1001 Smart Cities

Permanent project revision

Umekita Underground Platforms: Movable Platform Doors and a Face-Recognition Gate Trial

Revision 2026-08-22-evidence-baseline · effective 2026-07-26

Current revision. This is the snapshot used by the live entity page.

unreviewed

Created the first structured Evidence Passport with 14 claims and 7 source dossiers.

sha256:1fafa665b9e51492c0f1c05eb259ada01f31e9235c6ae54906062f472335e973
All revisions → Current entity page →

Change set

  • add /evidencePassport — Added claim-level evidence mapping and source dossiers.
  • add /revisionHistory — Established a permanent, hash-addressed baseline revision.
14
of 14 claims mapped
7
source dossiers
6
publication dates recorded
0
archives linked
0
exact locators
0
content captures hashed

Claims, one by one

The text below is copied verbatim from the published record. Each claim names the source dossiers that carry it; caveats stay attached to the claim they qualify.

Claim 1 clm-6f97e6123019bc66 quantitative
Osaka Station's underground Umekita platforms opened on 18 March 2023
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
The Impress Watch on-site report, published on the opening day, states that the Umekita area newly opened at Osaka Station with the 18 March timetable revision: "3月18日のダイヤ改正で大阪駅に「うめきたエリア」が新規開業する" ("the Umekita area newly opens at Osaka Station with the 18 March timetable revision"), and describes the new underground platforms reached from the new Osaka Station west gate. Biometric Update, writing in January 2023, gives the same start date for the station systems: "The facial recognition gates are scheduled to start operations on March 18."
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023)
  2. Biometric Update — facial recognition gates by JR West to launch at Osaka train station in March (Jan 2023)
Claim 2 clm-6b96b2fdcf94d4f1 descriptive
beneath the Grand Green Osaka redevelopment
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
The Urban Renaissance Agency headline names the development above the station and dates its partial opening: "うめきた2期区域（グラングリーン大阪）オープン！" ("Umekita phase 2 area (Grand Green Osaka) opens!"), on 6 September 2024 in Kita ward, Osaka. Impress Watch places the new platforms underground on that site: "「うめきた」と呼ばれる大阪駅北西の新開発ヤードの地下に位置する" ("located beneath the newly developed yard north-west of Osaka Station known as Umekita").
Caveat
The two sources establish the location and the name of the development, but they were written eighteen months apart: the platforms opened in March 2023, while the Grand Green Osaka park above them opened in stages from September 2024.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. UR Urban Renaissance Agency — Umekita phase 2 opens (6 Sep 2024)
  2. Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023)
Claim 3 clm-bc3160af7cf7b336 quantitative
Track 21 got a platform screen door
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Impress Watch reports that the underground level has two island platforms serving four tracks numbered 21 to 24 ("2面4線の島式ホームの構造", "21-24番ホーム") and that only track 21 carries platform doors: "この番線のみホームドアが設置されており" ("only this track has platform doors installed"), with "22-24番線についてはホームドアのない構造" ("tracks 22 to 24 have no platform doors"). Travel Watch had reported the same plan ahead of opening: "新しい駅ではまず、1つの番線に設置される予定になっている" ("at the new station it is planned to be installed on one track first").
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023)
  2. Travel Watch — JR West unveils the Umekita underground station systems (Dec 2022)
Claim 4 clm-747f699a53406cc2 descriptive
JR West and Nabtesco describe as a world first
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Nabtesco's own account of the project uses the phrase throughout, including "the challenge of developing a world-first full-height platform screen door unit", and names its partners: "This project was an open innovation initiative with two companies: JR WEST, which aims to create 'a station of the future', and Techsia, which has extensive knowledge of the unique environment of train stations." Travel Watch, reporting JR West's press preview, uses the same wording for what JR West showed: "世界初となるフルスクリーンホームドアを報道陣に初公開した" ("unveiled to the press the world's-first full-screen platform door").
Caveat
The phrase is Nabtesco's own on Nabtesco's own pages, and the trade report attaches it to what JR West presented at its press briefing. Of the three companies named here, JR West Techsia appears only as a named co-developer; no source quotes it using the phrase, and no independent body has tested the claim.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Nabtesco — challenging the development of a world-first platform screen door unit
  2. Travel Watch — JR West unveils the Umekita underground station systems (Dec 2022)
Claim 5 clm-1870a5bc5d6feaf8 descriptive
a floor-to-ceiling glass wall of parent and child doors
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Nabtesco describes the unit as "full-height, all-glass movable doors" and sets out the door structure: "(3)Parent door — The door has a 65-inch large space for digital signage" and "(4)Child doors — The parent door in the middle and the child doors on both sides operate in an integrated system." The doors are hung from a ceiling rail: "The doors are separately hung from the ceiling rail to distribute the load of the door unit." Travel Watch adds that the doors close the platform off from the track completely.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Nabtesco — challenging the development of a world-first platform screen door unit
Claim 6 clm-c794786cceb50b99 descriptive
slides along the platform edge so its openings match whatever train arrives, whatever its door layout
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Nabtesco states that "these full-height, all-glass movable doors can adjust to trains with varying door positions" and that "[a]s local and express trains have different numbers of doors in different positions, the location of openings needs to be changeable." Travel Watch reports the same capability from JR West's briefing: the signage panels themselves move with the train, so everything from two-door to three-door stock is handled — "あらゆる列車のタイプに対応可能" ("can handle every type of train").
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Nabtesco — challenging the development of a world-first platform screen door unit
  2. Travel Watch — JR West unveils the Umekita underground station systems (Dec 2022)
Claim 7 clm-48462f0d4e7a7656 descriptive
with train information shown on the door panels
