The tram connects Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Central City.

The morning drums of Dogo Onsen rang in the morning.
After a while, the sound of wheels as “Katan, Katan” echoes the streets.
It is the beginning of a calm day of Dogo Onsen town.

This tram was established about 130 years ago.
In Soseki Natsume’s novel “Botchan” written almost in the same era, this tram is represented like this.

I could know the station soon. I bought a ticket without any problem. It is a train like a match box. It was about 5 minutes later, I had to get off. I thought it was reasonable and the ticket was cheap. It was only 3 sen.

It was a small car from that time.
After that, through various events, trams are still active as one of the important means of transportation in this region.

And at the end of May this year, new challenge started on this tram.
Two female drivers were born.

Female driver’s debut at the Iyo Railway Co., Ltd. for the first time after the war (May 31, 2017 Asahi newspaper)

They were working at suburban trains (not a tram, but a railroad).
As they had a strong hope of becoming a driver, they got to be trained.
After that, they passed national exams spectacularly and became a driver of trams.

The other day, I got on a tram that one of them were driving.

The tram was driven by a woman who fulfilled her dream.
I was listening the echo as “Katan, Katan”.
I heard the sound like a bell of hope.