HONU Co., Ltd. Aims for an Environmental Society with 'Zero Discomfort in Crowded Trains'! #April Dream
HONU Co., Ltd. announced its participation in the 'April Dream' project, sharing its vision of achieving a society with 'zero discomfort in crowded trains'. The press release analyzes the current state of train congestion and explains the humidity control mechanisms used by railway companies.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 08:23
- 🔍 Collected: April 2, 2026 at 09:03 (39 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 07:01 (453h 57m after Collected)
Our company supports April Dream, an initiative to make April 1st a day to broadcast dreams. This press release expresses the dream of 'HONU Co., Ltd.'
### [Current Issues]
### The latest average congestion rate (FY2024 results) on Tokyo's Yamanote Line is around 139%.
(Excerpt from Yahoo! News)
Although this is an alleviating trend compared to the previous rates of over 160%, conditions close to being 'packed' still occur during peak hours and on specific sections.
**The specific physical sensations inside the train indicated by the congestion rate numbers are as follows:**
Congestion Rate / [Image of inside conditions]
**100%** Capacity. You can find a seat or hold onto a strap or pole.
**139% Current Average.** Shoulders touch. You can somehow read a newspaper.
**150%** Shoulders touch, and the area near the doors is quite cramped.
**180%** You can read a folded newspaper. Bodies touch, and there is a feeling of pressure.
## ・Humidity Countermeasures by Railway Companies
The humidity countermeasures implemented by railway companies mainly consist of two pillars: 'automatic dehumidification by the air conditioning system' and 'forced ventilation by introducing outside air.'
*Reference from Mitsubishi Electric Official Site
To reduce discomfort, especially during the rainy season and when trains are packed, advanced management like the following is carried out.
**1. Dehumidification and Humidity Management by Air Conditioning Systems**
Many modern train cars are equipped with sensors that detect not only temperature but also humidity.
**◾️ Automatic Dehumidification Operation:** Even if the set temperature is reached, if the humidity exceeds a certain level, it automatically switches to 'dehumidification mode.'
**◾️ Linkage with Congestion Detection:** There is a mechanism that grasps the occupancy rate using 'variable load sensors' that measure the weight of the train car, automatically strengthening the cooling and dehumidifying capacity of cars that are crowded (meaning humidity and temperature are prone to rise).
**◾️ Manual Adjustment by the Crew
### [Current Issues]
### The latest average congestion rate (FY2024 results) on Tokyo's Yamanote Line is around 139%.
(Excerpt from Yahoo! News)
Although this is an alleviating trend compared to the previous rates of over 160%, conditions close to being 'packed' still occur during peak hours and on specific sections.
**The specific physical sensations inside the train indicated by the congestion rate numbers are as follows:**
Congestion Rate / [Image of inside conditions]
**100%** Capacity. You can find a seat or hold onto a strap or pole.
**139% Current Average.** Shoulders touch. You can somehow read a newspaper.
**150%** Shoulders touch, and the area near the doors is quite cramped.
**180%** You can read a folded newspaper. Bodies touch, and there is a feeling of pressure.
## ・Humidity Countermeasures by Railway Companies
The humidity countermeasures implemented by railway companies mainly consist of two pillars: 'automatic dehumidification by the air conditioning system' and 'forced ventilation by introducing outside air.'
*Reference from Mitsubishi Electric Official Site
To reduce discomfort, especially during the rainy season and when trains are packed, advanced management like the following is carried out.
**1. Dehumidification and Humidity Management by Air Conditioning Systems**
Many modern train cars are equipped with sensors that detect not only temperature but also humidity.
**◾️ Automatic Dehumidification Operation:** Even if the set temperature is reached, if the humidity exceeds a certain level, it automatically switches to 'dehumidification mode.'
**◾️ Linkage with Congestion Detection:** There is a mechanism that grasps the occupancy rate using 'variable load sensors' that measure the weight of the train car, automatically strengthening the cooling and dehumidifying capacity of cars that are crowded (meaning humidity and temperature are prone to rise).
**◾️ Manual Adjustment by the Crew