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Nabtesco: "Embedded in the door body are large digital signages displaying the latest train information", and the parent door carries "a 65-inch large space for digital signage to display train information, warnings, advertising, and other information." Travel Watch describes the same arrangement of an overhead band display plus displays built into the platform doors carrying train name, time and car numbers.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Nabtesco — challenging the development of a world-first platform screen door unit
  2. Travel Watch — JR West unveils the Umekita underground station systems (Dec 2022)
Claim 8 clm-e3f939474f9d936f descriptive
A face-recognition ticket gate opened the same day
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Biometric Update, reporting JR West's announcement in January 2023: "The facial recognition gates are scheduled to start operations on March 18", at Osaka Station's Umekita Underground Exit and Shin-Osaka Station's East Exit. Impress Watch, on 18 March 2023, describes the gate in service on site using Panasonic face-recognition technology. JR West's own release confirms the start month: trial operation of the face-recognition gates in the Umekita area has run since March 2023.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Biometric Update — facial recognition gates by JR West to launch at Osaka train station in March (Jan 2023)
  2. Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023)
  3. JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026)
Claim 9 clm-5fd4e3d4f3cea832 descriptive
but only as a monitor trial for holders of an ICOCA commuter pass covering Osaka–Shin-Osaka
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Impress Watch states the single condition for taking part: "参加する条件は「大阪と新大阪の間の定期を持っていること」のみ" ("the only condition for participating is holding a commuter pass between Osaka and Shin-Osaka"), applied for through JR West's WESTER app by sending a photograph. JR West's release describes the arrangement as a demonstration trial with monitor recruitment and names the same qualifying group, holders of an ICOCA commuter pass covering the Osaka to Shin-Osaka section.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023)
  2. JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026)
Claim 10 clm-8c28175702015cb2 descriptive
The world-first door was fitted to one of four platform edges
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Impress Watch counts the underground level as two island platforms with four tracks, 21 to 24, and reports that only track 21 has the doors: "22-24番線についてはホームドアのない構造" ("tracks 22 to 24 are built without platform doors"). Travel Watch's pre-opening report describes the same one-track start.
Caveat
Both sources describe the arrangement as it stood when the platforms opened in March 2023. None of the sources listed here revisits the platform door later, so they cannot show that the count is still one in four today.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023)
  2. Travel Watch — JR West unveils the Umekita underground station systems (Dec 2022)
Claim 11 clm-26bc1de43361c45d descriptive
the face-recognition gate is still a trial
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
JR West's release sets out the replacement under the heading "実証実験及び設置場所等" ("demonstration trial and installation locations"), gives the trial period as running from 2 March 2026 for the time being, and opens monitor registration again from the same date. Travel Watch reports the same: "引き続き顔認証改札機のモニターを募集する" ("monitor recruitment for the face-recognition gates continues"), for holders of an ICOCA commuter pass covering Osaka to Shin-Osaka.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026)
  2. Travel Watch — face-recognition gates switch to a new type in March 2026; the Umekita arch gate ends
Claim 12 clm-3ecab41b5fec22a8 quantitative
the futuristic arch-shaped gate was retired in February 2026
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
Travel Watch's headline states that the arch at the Umekita underground exit ends — "うめきた地下口のアーチ型は終了" — and explains that the Osaka Station gate "各部にディスプレイを取り入れたアーチ型のもの" ("an arch shape with displays built into every part") will be seen for the last time with this replacement. JR West's release says the existing face-recognition gates at the Umekita underground gateline and the Shin-Osaka east gateline will be removed, and that from 2 February to 1 March 2026 face registration and face-recognition use are not possible because of construction and preparation work.
Caveat
The operator names the works window and says the old gates will be removed, but gives no removal date; February follows from the last day the arch could be used, 1 February 2026, and the changeover to the replacement on 2 March 2026.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Travel Watch — face-recognition gates switch to a new type in March 2026; the Umekita arch gate ends
  2. JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026)
Claim 13 clm-1fa7876ec5864fd9 descriptive
replaced by ordinary gates with two cameras bolted on
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
JR West states that face-recognition has been added to the standard IC-only ticket gate, that the installation was achieved by converting gates already in use so that a rollout to other stations stays possible, and that two cameras are fitted in line with the direction of travel. Travel Watch says the same in one sentence: "新しい改札機は既存のIC専用機の改造で、上面にカメラを2台設置して認証精度を向上" ("the new gate is a conversion of the existing IC-only unit, with two cameras fitted on the top surface to improve recognition accuracy"), one lane at each gateline.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026)
  2. Travel Watch — face-recognition gates switch to a new type in March 2026; the Umekita arch gate ends
Claim 14 clm-d932bf2143e6d603 descriptive
chosen for accuracy at rush hour rather than for show
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this passport
What the mapping says
JR West gives both halves of the contrast in its own words. Of the outgoing gate: the Osaka Station unit emphasised staging a sense of excitement at the gateline with the Expo in view, took an innovative design meant to feel near-future, and dispensed with barriers altogether as a walk-through gate. Of the replacement: placing two cameras in line with the direction of travel is done "認証精度の向上を図ります" ("to improve recognition accuracy"), and the stated purpose of the trial is to understand how the new standard gate is used, "特にラッシュ時の動向" ("in particular behaviour at rush hour"). Travel Watch reports the accuracy rationale in the same terms.
Caveat
The operator gives accuracy and the prospect of rolling the gates out to other stations as the reasons for the design, and names rush-hour behaviour as what the trial sets out to observe. It does not say that rush-hour accuracy was itself the reason the ordinary gate was chosen.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026)
  2. Travel Watch — face-recognition gates switch to a new type in March 2026; the Umekita arch gate ends

