Chainsaw for a shot: Japanese man cuts down tree by railway

In Japan, a 23-year-old train photographer cut down a tree with a chainsaw to get a better shot of a tourist train. The tree damaged a communications cable, and the man was detained on suspicion of endangering train operations.

Chainsaw used in an attempt to improve train photo in Japan: man cuts down tree, which falls onto communications line

A 23-year-old man was detained in Japan after cutting down a tree to get a better shot of a train. It fell onto an important railway communications cable, putting passengers at risk.

Railway photography is very popular in the country. Photographers who enjoy shooting trains are called “toritetsu.” Some of them take dangerous risks to get a shot. Offenses for which railfans have been arrested include theft, violence, and trespassing on railway property. Photographers also sometimes run across the tracks in front of an approaching train, trying to get a picture in time.

Last year, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) ran a campaign urging photographers to stop engaging in behavior that puts people at risk. However, the recent incident went beyond such cases.

Police in Hokkaido Prefecture arrested Kōdai Watanabe, a 23-year-old taxi driver from the city of Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture. Investigators allege that he trespassed on the JR Senmo Line in Kushiro and brought a chainsaw to cut down a tree. When it fell, it struck a railway communications cable and put passengers in the area at risk.

According to Tokyo Reporter, Watanabe wanted a better shot of the tourist train Kushiro Shitsugen Norokko-go, also known as Sunset Norokko. Photographers had started coming to photograph the train after JR Senmo announced that its service would soon end.

Watanabe reportedly admitted to the allegations. His case has been referred to local prosecutors on suspicion of endangering railway traffic. During questioning, he explained that he thought that day would be his last chance to photograph Sunset Norokko in good weather.

“The weather was great, and it was my last chance to photograph the train. I wanted to get a good shot. I wanted to improve the shooting conditions even a little, so I cut down the tree with a chainsaw,” Watanabe said.

The potential penalty depends on what exactly he is charged with: endangering railway traffic or negligently creating a hazard. In the first case, he could face a fine as well as several years in prison.

Photo: Visit Hokkaido