Hideo Shima was a Japanese engineer and the driving force behind the building of the first bullet train.
10 Facts About Hideo Shima
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Hideo Shima's father was part of a group of officials that had built up Japan's emerging railroad industry.
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Hideo Shima joined the Ministry of Railways in 1925, where, as a rolling-stock engineer, he designed steam locomotives.
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Hideo Shima participated in the design and fabrication of a standard heavy duty truck which was mass-produced by Isuzu when World War II broke out.
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Hideo Shima was involved in the design and development of the Class C62 and Class D62 steam locomotives for express passenger trains and heavy-duty freight trains, respectively.
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Hideo Shima worked briefly for Sumitomo Metal Industries, but was asked by Shinji Sogo, the president of JNR, to come back and oversee the building of the first Shinkansen line, in 1955.
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Hideo Shima's team designed the sleek cone-shaped front from which the bullet train got its name.
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In 1969, Hideo Shima began a second career, becoming the head of the National Space Development Agency of Japan, where he pushed the development of hydrogen engines to power rockets.
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Hideo Shima was honored by the Government of Japan when the Emperor presented him with the Order of Cultural Merit.
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Hideo Shima is survived by three sons and a daughter.