Eiji Mitooka

Japanese industrial designer, and illustrator

水戸岡鋭治

Eiji Mitooka at the tape-cutting ceremony for Fujisan Station in July 2011

Born (1947-07-05) 5 July 1947 (age 77)

Okayama Prefecture

NationalityJapaneseOccupationManaging director of Don Design AssociatesKnown forIndustrial design

Eiji Mitooka (水戸岡鋭治, Mitooka Eiji, born 5 July 1947 in Okayama Prefecture) is a Japanese industrial designer, illustrator, and managing director of the industrial design company Don Design Associates (ドーンデザイン研究所). He also works as a design consultant for Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu).^[1]

Biography

Mitooka graduated from Okayama Technical High School in 1965.^[1]

After graduating from high school, Mitooka worked at Studio Silvo Coppola in Italy before founding Don Design Associates in 1972.^[1] The company oversees design projects for buildings, interiors, railway vehicles, graphics, and products.^[1]

In October 2011, Mitooka was awarded the 59th Kikuchi Kan Prize, presented annually by Bungei Shunju literary magazine and the Society for the Advancement of Japanese Culture.^[2]

Projects

JR Kyushu projects

Kagoshima-Chuo Station (formerly Nishi-Kagoshima Station) building^[1]
Kumamoto Station building^[1]
787 series Tsubame electric multiple unit, 1993 Blue Ribbon Award winner^[1]
883 series Sonic electric multiple unit, 1996 Blue Ribbon Award winner^[1]
Yufuin no Mori II KiHa 72 diesel multiple unit train, 1999^[3]
885 series Kamome electric multiple unit, 2001 Blue Ribbon Award winner^[1]
Yufuin no Mori I KiHa 70 series diesel multiple unit train refurbishment, 2003^[3]
Yufu DX KiHa 183 series diesel multiple unit train refurbishment, 2004^[3]
Hayato no Kaze KiHa 47 series diesel multiple unit train refurbishment, 2004^[3]
Trans-Kyushu Limited Express KiHa 185 series diesel multiple unit train refurbishment, 2004^[3]
800 Series Shinkansen, 2005 Laurel Prize winner^[1]
KiHa 125-400 series Umisachi Yamasachi train (in service from 10 October 2009)^[4]
Ibusuki no Tamatebako diesel multiple unit train (in service from 2011)^[5]
KiHa 185 series A-Train (in service from 8 October 2011)^[4]
Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury excursion train (in service from October 2013)^[6]
305 series EMU commuter trains for the Chikuhi Line (in service from February 2015)^[7]
Aru Ressha luxury excursion train (in service from August 2015)^[8]
BEC819 series battery EMU trains for the Fukuhoku Yutaka Line and Chikuhō Main Line (in service from October 2016)^[9]
Kawasemi Yamasemi two-car diesel multiple unit tourist train conversion (in service from spring 2017)^[10]
811 series EMU refurbishment from 2017^[11]

A JR Kyushu 787 series EDMU in April 2011
A JR Kyushu 883 series EMU in March 2010
Yufuin no Mori II DMU in August 2008
885 series EMU in August 2010
Yufuin no Mori I DMU in August 2006
Hayato no Kaze DMU
Trans-Kyushu Limited Express KiHa 185 series DMU in September 2010
KiHa 125-400 series Umisachi Yamasachi train in June 2010
The KiHa 47 Ibusuki no Tamatebako train in August 2012
KiHa 185 series A-Train, October 2011
Seven Stars in Kyushu in November 2013
A JR Kyushu 305 series EMU in January 2016
The JR Kyushu KiHa 40 Aru Ressha trainset in October 2015
The JR Kyushu BEC819 series battery EMU train in June 2016

Fujikyu projects

Fujikyu 1200 series Fuji Tozan Densha train refurbishment, 2009^[12]
Fujikyuko Line Shimoyoshida Station renovation, 2009^[13]
Fujikyuko Line Fujisan Station renovation, 2011^[14]
Fujikyu 6000 series electric multiple unit (in service from February 2012)^[15]
Fujikyu 8500 series Fujisan View Express train refurbishment, entering service in April 2016^[16]

Fujikyu 1200 series Fuji Tozan Densha EMU in October 2010
Renovated Shimoyoshida Station on the Fujikyuko Line in August 2009
A Fujikyu 6000 series electric multiple unit
The Fujikyu 8500 series electric multiple unit train in June 2016

