Japan grew into an economic superpower after its World War II defeat. The service remains integral to the nation's economy and way of life -- so keeping it dazzlingly clean, punctual and accident-free is a serious job. (Photo by JIJI Press / AFP) / Japan OUT (Photo by STR/JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images)