Source dossiers and revision state

This layer records what is known about each source, what is still missing, and the exact snapshot this page is rendering. A missing date, archive or hash stays visible as missing.

unreviewed Revision 2026-08-22-evidence-baseline effective 2026-07-26 · created 2026-08-22

Awaiting operator and domain-expert review; publication of this revision implies neither.

sha256:1fafa665b9e51492c0f1c05eb259ada01f31e9235c6ae54906062f472335e973
Revision history → Permanent version link → Machine-readable record → Evidence Constitution →
14
of 14 claims mapped
7
source dossiers
6
publication dates recorded
0
archives linked
0
exact locators
0
content captures hashed

Governance facts carried by the record

Operator
West Japan Railway Company (JR West)
Actor types
utility
Funding model
Not recorded
Funding description
Not recorded
Cost
Not recorded
Ownership
Not recorded
Decision rights
Not recorded
Exit conditions
Not recorded

7 source dossiers

Nabtesco — challenging the development of a world-first platform screen door unit nabtesco.com · 4 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-98ef63b33902c9b3
Publisher
Name not classified · nabtesco.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Co-developer with JR West Group and JR West Techsia: full-height all-glass parent and child doors on ceiling-hung hanger rollers that adjust to trains with varying door positions, with embedded digital signage. Source of the world-first wording.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Impress Watch — on-site report: Umekita area opens at Osaka Station (Mar 2023) watch.impress.co.jp · 6 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-5d7f625274e6e8cc
Publisher
Name not classified · watch.impress.co.jp
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2023-03-18
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Opening 18 March 2023, tracks 21 to 24; only track 21 has the movable doors; face-recognition gate limited to commuter-pass monitors; variable signage and personal wayfinding markers.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Travel Watch — JR West unveils the Umekita underground station systems (Dec 2022) travel.watch.impress.co.jp · 5 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-c3fc3ebb8bf4836f
Publisher
Name not classified · travel.watch.impress.co.jp
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2022-07-01
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

JR West press briefing: the world-first full-screen platform door on one track first, plus personalised and general digital variable signs.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Travel Watch — face-recognition gates switch to a new type in March 2026; the Umekita arch gate ends travel.watch.impress.co.jp · 4 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-c10f8b0c423da37d
Publisher
Name not classified · travel.watch.impress.co.jp
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2026-01-30
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Currency check: from 2 March 2026 standard gates with two top-mounted cameras replace the display-heavy arch gate, one lane each; still a monitor trial.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
JR West news release — new type of face-recognition ticket gates (30 Jan 2026) westjr.co.jp · 6 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-495cd785944623eb
Publisher
Name not classified · westjr.co.jp
Type / language
pdf · language not classified
Published
2026-01-30
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Operator source for the March 2026 change and continued monitor recruitment. PDF; retrieved but not machine-readable in review, content corroborated by trade press.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Biometric Update — facial recognition gates by JR West to launch at Osaka train station in March (Jan 2023) biometricupdate.com · 2 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-0a2f9bc424954094
Publisher
Name not classified · biometricupdate.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2023-01-18
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

English trade press: the 18 March 2023 start and pre-registered face matching; notes an earlier Osaka Metro deployment in November 2022, which is why no national first is claimed here.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
UR Urban Renaissance Agency — Umekita phase 2 opens (6 Sep 2024) ur-net.go.jp · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-6423672b9d358854
Publisher
Name not classified · ur-net.go.jp
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2024-09-06
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-07-26
Dossier created
2026-08-22
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Public-agency context for the redevelopment above the station. Used only for geographic context: no smart-district claim is made, because none could be sourced.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Known limits of this passport
  • Publisher names and source languages have not yet been classified; domains are recorded without guessing.
  • Existing source notes are descriptive locators, not page- or paragraph-exact citations.
  • A missing archive, publication date or content hash is shown as null rather than inferred.
  • The project-level evidence grade ranks the strongest source in the entry; it is not a truth score for every claim.