A shinkansen bullet train featuring Hello Kitty livery started services on Saturday, with some 400 people observing the departure of the first train at Hakata terminal in southwestern Japan.
The eight-car train, whose white body is decorated with images of pink ribbons to mimic the look of the popular character of Sanrio Co., operates one round-trip between Hakata and Shin-Osaka a day.
When the specially-designed train arrived at Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture, passengers and others welcomed it.
Kayo Honda, 33, came to see the high-speed train with her 4-year-old son from neighboring Kumamoto Prefecture. "It is cute. I want to board it next time," she said.
