Japan-Corea Tunnel

Also known as the Çuxima Tunnel after the Çuxima Strait, or the Nissen or Ilsen Tunnel, after, respectively, the Japanese and Corean word for "Japan-Corea". The earliest known proposal for a tunnel was in Taixò 9 (1915), shortly after the founding of the East Asian Federation. At the time, the proposal would've been fantastically expensive, and the growing threat from China made it less desirable anyways. After the end of the Japanese Civil War, interest grew in renewing ties with Corea, including the possibility of a tunnel. The idea became even more popular after the personal union between Japan and Corea was established in Saisei 9 (1960). Construction was approved by the then-Emperor and the Japanese and Corean parliaments (the coccai and kuk-hoi) in Saisei 13 (1964). Construction began on Saisei 14, Itxigaçu 6 (February 9, 1965). Thirty-four years and 3.47 billion lò (6.94 billion FK pounds) later, the tunnel opened for business on Saisei 48, Xigaçu 30 (June 5, 1999).

The tunnel is over 130 miles in length, and connects the Japanese islands with the Asian mainland by railroad links. The tunnel was originally envisioned to be part of the standard railway network, but during construction, the tracks already laid were joined to the Xiñcansen network. It takes approximately 1 hour to travel from Yamato to Corea. On the Yamato side, the tunnel starts in the city of Caraçu, in Quiùxù's Saga Province. The tunnel connects to the island of Iqui, part of the Nagasaqui Province, it crosses Iqui (with one station on the island), and then across the east channel of Çuxima Strait to the new province of Çuxima, it extends from the southern tip to the northern tip of the island, with two stations. From Çuxima it then goes on to link with the city of Pusan, on the southeast coast of Corea. The tunnel has provided a crucial link tying the Empire together. Proposals for an updated Trans-Siberian Railway would provide a further link tying the Japanese Empire with the civilizations of Western Europe. It is expected that this will also function with the Xiñcansen system, speeding transit across the frigid Russian wastes.

See also TGV.