At the Osaka-Kansai Expo’s official store, a shoplifting incident occurred, leading to the arrest of six university students by Osaka Prefectural Police. These students, who are railway photography enthusiasts known as “toritetsu,” traveled from Tokyo to Osaka by boarding the Tokaido Shinkansen without a ticket. During police questioning, they admitted to habitually riding trains without paying and purchased discounted “junior” tickets intended for ages 12-17 for expo entry instead of adult tickets. The incident has sparked backlash on social media not only towards the students but also against railway photography enthusiasts and train hobbyists in general.
A man with 20 years of experience as a railway fan expressed anger over the incident, noting a series of negative events that have tarnished the reputation of railway enthusiasts. Similarly, a railway staff member highlighted issues with “noritetsu,” who travel without valid tickets, exploiting knowledge of unmanned or minimally staffed stations.
Furthermore, “toritetsu” have been criticized for illegal parking and trespassing on properties near train lines to capture exclusive train photographs. Reports on social media indicate frequent altercations involving “toritetsu” who demand unobstructed photos and adhere to their community’s peculiar standards of removing human presence from their images. These actions often result in complaints to railroad companies, who struggle with staff shortages.
Due to such notoriety, some speculate that rail companies are less interested in hosting events for railway enthusiasts. Meanwhile, they are developing services geared towards affluent domestic and international travelers, recognizing their economic contributions. As railway companies pivot away from enthusiast-centered offerings, there are concerns about dwindling events dedicated to train fans. It underscores the need for communities at large to address disruptive behaviors within their ranks to avoid broader restrictions on their activities.
by MagazineKey4532