Kids' Activities 02-2

Subway Stations Display Team Flags

The number of countries that will compete in the 2002 World Cup is 32. This happens to be the same as the number of stations on the Yokohama Municipal Subway, so the subway decided to match each station with a country in the Support Station program, starting May 1. The stations will put up the flags of the countries in places like platforms and near ticket machines, and will display messages of support from local schoolkids, players' uniforms, and match results around the stations.

Also, until the end of June, when the World Cup finishes, the subway has given each station a number in order to make it easier for people to find their way around. The end station in the south, Shonandai, is number 1, Kannai is number 17, Yokohama is number 20, and the venue for the World Cup final, Shin-Yokohama, is number 25.

This kind of step has already been taken by subway lines in South Korea, which is co-hosting the World Cup with Japan, and Yokohama citizens had requested a similar move. The subway authorities said, "We hope people from Japan and abroad will find the municipal subway easy to use and will enjoy sightseeing around Yokohama." (Kanagawa Shimbun)

Photos courtesy of Transportation Bureau City of Yokohama