This mysterious futuristic robo-banana on steroids is known only as 'Dr. Yellow' - a strange cylon-esque passenger-less test train that examines the tracks.
Instead of people it carries racks of Hitachi diagnostic computers and observation devices in every carriage, constantly recording the state of the rails and overhead cables on the Shinkansen line.
It soon draws the attention of the locals and kids flock over to get their picture taken with it, all pulling the Japanese trademark peace symbols.
There is an anthropomorphic quality to the design. It looks fast, but not unfriendly, perhaps due to the smoothness of its aerodynamic surfaces and its low wide comedy nose.
The nose is reminiscent of the below-the-waterline bulbous bow protuberance seen on many modern tankers and ocean liners. Bulbous bow is designed to reduce drag through the water, just as the nose of the bullet train is design to efficiently carve through the air at speeds of up to a record breaking 361mph.
Usually though the Shinkansen travels at a slightly more sedate 275mph or even a leisurely 188mph crawl in the more earthquake & typhoon prone regions.
Thought
Extreme aerodynamic designs (such as the various Shinkansen nose cones, Concord, F1 cars) are good examples of how airflow has sculpted visual forms. We can safely assume the surface language of drag coefficients is well understood by the general populous, and we all like to project characters on to the 'faces' of iconic designs.
Nagare goes further than this. It is more than just flow. How do we convey the more spiritual aspect without coming across as overtly intellectual?
Is there a Nagare 'face', and a Nagare 'character'?
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