Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa Coloring Pages

The Yamagata Shinkansen’s New "Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa"

The Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa is a JR East bullet train that runs as the Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa".
It is a brand-new train that made its debut on March 16, 2024.
It runs on the Tohoku Shinkansen tracks from Tokyo to Fukushima. From Fukushima, it travels on regular tracks all the way to Yamagata and Shinjo.
It is slowly taking over for the E3 Series trains that ran before it.

What is a "Mini Shinkansen"?

Just like the Yamagata Shinkansen, a train system where bullet trains can run right onto regular train tracks is called a "Mini Shinkansen."
To fit through regular train tunnels and match regular station platforms, the train body is made a little smaller than other bullet trains.
The E6 Series Komachi is also a Mini Shinkansen train just like this one.

Faster and More Powerful

The Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa travels as fast as 300 km/h on the Tohoku Shinkansen tracks.
It is faster than the E3 Series, so it cuts down travel time between Tokyo and Yamagata!
On regular train tracks from Fukushima, it can go up to 130 km/h.
Between Tokyo and Fukushima, the Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa often runs coupled with the E5 Series Yamabiko train!

Let's check out the 3 coloring pages!

The first picture shows the front of Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa stopped at the platform, seen from a side angle.
You can clearly see its long nose and the lines for coloring different areas around the driver's cabin window.
The second picture shows Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa running through a curve in the green rice fields.
The long line of connected cars is making a gentle turn.
The third picture shows Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa running through the snow.
Yamagata gets a lot of snow, so in winter it runs happily through the snowy scenes.

Running Through the Scenery of Yamagata

The tracks from Fukushima to Yamagata cross a steep mountain pass called Itaya Toge.
The slopes are very steep, but Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa climbs right up them!
Yamagata Prefecture is famous for fruits like cherries and La France pears.
Out the window, you can see fruit orchards, rice fields, and snowy mountains one after another.

Breaking apart at Fukushima Station

The Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa leaves Tokyo connected to the E5 series, and then they uncouple at Fukushima Station.
From there, the Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa goes to Yamagata, and the E5 series goes to Sendai. They head off in different directions!

The top of the front is "Oshidori Purple"

The top of the front of Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa is painted purple.
This color is named "Oshidori Purple" after Yamagata Prefecture's bird, the mandarin duck.
It is a dark purple. Try to color it neatly in the same direction so it does not look spotty!

The stripe is "Safflower Yellow"

Along the bottom edge of the purple, a yellow (close to orange) stripe stretches from the front along the side of the train.
This color is "Safflower Yellow," named after the safflower, the flower of Yamagata Prefecture.
The trick for the thin stripe is to color slowly so you don't go outside the lines!

The white on the train body is "Zao Bianco"

The body below the stripe is white, inspired by the snow of Yamagata's Zao, called "Zao Bianco."
If you leave the white parts uncolored and add shadows with a light gray just near the bottom, it will look 3D!

Rice Field and Snow Scenery

Color the second rice field yellow-green and the grass along the tracks dark green to make them look different.
Leave the snow in the third picture white, and color the trees behind it dark brown or dark green to make it look like a winter mountain.

Windows and Lights

If you color the driver's cab window dark gray or black, the purple front will look sharp.
Try coloring the windows on the side of the train lightly in light blue.
If you make the bellows between the train cars dark gray, it will be easy to see where each car starts and ends.

The Color Names Show Off Yamagata’s Pride

All three colors of Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa are named after things linked to Yamagata.
The mandarin duck (the prefectural bird), safflower (the prefectural flower), and snow on the Zaō mountains.
When you do your coloring page, try to picture the nature of Yamagata!

It Has a Step Under the Door

Platforms at regular train stations are lower than platforms at Shinkansen stations.
So, Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa has a step at the door to make it easy to get on and off!

The Name "Tsubasa"

The Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa" has been running since 1992.
It started as the very first "mini-shinkansen," and Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa is the third generation model.
It has been a super important ride for the people of Yamagata for a long time!

The Front Nose is 9 Meters Long

The nose at the front of Shinkansen E8 Series Tsubasa is about 9 meters long.
This length was chosen to balance going fast with making room for plenty of seats.
Look at the first coloring page and see if you can spot where the nose starts and ends!
Its nose is longer than the E3 Series, giving it a cool, sleek face.