JR Kyushu’s luxury cruise train, Seven Stars in Kyushu, made its maiden voyage on Oct. 15. The train cost ¥3 billion to build and tickets can cost up to ¥550,000 per person. Ahead of plans to take the company public, the new train is a bold gamble. “I want to use all of my experience to provide our customers with ultimate satisfaction,” declared President Koji Karaike. About 100 members of the press were on hand for the train’s launch. “This is a new day for the JR Kyushu Group, Kyushu tourism and Japanese rail travel,” remarked a teary-eyed Karaike. JR East plans to put its own luxury train into service in 2016, and JR West is also considering a luxury train. According to Karaike, “Service is a living, breathing thing, so we must explore how we can ensure the satisfaction of each and every customer.” Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, 10/16
