Let's name the E5 bullet train "Hatsune"!!

In spring 2011, the latest bullet train "E5" will be supposed to debut at Tohoku Shinkansen (Literally, Tohoku New Main Line, one of the Japan big railway groups which operates the bullet train). JR HigashiNihon (the company which is in charge of all east-side Japan JR train operation) is now raising the nickname of the new train “E5”. The color arrangement of the train is that green and pink stripe

The thing is that the color of the train whose maximum speed can be 300 km/h has similar color contrast with the one of “Hatsune Miku”, the best well-known Vocaloid (picture above). Now, in the “Hatsune Miku” community of mixi (the most popular SNS in Japan) the promotion of voting has launched; “Let’s name the E5 bullet train Hatune!!”

Also, on the Twitter, another promotion has started simultaneously in the hushtag “#E5_mikumiku”. The deadline of the voting is by 24:00 31th March (wed). People who love the nickname Hatune, just go to the homepage of JR HigashiNihon and to vote for the name. You can vote for one nickname per one entry, although you can send the application anytime.

初音ミクカラーのE5系新幹線を「はつね」に！

2011年春、東北新幹線に新型高速新幹線車両「E5系」がデビューする。現在、JR東日本では、新しい東北新幹線の列車愛称を募集中だ。最高速度300km/hでかっ飛ばすE5系新幹線のボディーカラーは、緑にピンクのストライプ。そう、初音ミクと同じ配色なのだ。現在、mixi上の「初音ミク」コミュニティを中心に、投票を呼びかける活動が始まっている。

またTwitterでは、ハッシュタグ「#E5_mikumiku」で、投票のサポート活動が行われている。投票締め切りは、3月31日（水）24：00。愛称「はつね」に賛同できる方は、JR東日本の投票ページへGO。応募1件につき愛称1件だが、複数件の応募は可能になっている。


News Source: http://www.su-gomori.com/2010/03/e5.html


OPINION by Fuangping
"on purpose?"

Some Japanese netizens say in the 2ch (biggest BBS in Japan) that "it goes too far". And I think, too, it's right, maybe. Making best of the popularity of Anime stuffs is off course on the right track. But, in my opinion, when it comes to very public affair, it must require very serious consideration. And the name of the bullet train could belong to the area. Not only temporal populism, prudence should be necessary.

But one the other hand, seeing the arrangement of the color of the latest bullet train, I can't help but thinking just one idea; "didn't they dicide the color on purpose, knowing about Hatsune Miku?", because it's too much suited...

I don't know the truth though, can't miss the result of the voting.