Shizuno Tsukui 

My name is Shizuno Tsukui! I’m eighteen years old. My hobbies include watching, listening to, and riding all sorts of trains! I’m what they’d call a “train otaku”. My special talent is being able to identify a train based on sound alone. Oh! And I know the name of pretty much every station in eastern Japan! I’m still working on the western ones.

My dad owns a model train shop in Nakano that's been around forever, and my mom is into railway photography. They met one day at a doujinshi event, and that’s how I was born! I’m a pure blooded train lover through and through!

…But even if trains were part of my destiny, I never ever would have guessed I’d end up becoming an idol. I only really know stuff if it's train related.

“Your only interest being trains is a novelty!” the producer that scouted me said.

…Is that really how it works?

I am kinda nervous, but I’ll get to travel a bunch if I become an idol! I’ll get to ride all kinds of different trains, so I have no choice but to give it my best shot!

My current favorite is the Keikyu Line, by the way. I’d love to hold a live at every single station along the line someday! Wish me luck, everyone~♪

My very first live performance is scheduled, and it’s a tour along the Keikyu Line! Unfortunately, we can’t hold a live at every station, but the mere thought of getting to host an event at my beloved train line… Sigh!~ It’s like a dream come true! 

“So where’s the first show, Producer?”

“Uh, let’s see… Looks like Misakiguchi Station.”

“Misakiguchi! What route are we taking?”

“Er, the usual…? I was just planning to grab a ticket at Shinagawa and head out.”

“No way! What are you thinking!? Going all the way to Misakiguchi with a regular ticket… That’s crazy talk! You can leave the tickets up to me, Producer!”

“Huh? Well, alright then. Anyway, we’ll be meeting at Shinagawa the day of the event, so don’t be late, Shizuno.”

“Roger Dodger!”

And then the big day came… I was nearly moved to tears right there at Shinagawa Station!

“Aaah, ahhh…!! I can’t believe I get to have my first live on a 2100 series train, my most favorite ever! This is gonna be the best day ever!

“...You have a favorite train?”

“You betcha! The 2100 is a perfect train! The speed… It’s, like, next level~!”

“...Zzz.”

“Hey, come on! I’m pouring my guts out over here! Don’t fall asleep!!”

My first ever live was a total success! The enthusiasm from the fans was as strong as a bullet train is fast! I even got a radish in Miura as a souvenir… This is so totally awesome!

“So, Producer… Did you have any other plans for the day?”

“No. This was kind of it.”

“Alright! Then let's use this Misaki Tuna ticket and have ourselves a meal!”

“The… Misaki what…?”

“You mean you don’t know!? This ticket is a killer deal! It covers a round trip ride to Misaki Port, includes a meal voucher, and you get to pick from a list of activities. Plus, you get a souvenir!”

“Huh? That really is incredible… Misaki is famous for its tuna and seafood, right? Do we actually get to try it?”

“You betcha! If you’re going to Misaki for the tuna specifically, the Tuna Ticket is a must have! You get to pick your favorite from a list of specially curated gourmet restaurants, and you can eat all the tuna you want!”

“Just thinking about it is making my mouth water… Alright then! Let’s go get that tuna while we wrap up for the day.”

“Yay!!! Oh… And since we’re here, I was hoping to use my activity and souvenir vouchers…”

“I really don’t think we have the time for all of that, unfortunately.”

“Come oooon! I wanna check out the hot springs or the aquarium!”

“Alright, alright. We’ll come back to it another time, okay? We’ll do this again and come back to Misaki together.”

“Deal!”

My second live is going to be in Yokosuka!

…And so, I head off to the station with my producer.

“Isn’t the Yokosuka-chuo Station a strange little place?”

“Station KK59? That Yokosuka-chuo?”

“I don’t know the station number or anything… But why is it called ‘chuo’? Is it because it’s in the middle of Yokosuka?”

“That’s because Yokosuka-chuo Station was born and developed as the gateway to the former Imperial Japanese Navy's Yokosuka Naval District. The Yokosuka Ironworks was located there, too. Since the area around Yokosuka-chuo Station serves as the hub for administration, economy, and culture, the locals seem to simply call it 'chuo'—meaning 'central.' When you think of Yokosuka, you think of warships! And Navy Curry! Plus, there’s..."

*Snore*

“Hey! You brought it up, so don’t fall asleep on me! We’re already at Kamiooka Station!”

“...Zzz.”

Sheesh! He always falls asleep the second I start talking about trains! All my small complaints melted away once I got to sing and dance along with the fans at the Yokosuka live! Plus, sightseeing would be the perfect followup to such a fun show!

I got to see some warships and sink my teeth into a giant Navy Burger!

