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May 18, 2017
Bureau of Transportation
Tokyo Metropolitan Government

The Nickname of the Toei Streetcar (Toden) Arakawa Line has been decided!

The Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government conducted a public survey between March 17 and April 7, 2017 to help decide the official nickname of the bureau’s Toei Streetcar (Toden) Arakawa Line.
We would like to inform you that the nickname has been decided based on the comments we received, as shown below.
The nickname will be used actively to highlight the appeal of the Toden Arakawa Line, attract more passengers, and help revitalize areas along the streetcar’s path.

Japanese name 東京さくらトラム
English name Tokyo Sakura Tram

1. Survey Results

“Tokyo Sakura Tram” gained the most support in the survey as the name would sound familiar to Japanese and international tourists.
Comments in the survey also suggested that:

  • The name felt most appropriate due to the many cherry blossom hot spots along the Arakawa Line.
  • The sakura cherry blossom flower is emblematic of Tokyo and Japan as a whole.
  • The use of hiragana Japanese lettering lent the name a pleasantly Japanese feel.

2. Public Survey Overview

  1. Application period
    From Friday, March 17 until Friday, April 7, 2017
  2. Survey Distribution
    • (i) Special website established by the Bureau of Transportation
    • (ii) Comment box submissions
    • (iii) Application by mail
  3. Number of applicants
    2,218 (73% via Website, 17% via comment box, 10% by mail)
  4. Total votes
    3,459 (up to two votes per applicant)
  5. Proposed Nicknames and Number of Votes
    Sakura 854
    Retro 628
    Rose 475
    Flower 454
    Classic 354
    Nostalgic 340
    Legacy 218
    Bloom 136
  6. Details of applicants
    • (i) Gender
      Male 66%
      Female 30%
      Unknown 4%
    • (ii) Age
      -19 8%
      20-39 22%
      40-59 38%
      60- 23%
      Unknown 9%
    • (iii) Location of residence
      Tokyo 66%
      Outside Tokyo 34%
  7. Main comments
    (Comments on each proposed name)
    • Sakura
      • It matches the image of the Arakawa Line due to the many famous locations along it, such as Asukayama.
      • The sense of season is limited to spring
      • It is a flower that symbolizes Tokyo and Japan, and is familiar to foreign nationals
      • The use of hiragana in the name feels pleasantly Japanese.
    • Retro
      • It expresses the long history and sense of nostalgia for the Toden Arakawa Line, and matches its image.
      • It gives the impression of being stuck in the past and does not match the image of the new vehicles.
      • It is confusing because Tokyo Retro could be mistaken for Tokyo Metro.
    • Rose
      • The roses along the Arakawa Line are beautiful and they are a Toden Arakawa Line icon.
      • Roses are carefully grown by people in the community along the Arakawa Line and we would like to support them by highlighting this.
    • Flower
      • Various flowers bloom along the Arakawa Line throughout all four seasons.
      • Unlike Sakura and Rose, this nickname is not limited by location or season.
    • Classic
      • It expresses history, tradition, class and dignity.
      • It elicits a sense of nostalgia.
    • Nostalgic
      • It expresses the Toden Arakawa Line’s long history and elicits a sense of nostalgia
      • It gives the impression of being stuck in the past. It is not suitable for the future.
    • Legacy
      • The Toden Arakawa Line is an asset that should be maintained for the future.
      • It gives the impression of being stuck in the past. It is not suitable for the future.
    • Bloom
      • It expresses the image of a variety of flowers blooming along the Arakawa Line.

(Other proposed names by respondents)
TODEN, Tokyo Tram, Tokyo Shitamachi Tram, Tokyo Arakawa Tram, and many others.
(Other comments)
A respondent would like to see the nickname used in conjunction with the original name of “Toei Streetcar (Toden) Arakawa Line” etc.

Inquiries

Toei Transportation Customer Center

Phone:+81-3-3816-5700 (Open daily, 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM)