- Travel on the Rail -

At the same time Seikan tunnel, the longest tunnel in the world, opened, JR Seikan Ferry between Aomori, the north edge of Main island, and Hakodate, the south edge of Hokkaido, was fallen down the curtain on March 13, 1988 after its history for 80 years. The last voyages were with "Hakkoda Maru" from Aomori and "Yotei Maru" from Hakodate.

On Sunday, March 13th, 1988, I became the witness of the change of history, which means that I could get on the last ship #22 of Seikan Ferry from Hakodate, Hokkaido.

Waiting for the ticket in front of the entrance of the ferry

From N who had lined for 4 days to get it, we got onto the ship with the tickets that were issued only for 500 people. "Yotei Maru" was chosen for the last ship from Hakodate. I remember that it was my first ship of Seikan Ferry, and that I was very cheerful with the expectation for my first voyage of the ferry and my first visiting Hokkaido. After having used those ferries more than 10 times so far, when I think this will be the last voyage, there are very different feelings in my heart from then. Putting my baggage on the non-reserved seat of the second class, soon I went out to the deck. I found that a lot of tepes were between the ship and the landing pier.

Hakodate pier and Mt. Hakodate from "Yotei Maru"

17:00. "Long whistle!" I wonder what Catain Suzuki Shigeru thought when he yelled out the command. The ship left the pier slowly, which cut the tapes one by one. "See you!" All of us, on the ship and also on the pier, are waving hands each other, and I did. But who for? Soon, the pier went out of our sight. Mt. Hakodate is there, just on our side, as it is so far. I asked to a crew close to me, "This is the last veiw of that mountain from this ferry, isn't it?" He just replied "yes". He seems to disguise as so calm.

"Hatsukari No.10", the first train through the tunnel

Japanese sake was served us in the ship. The space in front of the information desk was so crowded, and as the barrel was opened there, one passenger fell down maybe for the fever and was carried to the medical room. We worried, but just after a few minutes, we got from the announce that he recovered, and applause occurred among us. Quick actions by the crews and a nurse that was on the ship by chance saved him, I think. In the cabin of the second class, a party has started. We have been all friendly since having lined at the Hakodate station for a few days. We talked only about Seikan tunnel with a term of abuses that opened just today, and then, it was just dark out of the windows.

When the party got to calm down, we found the lights of Aomori port. We went out to the deck again. "Ishikari Maru", which has already finished her task, is at the left side of us, and a triangular building "Aspam", where a chorus of "Auld Lang Syne" has been doing, is also into our sight. Closing to Aomori pier, we can see so many people there. For the responce to "Ishikari Maru", our "Yotei Maru" blew the whistle as well. And finally, we got alongside the pier. Captain Suzuki announced, "We appriciate your patronage for so long period." I cannot walk away from there soon. Getting off, and looking back at the ship, I called to her in my heart, "Thank you very much, Seikan Ferry! And, see you soon!!"

The first issued for the bulletin of a railroad club in a high school in 1988

"Yotei Maru" in Hakodate on the previous day of her last voyage