Seika Utsunomiya of the Sanriku Railway

Profile

Seika Utsunomiya
Train Conductor Cadet
North Rias Line Operations  
The Sanriku Railway

Originally from Miyako.
Ms. Utsunomiya wanted to work in the railway industry, so after she graduated high school, she joined a private railway company in the Kanto region as a station attendant.

She had been feeling an urge to return to her hometown, when she heard that Sanriku Railway was hiring. She decided to go home and has been employed at Sanriku Railway since April 2016. Currently, she is working at the ticket counter and store in Miyako Station, and working on operations for trips to Kuji. Since May, she has been training to become a train conductor on the Ozashiki Train.

Feature

Things I realized only after I left

"Even while I was working in the Kanto region, I'd come back home to Miyako once a month, so I was watching the city change. New buildings have appeared, and I feel like reconstruction is well on its way," says Ms. Utsunomiya, who returned to Miyako after 3 years of living away from the city.

“Tokyo and Miyako each have their own good points. I was born and raised in Miyako, but there were great things about the city that I didn’t realize until I left. It’s been five years since the disaster, but there are so many people who are hurting. I really want the people of Miyako to be well again," she says, talking fondly of her hometown.

I'll do my best to reach my dream

Ms. Utsunomiya's dream is to be a train conductor. "If I achieve my dream, I'll become the 2nd woman train conductor in Sanriku Railway. I hope I can do everyone proud, and I'll work hard to make my dream come true," she says on chasing after her dreams.

"The 'Ozashiki Train - North Sanriku Car' is operated on the Sanriku Railway’s North Rias Line on weekends and holidays. It's a really fun train where you can listen to an attendant talk about the sights, and also reserve and eat a delicious lunch box inside. I really recommend it!"

Special train services are being planned in preparation for summer vacation, indicating a busy and exciting tourism season for the coast.