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[JP] Tokyo Governor Koike Takes First Maglev Test Ride: "Expect Early Full-Line Opening" (Yamanashi)
Source: NHK News
Original title:
小池知事がリニア初試乗 「早期の全線開業を期待」 山梨
Date: October 19, 2026, 17:52
Original language: Japanese
Web link: https://news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/nd-20261019de61729
Accessed: October 19, 2026

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike visited Yamanashi Prefecture on October 19 and took her first test ride on the Chuo Shinkansen maglev, expressing her expectations for an early opening of the full line.

Her visit came in conjunction with Yamanashi Prefecture's hosting of an International Hydrogen Summit in Hokuto City, which began on October 19.

[JP] Tokyo Governor Koike Takes First Superconducting Maglev Test Ride, Experiencing Travel at 500 km/h
Source: TV Asahi News (ANN)
Original title:
小池都知事が超電導リニアを初試乗 時速500キロの乗り心地を体験
Date: October 19, 2026, 23:47
Original language: Japanese
Web link: https://news.tv-asahi.co.jp/news_societ ... 41330.html
Accessed: October 20, 2026

This report adds detail to the NHK coverage of the same October 19 event: Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike visited the Yamanashi Maglev Center in Tsuru City, Yamanashi, where test running of the Chuo Shinkansen superconducting maglev takes place, and took her first ride on the vehicle.

Key points:
Governor Koike inspected the maglev's high-speed running together with Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, and experienced the ride quality at a maximum speed of 500 km/h for the first time (TV Asahi, KSB).

After the ride, Governor Koike remarked: "Just 26 minutes from Shinagawa to Kofu—this would put it within commuting range. I had only seen that on paper until now, but experiencing this speed makes me expect it will actually be realized" (Yahoo News/ANN).

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government stated it will proceed with urban development that maximizes the maglev's benefits in areas such as around Shinagawa Station (TV Asahi).

In the same visit, both governors inspected the lead car before the high-speed run; TBS reported the Shinagawa–Kofu journey at roughly 25 minutes (TBS News Dig).

[JP] "Experienced the Speed and Comfort": Tokyo Governor Koike's First Maglev Ride, Hoping Tokyo and Yamanashi "Develop Together Through Cooperation"
Source: YBS News NNN (Yamanashi Broadcasting System, via Nippon TV news site)
Original title:
「速度と快適性を体感」小池都知事がリニア初試乗 山梨と「互いに連携しながら発展」
Date: October 19, 2026, 11:28
Original language: Japanese
Category: Economy
Web link: https://news.ntv.co.jp/n/ybs/category/e ... 6b53625df3
Accessed: October 20, 2026

Yamanashi-based YBS's local report on Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's first maglev test ride, adding new detail to the October 19 coverage:
Governor Koike visited the Yamanashi Maglev Center in Tsuru City on October 19. After receiving an explanation from JR Central officials, she boarded the maglev together with Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, experiencing the 500 km/h world of superconducting technology for the first time.

Statements after the ride:
Governor Koike (Tokyo): "I experienced the speed and comfort. When Tokyo becomes closer to Yamanashi's many assets, I believe we can develop while cooperating with each other."

Governor Nagasaki (Yamanashi): "An environment will be built where one person can enjoy both the benefits of Tokyo's concentration and Yamanashi's space. I was strongly reminded again that I want this realized quickly."

On opening strategy: With the Chuo Shinkansen's opening date still unannounced, both governors expressed the view that full-line opening to Nagoya is desirable, and were negative about a proposed prior partial opening of the Shinagawa–Kofu section only.