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When I saw this picture in BoingBoing (link), I could not believe my eyes - it looks so unreal and yet it seems to be true. See the full article on Japan Times Online.

The train is painted in a manga-like colors and its retractable cat ears make even more resemblance to a cute creature out of an anime or a manga book. Japan is probably the only place in the world where trains could _really_ look like that.

East Japan Railway Co. on Friday unveiled a new shinkansen in the town of Rifu, Miyagi Prefecture, that will run at a speed of 360 kph, which may make it the world's fastest train.

The train is equipped with a new air-brake system that deploys in the event of an earthquake or other emergency. The retractable cat ear-shaped spoilers that can protrude from the roof are expected to help slow the train more quickly than conventional brakes.

The test runs between Sendai and Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, will be conducted at a maximum speed of 405 kph.