What this is
Legendary voice actor Akio Otsuka — the Japanese voice of Solid Snake, Black Jack, and countless iconic anime roles — hosts an exclusive audio programme that can only be heard while riding the Tokaido Shinkansen. Using your train's location data and speed measurement, the content unlocks automatically onboard between July 10 and August 9, 2026, delivering two segments: a casual talk show and a curated ekiben (station bento) recommendation guide. Listeners who tune in receive a collectible boarding pass-style photo card as a gift.
Who should go
Akio Otsuka fans and anime enthusiasts riding the Tokaido Shinkansen for any reason — this is a bonus experience layered onto an existing journey, not a standalone destination event. Travellers already planning a Tokyo–Osaka or Tokyo–Nagoya trip get the most out of it.
Good to know
No separate ticket or app subscription appears to be required beyond your Shinkansen boarding pass — but confirm the exact listening method on the official JR Central event page before travel, as location-based streaming may require a specific app or Wi-Fi connection. The Tokaido Shinkansen offers free onboard Wi-Fi on N700S and most N700A series trains, which may be needed to stream the content. The collectible boarding pass-style photo card is not handed out onboard — it is printed at multi-copy machines (likely FamilyMart or Lawson) using a code or QR obtained after listening, so allow time after your journey to claim it. Foreign visitors should note that convenience store multi-copy machines (e.g., FamilyMart's Famiport, Lawson's Loppi) are Japanese-language only, so having a translation app handy is advisable.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.