25 June, 2022

Notice

Dear followers of Twitter, subscribers and readers of this blog


This blog has been suspended temporarily since 8 June due to the copyright infringement, but I am pleased to announce that the weekly update will be resumed on the next Saturday (1 July, Japanese time). However, many past articles remain unavailable.

Before the suspension, I have written 175 articles in three years with over 800 images. Inserting a new watermark to all photos and editing all articles will surely take weeks and thus it is not feasible. Therefore, I have given up making all articles public once again, and decided instead to reinstate only 12 articles which seem to be important.

I have been inserting a watermark to almost all photos I upload online, and many of you may think that my response to copyright infringement is a little excessive. There is a reason why I take the case very seriously: about two years ago, at least one of my photos was sold by an unknown individual without my permission, and an agent in the United States claimed that THEY had the copyright and effectively blackmailed me. Hence, I had no other option but to defend myself this time.

Images on the blog and The Red List of Trains in Japan now have a logo and URL. I appreciate your patience and understanding.



KHKQ
, a Japanese railway enthusiast

08 June, 2022

Temporary closure of the blog

Update (16 Mar 2023): the issue has been settled.


Dear followers of Twitter, subscribers and readers of this blog


Earlier today, I found a tweet obviously using my photograph without my permission. The photo contained a blue translucent logo I often insert either at the bottom left or right of each image I uploaded online. It clearly constitutes a copyright infringement, and I have sent a tweet directly to the person in question, but no response is made so far.

All photos I upload on this blog, my website and Twitter are my works except very few images which are specifically mentioned in a caption. I have NEVER relinquished the copyrights. I withhold myself at the moment from taking further action against the person in question, such as filing an official complaint to Twitter, Inc. or taking a legal action against him, but note that I always reserve the right to resort to any measures deemed proportionate whenever necessary.

Such a case is not new to me. I have been inserting the logo to deter people from copying images without my permission, and make the photos easy for me to find when uploaded somewhere. With the deepest regret, it now appears that the current logo did not work well so that I have no choice but to take more actions as follows:

  • This blog will be temporarily closed whilst photos are examined, and they will be covered with another watermark in due course.
  • Some photos on Twitter may be deleted. Upcoming images will have a watermark of my Twitter ID.
  • Photos on The Red List of Trains in Japan will have a watermark with the URL of the website, and it takes effect immediately.

I am merely an amateur photographer, but I have already spent more than a decade, spent substantial amount of money and made great effort to take photos, edit them and upload them online with English texts, just like each of you, the kindred minds across the world. I would like to urge once again: do follow rules of copyright, and ask me in advance if you want to use any of my photograph. If you send me a message on Twitter, I would be happy to talk about the photos, and I would send you the original-sized image if necessary.

I regret the decision, and I am fully aware that these measures make photos far less attractive and not a few people may feel it annoying, but I appreciate your understanding.


KHKQ, a Japanese railway enthusiast

04 June, 2022

Who is responsible for seat removal, JR Kyushu or passengers?

In 2021, some commuters in Fukuoka and Oita areas felt that something was wrong on a train. They found large spaces next to doors, and they wondered if such spaces existed ever before. Then, they realised that there were less seats than before the pandemic began. Many people accuse JR Kyushu of deteriorating service quality, while a few others defend the company.


The controversial seat removal has been taken place on 813 series, the most common train type in northern Kyushu. Local newspaper Nishinippon Shimbun reported the issue earlier this year, which this blog article mainly relies on. According to the newspaper, up to 40% of seats have been removed from a fleet.


Fewer seats simply means less likely to get a seat, but it also provides standing capacity and leads to more efficient operation. To be specific, a carriage with reduced seats gives 20% more capacity in total. In that case, a nine-car train can be shortened to eight or seven coaches while the overall capacity remains unchanged, and it must be an attractive option for JR Kyushu amid a decline in revenue caused by COVID-19 pandemic.


(This is what was supposed to be)

It might satisfy the company, but many commuters and students are discontented with the seat reduction. They mourn that they can no longer take a seat on a stressful journey to and from their workplaces or schools. It is also said that the train has got colder in winter than before, as JR Kyushu removed heaters under the seats. Meanwhile, a few others insist that wheelchair and pram users feel easier to be on a train than before.


Many people condemn the reduction and suspect that JR Kyushu just wants to cut expenditures by reducing the number of carriages. However, the company contends the view, and argues that the seat removal was necessary to allow smoother boarding and alighting especially during rush hours. Unlike commuters and students in other major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, those in Fukuoka have been notorious for behaving badly on a train, as most people always stand in front of doors and never move down inside the train. The sticker above reads "do not sit on a floor", which is very rare outside Kyushu as it is a well-known unwritten norm.


JR Kyushu is going to reduce seats on 153 out of 246 carriages of the 813 series by September 2022. The company will also enhance heater capability to keep the trains warm enough in winter. JR Kyushu has been criticised that their services are getting inconvenient in recent years, and the seat reduction is unpopular among many passengers. However, it must not be forgotten that passengers are partly responsible for it, and they should learn from commuters in Tokyo and Osaka.