Other railway projects

Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line train refurbishment (from March 2006)^[17]
Okayama Electric Tramway Momo tramcar^[1]
Hisatsu Orange Railway Orange Restaurant Express tourist train (in service from March 2013)^[18]
Kitakinki Tango Railway: Refurbishment of two KTR700 diesel cars (Akamatsu and Aomatsu) re-entering service from March 2013, at a cost of approximately 40 million yen^[19]
Kumagawa Railroad Yunomae Line: Five diesel cars to be delivered in fiscal 2013 and 2014^[20]
JR Shikoku Shiman Torocco (しまんトロッコ) train refurbishment, returning to service from 5 October 2013^[21]
Kitakinki Tango Railway: Refurbishment of KTR800 diesel car KTR803, re-entering service from 1 November 2013^[22]
Shinano Railway: 115 series Rokumon tourist train conversion^[23]
Kyoto Tango Railway: Rebuilding two two-car KTR8000 Tango Discovery DMU sets to be renamed Tango no Umi during fiscal 2015^[24]
Nagaragawa Railway: Rebuilding two Nagara 300 series diesel cars to become the Nagara sightseeing train, entering service in spring 2016^[25]
Izukyu Corporation: Rebuilding of Alpha Resort 21 train to become The Royal Express sightseeing train, entering service in summer 2017^[26]
Coto Coto Train: touristic train service run by the Heisei Chikuhō Railway Company in the Fukuoka Prefecture, opened in 2019.^[27]

"Ichigo Electric Car" on the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line, 2006
Okayama Tramway 9200 series "Momo" tramcar
The Hisatsu Orange Railway Orange Restaurant Express tourist train in July 2013
Kitakinki Tango Railway diesel car 708, Aomatsu, April 2013
Kumagawa Railroad diesel cars KT501 to KT503 in December 2014
JR Shikoku Shiman Torocco, October 2013
Shinano Railway Rokumon 115 series EMU in February 2015
Kyoto Tango Railway KTR8000 Tango no Umi DMU in October 2016
Coto Coto Train of the Heisei Chikuhō Railway Company, 2019

Exhibitions

Eiji Mitooka Great Railway Era Exhibition: From Ekiben to Shinkansen (水戸岡鋭治の大鉄道時代展　駅弁から新幹線まで) Axis Gallery, Tokyo, 8–23 October 2011^[28]
Eiji Mitooka Railway Design Exhibition: From Ekiben to Shinkansen (水戸岡鋭治の鉄道デザイン展　駅弁から新幹線まで) Art Tower Mito Contemporary Gallery, 7 July - 30 September 2012^[29]

Bibliography

Mitooka, Eiji (September 1987). Perfect Presentation: Illustration + Perspective in Pantone Colors. Graphic-sha. p. 160. ISBN 4-7661-0435-8.