“Phew! The perfect day… Shizuno Tsukui: Chapter 2 at Yokosuka…! Hehe♪”

Today’s event is at the aquarium in Hakkejima! This trip along the Keikyu line with my manager has been so awesome♪ Getting to Hakkeijima requires changing trains several times, so it's a lucky opportunity to see more trains!

“Hey, Producer? Do you know what the 'Eight Views' in 'Kanazawa-Hakkei' actually are?”

“Uh… Isn’t it just eight different scenic spots?”

"It’s not just any scenery, you know! Apparently, the concept of 'Eight Views' is a specific artistic convention where you select eight outstanding landscapes from a particular region. They say Kanazawa was chosen for its 'Eight Views' because the area has long been renowned for its scenic beauty. It was even a popular theme for woodblock prints way back when!”

“Oh yeah? Which prints?”

“Um, let’s see… I think it’s ‘Night Rain at Koizumi’, ‘Evening Bell at Shomyo Temple’, ‘Returning Sails at Ottomo’, ‘Haze on a Clear Day at Susaki’, ‘Autumn Moon at Seto’, ‘Descending Geese at Hirakata’, ‘Evening Glow at Nojima’, aaaaand ‘Evening Snow at Uchikawa’. I think. The names alone sound so elegant, don’t they~?”

“Yeah~ Can you still see all of it today?”

“Well… Due to land reclamation for things like polders, airfield construction, and urban development, it seems almost impossible to see the scenery the way it used to be."

“Oh. That’s unfortunate.”

“Don’t worry! Nowadays, you can enjoy a whole new set of 'Eight Views'—the 'New Kanazawa-Hakkei'! Every single one offers a magnificent view!”

“Kanazawa-Hakkei is also home to that famous aquarium—the very one where you’re performing today.”

“You betcha! Oh, holding a live at an aquarium is gonna be so totally awesome! I’m gonna give it my best shot!”

Today’s event took place at Chojagasaki—a spot famous for its beaches!

…Which meant we so totally had to make use of that, right~?

“...Ta-da! Introducing the Hayama Girls Trip ticket!"

“Girls trip? It’s a ticket just for women?”

“Nope! Not at all. Men can totally use it too! In fact, I would love for guys to get one and take their girlfriends out on a date! It’s super awesome and filled with stuff girls love! Check out the website!”

“Wow! You’re right. What a cute design… Huh? Wait, is it like the Misaki Tuna ticket?”

“You got it, Producer! If you use the Hayama Girls Trip ticket, you can enjoy fancy cafe meals, sweets, and all sorts of other things!”

“In that case, how about we have a ‘girl’ day?”

After that, my producer and I had lunch at a stylish café in Zushi, where we put work out of our minds and enjoyed some good old fashioned girl talk.

"…Hey, Shizuno? I feel like you’ve been looking strangely radiant lately… Don't tell me…"

"To be honest, my heart is wavering. I feel like I’m cheating on him.”

"Huh?! Whoa, hold on! Who are you talking about!? You know idols aren't allowed to date! And cheating is absolutely out of the question!"

"I know! …But aside from my beloved Keikyu 2100 Series—I just can't stop thinking about him, too… I only get to see him every once in a while… And such a charming yellow body… The Keikyu Yellow Happy Train!"

"…Oh. I see."

I held a live in Yokohama today! Singing on a stage that was a little bigger than usual made me a bit nervous... But it was so totally awesome! Still buzzing with excitement from the live, I parted ways with my producer and decided to take a stroll through the streets of Yokohama.

Yokohama is so fashionable… It’s like I teleported into an old movie! 

I continued to walk, enchanted by the streets full of exotic atmosphere. And then I saw the most beautiful thing ever—my beloved Keikyu Limited Express running side by side with the Tokaido Line!

“Aah… A passionate battle is about to begin! Just how it should be between men! I love them both, but… Today I think I want the Keikyu Limited Express to win by juuust a little… *Sigh*…”

Having indulged in my fantasy of a heated race between the Keikyu Line Limited Express and the Tokaido Line, I watched the trains go by for a while...And then my stomach started rumbling like a train horn.

Oops! I haven’t eaten since this morning… I should get a little treat!

To truly savor the joy of such a wonderful live, a train with a touch of luxury was a must! So, I decided to grab a “Wing Service” ticket and enjoy some reserved dining.

Mmm~! The Wing Service seats are so spacious, you can really enjoy your meal~!

Feeling totally relaxed, I popped open the lid on my Yokohama-style shumai bento. The moment I did... the juicy aroma of the shumai completely filled the train car!

Heh. It’s probably a good thing there aren’t any other passengers around...

I’m scheduled to hold a live in Kawasaki today! ...But, out of habit, I took the Keikyu Line, and the venue is super far away!

Uh oh! I better run, or I’m gonna be late for rehearsal!

"Hah... hah... Producer, it’s super crowded here, isn't it? And everyone is dressed weird…”

The people walking the streets were dressed in flashy outfits that hardly looked like everyday wear. Some of them even had grotesque makeup that made it look like they were bleeding from all over.

