tangerine’s Head of Japan Business, Go Izumisawa, Presents at the UK–Japan Rail Working Group 2025 in Tokyo
tangerine is proud to announce that Go Izumisawa, Head of Japan Business, was invited by the UK Government’s Department for Transport (DfT) to attend and present at the UK–Japan Rail Working Group 2025, held in Tokyo from 1–3 December 2025.
The UK–Japan Rail Working Group is a long‑standing government‑to‑government initiative between the UK’s Department for Transport and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Now in its 23rd year, the RWG brings together senior government officials, national rail operators, manufacturers, and industry leaders to promote knowledge sharing, innovation, and collaboration across both nations’ rail sectors.
UK–Japan Rail Working Group 2025 in Tokyo
tangerine's Head of Japan Business Go Izumisawa (left) delivered a joint presentation with JR East's Deputy Director Masaaki Hara (right)
Joint Presentation with JR East on the New E10 Shinkansen
During the event, Go Izumisawa delivered a joint presentation with tangerine’s client, East Japan Railway Company (JR East), represented by Masaaki Hara, Deputy Director. Together, they showcased the ongoing design collaboration behind Japan’s next‑generation E10 Shinkansen.
As the first UK design consultancy to work on a Shinkansen project, tangerine is partnering closely with JR East to shape a new era of high‑speed rail travel through world‑class industrial design, passenger‑centred innovation, and meticulous attention to detail. The presentation highlighted:
- the design vision for the E10 series
- cross‑cultural and cross‑disciplinary collaboration between tangerine’s London and Tokyo teams
- the integration of design strategy with JR East’s technological and engineering excellence
- how the new E10 Shinkansen will enhance the passenger experience for long-distance, high-speed travel
The session formed part of the RWG’s programme of shared insights into future rail technologies, design methodologies, and major upcoming development initiatives in both countries.
Find out more about the E10 Shinkansen’s Design Story here
Izumisawa, tangerine's Head of Japan Business
Hara, JR East's Deputy Director
About the UK–Japan Rail Working Group 2025
The three‑day programme organised by the DfT brought together UK businesses operating in the rail sector with leading Japanese organisations including JR East, JR Central, Tokyo Metro, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, Nippon Koei, Pacific Consultants, and others.
Programme Highlights
1 December 2025 – Policy & Innovation Exchange
DfT and MLIT delivered presentations on “Rail Hot Topics”, covering climate resilience, construction best practice, smart ticketing, transit‑oriented development, and future rail projects in the UK and Japan.
2 December 2025 – UK–Japan Business Networking Day
A structured programme of one‑to‑one business matchmaking sessions between UK companies and Japanese rail operators, manufacturers, consultants, and technology suppliers.
3 December 2025 – Technical Site Visits
Delegates undertook a guided visit to key rail sites around Tokyo, including Takanawa Gateway City, as well as a ride and depot tour of the Shinkansen network.
This year’s RWG continued the tradition of strengthening bilateral collaboration in rail innovation, system expertise, and third‑country project opportunities.
tangerine’s Legacy in Global Rail Design
tangerine is one of the world’s most respected rail design consultancies. With over 30 years of experience delivering major rail programmes worldwide, the studio has worked with the sector’s most influential operators and manufacturers. Highlights include:
- Selected by Deutsche Bahn to design Germany’s next‑generation high‑speed trains (2024)
- Strategic design partner of CRRC Changchun (2014–2022), completing over 20 major train projects
- Designer of China Rail’s Beijing Winter Olympic train
- Award‑winning collaborations with RECARO on long‑distance rail seating
- Support for Talgo’s HS2 bid with innovative train concepts
- Creator of the Heathrow Express first‑class carriage for the London 2012 Olympic Games
In Japan, tangerine has deep‑rooted relationships with leading brands such as JR East, JAL, Nikon, Seiko, TOTO, Mitsubishi, Okamura, and others. The E10 Shinkansen project represents a significant milestone in our long-term commitment to Japan’s mobility future.
Strengthening UK–Japan Rail Collaboration
Go Izumisawa’s participation in the UK–Japan Rail Working Group reinforces tangerine’s active role in supporting cross‑national innovation between the UK and Japan. Through the E10 Shinkansen collaboration and our continued engagement with industry partners, tangerine remains dedicated to contributing to the world‑leading rail heritage that Japan is globally recognised for.
For more information about tangerine’s rail design expertise, visit here