Say "Japan" and the term "Bullet Train" will not be far from the conversation. The Japanese invented the concept of a "high speed" trains with the inaugural of the first line between Tokyo and Osaka in October 1964 just in time for the Tokyo Olympics. The Japanese haven't looked back since in developing generation after generation of better and faster "bullet trains". Well no one in Japan calls it a "bullet train" - officially it is know as the "S H I N K A N S E N". It has become, like Mt. Fuji, a symbol of J A P A N. It is of interest that Japan is about to introduce the next step with the CHUO SHINKANSEN - a "maglev" train that in testing has reached 581 kph. Which raises the question, when is fast - too fast.