Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 53 minutes ago
If you tried to run a Japanese N700S Shinkansen on a track in New York today, it would be illegal. Not because it’s too fast, but because the US government considers it "too fragile." The US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has historically required trains to survive a massive head-on collision with a freight train. This is "Passive Safety." Japan operates on a completely different philosophy: make sure the crash never happens in the first place. This is "Active Safety."
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
If you tried to run a Japanese N700S Shinkansen on a track in New York today, it would be illegal. Not because it’s too fast, but because the US government considers it "too fragile." The US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has historically required trains to survive a massive head-on collision with a freight train. This is "Passive Safety." Japan operates on a completely different philosophy: make sure the crash never happens in the first place. This is "Active Safety."
Footage: Shutterstock
Inquiries: behindasian@gmail.com
Brought to you by the Behind Asian Team.
