r/BeAmazed • u/zzill6 • Sep 02 '25

Technology Reporter left speechless after witnessing Japan's new $70 million Maglev train in action at 310 mph

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u/BatPsychological9999 Sep 02 '25

Why can’t we have nice things

2.3k

u/vblink_ Sep 02 '25

Because we would rather give tax cuts for the rich and don't see investing in infrastructure as anything but a cost instead of a service.

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u/Borgweare Sep 02 '25

Also, we allow NIMBYs to veto the development of anything if they don’t like it regardless of how much public good it would do

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u/Sir_Problematic Sep 03 '25

The thing about Japan is you really can't be a NIMBY. Everything is so damn close together that it's not uncommon to have a full ass train line 5 meters from the back of your house. Garbage collection also takes place at designated areas, generally in front of someone's house/community centers outside of metropolitan areas. There's just not space for everyone to put a garbage can out on the street for pickup.

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u/Throwawayhelper420 Sep 03 '25

Except there have been hundreds of severe controversies and protests over NIMBY issues in Japan over the past 40 years.

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u/Speedy-08 Sep 03 '25

Including this maglev project, hence why its been delayed twice from completion.

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u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

[deleted]

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u/NazisInTheWhiteHouse Sep 03 '25

Some people have an idea of Japan they think is universally true without having ever been to Japan or heavily studied it.

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u/wasmic Sep 03 '25

The Shinkansen has been plagued by NIMBYism several times.

For example, the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen lines originally started at Omiya on the outskirts of Tokyo. When the time came to bring it in to Ueno (one of the biggest stations in central Tokyo), there were massive protests because it would be an elevated line.

How did they solve this? More trains! Instead of only building a two-track elevated shinkansen line, they built a 4-track elevated line with 2 shinkansen tracks and 2 tracks for local commuter trains (which run an almost metro-like service with very high frequency). This means that the locals get to benefit too! But also, to reduce noise issues, they had to limit the shinkansen trains to 80 km/h on that part of the route. Later, with advances in technology, they have been able to raise the speeds to 100-130 km/h without exceeding the noise regulations. However, it's still very slow compared to the 250-320 km/h permitted on the rest of the Shinkansen network.

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u/WitnessRadiant650 Sep 03 '25

And that's actually nice. The suburbs have access to public transportation. Most people don't have a car. If you're in the suburb, you either walk or use a bike. If you need to go further, train or bus. Even parts of the rural still have access to a train.

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u/Throwawayhelper420 Sep 03 '25

We are talking about Japan….  What you are describing is factually not Japan 

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u/WitnessRadiant650 Sep 03 '25

k

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u/Throwawayhelper420 Sep 03 '25

Maybe you should consider looking up Japan car ownership statistics before you start spreading misinformation 

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u/WitnessRadiant650 Sep 03 '25

k

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u/WitnessRadiant650 Sep 03 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

u/Throwawayhelper420

Lmao, just using "car ownership" statistic. Like at best households have 1 car, and that's not even a good portion of them. Most get around using public transportation. Japan doesn't have a car brain attitude like America.

Fricken arrogant Reddit lmao.

edit: lol so they just came to argue, then blocked me lmao, fricken Reddit indeed.

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u/Throwawayhelper420 Sep 03 '25

lol, just look them up for christs sake

Jesus dude why are so obsessed with spreading misinformation?

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