"Hah... hah... Ooh, I see. I guess there’s a huge Halloween event going on nearby.”

“I-I see! So it’s a Halloween costume!”

"Yeah. It’s apparently called 'Kawa-Hallow,' and it’s turned into a massive, city-wide event. I hear the costume contests and parades are pretty famous."

"Sounds fun! The venue for today's live has a movie theater, shops, and restaurants. It’s actually known as Japan’s very first cineplex. The entire place is designed to give Italian vibes. It’s got a unique charm that makes it feel totally different from Japan! I bet it would be the perfect place for Halloween!"

“Sounds nice! Since we’re here, why don’t we take some promotional photos for you, Shizuno?”

“You betcha! And how about some cosplay?”

...Maybe it was because there were already so many people out for Halloween, but my live was a total success! 

Heh heh heh! I’m going to pay a visit to Kawasaki Daishi and pray for my next live to be a success before I go home!

Today’s event is at the Kamata Industrial Plaza, PiO!

This is where Mom and Dad first met… It feels super duper special to be able to hold a live here~!

Usually I’m mainly singing and dancing, but today I'll also be selling handmade goods! And they’re inspired by my most favorite thing of course—trains!

...By the way, we're also planning to exhibit and sell a photo book made by my mom and model trains made by my dad, so I'm carrying a lot of luggage today! I came all the way to Keikyu Kamata Station with my wheeled suitcase behind me. The Keikyu Kamata Station had just finished up renovations, and it looks really cool from the outside. Like a fortress! Plus, the platform has three floors, which makes for a really interesting structure.

…Huh? Those people have super big suitcases… They don’t look like they’re here for the event. Are they heading off on a vacation? Or maybe a business trip?

Many people heading to Haneda Airport often transfer trains at Keikyu Kamata Station. It was a romantic place where "dreams intersect"...Hehe, maybe that’s just a little dramatic. But whenever I see people carrying their suitcases, their eyes sparkling with excitement for the journey ahead, I can’t help but I wish I could hop aboard that red train and go off in search of a dream too. 

At last, it was time for my live in Shinagawa!

Hosting an event at one of those big live music halls in Shinagawa has been a big dream of mine forever. Now that the day has finally arrived, I couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

...O-Oh, right! 

I got permission from my producer to head back to Shinagawa Station, and stopped to listen carefully.

Ah... That deep, reassuring rumble of the motors! ...Just listening to it makes me feel so calm!

As a major terminal station, Shinagawa is the absolute best. Not only does it handle all sorts of local lines, but you can also catch a glimpse of the Shinkansen! Watching the crowds of people coming and going through the station, I let my thoughts wander.

...I wonder where all these people are heading? Shinjuku? Tokyo? Nagoya or Osaka? There’s always a story behind the people at the stations.

Like a train, I carry each of those individual dramas toward their destinations—sometimes swaying gently, and other times rushing forward at top speed.

I need to work just as hard as those trains to deliver inspiration to my fans! ...Alrighty! Let's do this!

With my fighting spirit renewed, I went back to the venue with a spring in my step. Once everything is over, I’ll come back to Shinagawa Station and record plenty of train sounds. And to make sure I earn that treat, I have to make today’s live the absolute best it can be!

The live in Shinagawa was a huge success!I felt my heart truly become one with my fans.

"Right now, we’re all riding the same train—the 'Train of Inspiration'! I’m so glad I became an idol... Okie dokie! Let's ride non-stop all the way to the final destination!"

But fun times pass in the blink of an eye, just like the Hayabusa Shinkansen. Once the live ended and the after party wrapped up, nighttime quietly enveloped the streets of Shinagawa.

"...It’s getting late, so you should head home and get some rest... Shizuno?"

My producer’s voice didn't even register in my ears.

That shiny yellow body… There’s no mistaking it! It’s the Keikyu Yellow Happy Train—revered by rail enthusiasts as the "Train of Happiness" for its incredibly rare operating schedule!

Faced with the object I loved most, my body moved on its own, dashing toward the Keikyu Line ticket gates. I hopped aboard the Keikyu Yellow Happy Train just as the doors slid shut. Outside, my producer stood staring at me in utter bewilderment... But who cares!

Hehehe. To run into you at this exact moment... It just proves that Keikyu and I are bound together by the red thread of fate! ...Huh? Wait... Isn't this...?

I checked my phone, and sure enough this was the last train of the night. 

Oopsies! I really messed up this time... Oh well! I’ll just head all the way to Keikyu Kurihama and wait for the first train of the day to start running. Such is the way of the train otaku~!

The Keikyu Line must look absolutely beautiful as it speeds against the backdrop of the rising sun.  My heart was fluttering with excitement at the mere thought of it.