Minobu Line

The name of the Central Japan Railway Company's track. The 88.4 km section between Fuji (Shizuoka Prefecture) and Kofu (Yamanashi Prefecture) is double track, with the Fuji-Fujinomiya section being the only section with single track. The entire line is DC electrified. Most of the line runs along the east bank of the Fuji River, connecting the Gakunan region of Shizuoka Prefecture with the Kofu Basin of Yamanashi Prefecture. Minobu, home to the Nichiren sect's head temple Kuon-ji Temple, and Shimobe, known for its hot springs, are located along the line. The Fuji-Minobu Railway opened the Fuji-Minobu section between 1913 and 1920 (Taisho 2-9), and it was electrified in 1927 (Showa 2). Construction of the section north of Minobu was delayed due to financial difficulties, but the Army's Railway Regiment opened the electrified Minobu-Kofu section in 1927-1928, also for training purposes. The government leased the line in 1938, and nationalized it in 1941, when it was renamed the Minobu Line. In 1987, following the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, it became part of Central Japan Railway Company. There are many sections with steep gradients of 25‰ (per mille) and sharp curves with a radius of less than 400 meters (especially many curves of 300 to 200 meters), which prevent trains from increasing their speed. The section between Fuji and Nishi-Fujinomiya is part of the Gakunan Industrial Zone, which has a large population and trains run frequently.

[Eiichi Aoki and Ryo Aoki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

東海旅客鉄道の線路名称。富士（静岡県）―甲府（山梨県）間88.4キロメートル、富士―富士宮(ふじのみや)間のみ複線でその他の区間は単線。全線直流電化。大部分の区間は富士川東岸を走り、静岡県の岳南(がくなん)地方と山梨県の甲府盆地を結ぶ。日蓮(にちれん)宗総本山久遠(くおん)寺のある身延、温泉で知られた下部(しもべ)などが沿線にある。富士身延鉄道によって1913～1920年（大正2～9）に富士―身延間が開業し、1927年（昭和2）に電化された。身延以北の区間は資金難で建設が遅れたが、1927～1928年に、陸軍の鉄道連隊の手によって演習を兼ねて身延―甲府間を電化開業した。1938年政府はこの線を借り入れ、1941年に国有化して身延線と称された。1987年、日本国有鉄道の分割民営化に伴い、東海旅客鉄道に所属。25‰（パーミル）の急勾配(こうばい)、半径400メートル以下（とくに300～200メートルの曲線区間が多い）の急曲線区間が各所にあって、列車のスピードアップを阻んでいる。富士―西富士宮間は岳南工業地帯に属し、人口も多く、列車も頻繁に運転されている。

［青木栄一・青木　亮］

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