THE LAND OF EIJI MITOOKA

Traveling to Oita City from Beppu Station on a local train. The service is operated by a JR Kyushu 815 series EMU designed by the industrial designer Eiji Mitooka.

工業デザイナー水戸岡鋭治氏がデザインしたJR九州815系電車で運行される普通列車に乗って、別府から大分の街へ向かう。

The train ran along the shore of Beppu Bay...

別府湾の海岸沿いに走って・・・

...and arrived at Oita Station.

大分駅に到着したら・・・

There, I found the 885 series EMU for the White Sonic limited express service, which has a touch of Siemens trains such as Deutsche Bahn’s ICE 3 and the Eurostar e320. This train was also designed by Mitooka.

特急「白いソニック」用の885系電車を発見。ドイチェバーンのICE 3やユーロスターe320といったジーメンス車両に似た風情のこの列車も、水戸岡氏のデザイン。

The building of Oita Station was designed by Mitooka, too. The red-brick facade with its classic arches and stars makes me think of a Sapporo Beer facility.

大分駅の駅舎を手掛けたのも水戸岡氏。赤煉瓦のファサードにクラシックなアーチと星がついているので、なんとなくサッポロビールの施設っぽい。