More chic than geek, a new shop selling train-themed items is set to open in the middle of next month in Akihabara Station. Up-and-coming new designers such as Toshio Tamura and Hitoshi Takayama have been recruited to give the goods on sale a sleek, modern look, making the store appealing not just to unashamed train nerds but also to trendier customers who harbor a secret passion for anything railroad related.
Tamura has designed the Line & Number Series, which includes a hip black shoulder bag with a glossy finish. The bag’s white line motif represents the junction of two rail tracks, while the numerous zips also recall rail tracks. If you can’t stretch to the bag, which costs ¥1,680, then a wallet or pass case with the same design will do very nicely.
The K-4 ki Series by Hitoshi Takayama celebrates the various famous rail routes of Tokyo, including of course Tokyo’s most famous circular route, the Yamanote line. The Yamanote Line theme folder comes in the line’s distinctive green color and bears the number of the train line’s rolling stock.
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