Mitooka, Eiji (1985). Airbrushing in rendering. Van Nostrand Reinhold. p. 133. ISBN 978-0442260828.
Mitooka, Eiji (21 December 2004). ぼくは「つばめ」のデザイナー―九州新幹線800系誕生物語 [Tsubame 800 Kyushu Shinkansen Design Story]. Kodansha. p. 155. ISBN 978-4062125321.
Mitooka, Eiji (6 June 2007). 旅するデザイン鉄道でめぐる九州水戸岡鋭治のデザイン画集 [Around The Kyushu]. Shogakukan. p. 145. ISBN 978-4096820124.
Mitooka, Eiji (1 August 2009). 水戸岡鋭治の「正しい」鉄道デザイン―私はなぜ九州新幹線に金箔を貼ったのか? [Eiji Mitooka's "Correct" Railway Design - Why I Applied Gold Leaf to the Kyushu Shinkansen]. Kotsu Shimbunsha. p. 198. ISBN 978-4330087092.
Mitooka, Eiji (11 December 2009). 電車のデザイン [Railway Vehicle Design]. Chuokoron Shinsha. p. 205. ISBN 978-4121503367.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "Guest Profile: Eiji Mitooka" (in Japanese). Japan: J-Wave. 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2012.
^ 菊池寛賞、なでしこ・沢主将らに [Kikuchi Kan Prize to Nadeshiko Sawa and others]. The Asahi Shimbun Digital (in Japanese). Japan: The Asahi Shimbun Company. 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 水戸岡氏のプロフィール及びこれまでの主な仕事 [Eiji Mitooka profile and list of major projects] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: Kyushu Railway Company. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
^ ^a ^b JR特急列車年鑑2013 [Limited Express Annual 2013]. Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 December 2012. pp. 118–123. ISBN 978-4-86320-654-0.
^ "JR九州　キハ４７形改造車　"指宿のたまて箱"" [JR Kyushu converted KiHa 47 Ibusuki no Tamatebako]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 40, no. 324. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. April 2011. pp. 80–81.
^ ＪＲ九州:豪華列車「ななつ星」　来年１０月から運行 [JR Kyushu deluxe train Seven Stars in service from October 2013]. Mainichi jp (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 28 May 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
^ "JR九州筑肥線に305系通勤型直流電車投入" [JR Kyushu to introduce 305 series DC commuter trains on Chikuhi Line]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
^ "Luxury 'dream train' designed over 100 years ago goes into service in Kyushu". The Japan Times. Japan: The Japan Times Ltd. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
^ 地球にやさしい“蓄電池電車"「ＤＥＮＣＨＡ」運行開始　ＪＲ筑豊線 [Environmentally friendly "Dencha" battery train enters service on JR Chikuho Line]. Sankei West (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 19 October 2016. Archived from the original on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
^ 肥薩線にD＆S列車「かわせみやませみ」を導入 ["Kawasemi Yamasemi" D&S train to be introduced on Hisatsu Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
^ 811系リニューアル車，4月27日から営業運転を開始 [Refurbished 811 series train to enter revenue service from 27 April]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 26 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
^ 富士急行「富士登山電車」を運行 [Fujikyuko to introduce "Fuji Tozan Train"]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 49, no. 581. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. September 2009. p. 74.
^ 各駅のご案内 [Station information] (in Japanese). Japan: Fujikyuko. 16 April 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
^ 水戸岡鋭治氏、次は富士吉田の市街地をリニューアル!? - 富士山駅誕生式典 [Fujisan Station Opening Ceremony - Eiji Mitooka: Next plan is to renovate the town of Fujiyoshida?]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
^ "富士急行６０００系（元ＪＲ２０５系）が２月２９日にデビュー" [Fujikyu 6000 series (former JR 205 series) debuts on 29 February]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 336. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. April 2012. p. 81.
^ 富士急行8500系 [Fuji Kyuko 8500 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 662. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2016. pp. 104–105.
^ Tsuru, Michitaka (June 2006). "いちご電車をよろしく" [Please welcome the Strawberry Train]. Railway Journal (476). Japan: Tetsudō Journal: 78–83.
^ "肥薩オレンジ鉄道観光列車　"おれんじ食堂"" [Hisatsu Orange Railway: "Orange Restaurant" Sightseeing Train]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 342. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. October 2012. p. 71.
^ ＫＴＲ車両の改造デザイン等の決定について [Details of KTR train rebuilding]. News Release (in Japanese). Japanese: Kitakinki Tango Railway Company. 11 October 2012. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2012.
^ 水戸岡さんデザイン最後の車両に？　くま川鉄道 [Kumagawa Railroad - Last trains to be designed by Eiji Mitooka?]. Kumanichi.com (in Japanese). Japan: Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
^ "JR四国「しまんトロッコ」" [JR Shikoku Shiman Torocco]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 53, no. 630. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. October 2013. p. 57.
^ 北近畿タンゴ鉄道「コミューター車両」 [Kitakinki Tango Railway "commuter train"]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 54, no. 633. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. January 2014. p. 69.
^ しなの鉄道観光列車「ろくもん」のデザインを発表 [Shinano Railway unveils design for "Rokumon" tourist train]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
^ 京都丹後鉄道、新しい特急列車を運行へ…「ディスカバリー」を改造 [Kyoto Tango Railway to introduce new limited express trains rebuilt from "Discovery" trains]. Response (in Japanese). Japan: IID, Inc. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
^ 長良川鉄道，観光列車「ながら」を導入 [Nagaragawa Railway to introduced "Nagara" sightseeing train]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
^ 伊豆の新たな観光列車は「THE ROYAL EXPRESS ザロイヤルエクスプレス」デザインも発表 [Design unveiled for new Izu sightseeing train "The Royal Express"]. tetsudo-shimbun.com (in Japanese). Japan: Tetsudo Shimbun. 17 November 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
^ "Coto Coto Train – A Luxurious Ride Through Fukuoka's Backcountry". Fukuoka Now. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
^ "Axis Gallery" (in Japanese). Japan: Axis Inc. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
^ "Eiji Mitooka Railway Design Exhibition: From Ekiben to Shinkansen". The Japan Times. Japan: The Japan Times Ltd. 5 July 2012. p. 14. ISSN 0289-1956.