Celebrating 35 Years of 'Baki'!! ~Manners Must Be Protected!!~ The World's Strongest Etiquette Lecture on Trains

Akita Shoten Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Noriji Yamaguchi), Sotetsu Railway Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa; President and CEO: Masayuki Hirano), Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi; President and CEO: Hiroki Takasaki), Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Fukuoka, Fukuoka; President and CEO: Koichi Hayashida), and Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Osaka, Osaka; President and CEO: Yusuke Kusu) are jointly launching a public etiquette awareness project titled 'The World's Strongest Etiquette Lecture on Trains' to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 'Baki' manga series published by Akita Shoten.

'World's Strongest Etiquette Lecture on Trains' Posters (Sotetsu, Nagoya Railroad, Nishi-Nippon Railroad, Hanshin Electric Railway versions)

This project aims to promote train etiquette—such as offering seats, orderly boarding, and proper handling of luggage—so that all passengers can enjoy a comfortable train experience. To achieve this, popular characters from the 'Baki' series, which is celebrating its 35th year of serialization, will collaborate with railway companies to display special posters inside trains and at stations. Characters including Hanma Baki, Hanma Yujiro, Hanayama Kaoru, Orochi Doppo, and Retsu Kaioh will each deliver etiquette messages in their unique and powerful styles. English text is also included to raise awareness among inbound tourists.

The posters will be displayed at stations and inside trains operated by Sotetsu Railway, Nagoya Railroad, Nishi-Nippon Railroad, and Hanshin Electric Railway. The campaign aims to deliver etiquette messages with impact and humor, targeting not only fans of the series but the general public as well.

Example Poster Designs for Etiquette Awareness

(Designs are illustrative examples. Poster content may vary by company. Display photos are for illustration only.)

・Sotetsu Railway Co., Ltd.

Example Etiquette Poster Design (Sotetsu)

・Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd.

Example Etiquette Poster Design (Nagoya Railroad)

・Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd.

Example Etiquette Poster Design (Nishi-Nippon Railroad)

・Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

Example Etiquette Poster Design (Hanshin Electric Railway)

Overview of 'The World's Strongest Etiquette Lecture on Trains' Poster Campaign

Railway Companies: Sotetsu Railway Co., Ltd., Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd., Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd., Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

Display Period: Starting sequentially from July 16, 2026, through the end of the year (planned)

Display Locations: Inside stations and train cars

※ Please refrain from inquiring about poster displays at stations, from station staff, or train crew.

※ The display period is subject to change without prior notice.

※ When taking photos, please be cautious of contact with other passengers and moving trains. Also, be mindful of including others in photos and respect the privacy of surrounding passengers.

About the 'Baki' Series

The 'Baki' series is a martial arts manga centered on Hanma Baki, the undefeated champion of underground arenas, who seeks to surpass his father, Hanma Yujiro—the 'Strongest Creature on Earth'—by engaging in brutal battles against numerous powerful opponents.

Serialized in Weekly Shonen Champion since 1991, the series has surpassed 100 million copies in cumulative circulation. In 2026, it celebrates its 35th anniversary. Since 2018, the anime has been continuously streamed and broadcast globally on platforms like Netflix, earning widespread acclaim and passionate support across generations and national borders. It stands as a landmark in the martial arts manga genre.

'Baki' Series

Akita Shoten Co., Ltd. https://www.akitashoten.co.jp/

Representative: President and CEO Noriji Yamaguchi

Head Office: 2-28-8 Hongō, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0021, Japan

Center Office 18F, Bunkyo Green Court

Founded: August 10, 1948

Business: Magazines, books, comics, paperbacks, children's books, media mix projects, etc.

Employees: Approximately 160

Sotetsu Railway Co., Ltd. https://www.sotetsu.co.jp/train/

Representative: President and CEO Masayuki Hirano

Head Office: 2-9-14 Higashikō, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0004, Japan

Founded: December 18, 1917

Business: Railway operations

Employees: Approximately 1,100

Nagoya Railroad Co., Ltd. https://top.meitetsu.co.jp/

Representative: President and CEO Hiroki Takasaki

Head Office: 4-8-26 Meieki, Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 450-8501, Japan

Founded: June 25, 1894

Business: Railway and transportation operations, development projects

Employees: Approximately 5,000

Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. https://www.nishitetsu.co.jp/

Representative: President and CEO Koichi Hayashida

Head Office: ONE FUKUOKA BLDG. 10F, 1-11-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka 810-0001, Japan

Founded: September 22, 1942

Business: Transportation via rail and buses, passenger transport services, travel agency operations, customs brokerage, real estate sales and leasing, hotel operations, and more

Employees: Approximately 5,000

Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd. https://www.hanshin.co.jp/

Representative: President and CEO Yusuke Kusu

Head Office: 1-1-24 Ebie, Fukushima-ku, Osaka 553-8553, Japan

Established: June 12, 1899

Business: Railway operations, real estate, sports and leisure activities

Employees: Approximately 1,550