NEW DELHI: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe inaugurate India's first bullet train project in Gujarat, will they repeat history? Nine days before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics opened, Emperor Hirohito of Japan launched the first bullet train that ran from Tokyo to Osaka. The train run, like the Olympics, showcased to the world a new Japan that had emerged from the ravages of the Second World War. The bullet train became a symbol of Japan's speedy economic and technological progress in the decades to come.India's first bullet train is not merely an important infrastructure project. Known as Shinkansen, it comes loaded with symbols of famous Japanese work culture and technological achievement. Shinkansen train is known the world over as an icon of Japanese achievement. Below is a summary of its history, technology and cultural significance:Shinkansen is not Japanese for 'bullet train'. It means a 'new trunk line'. The name 'bullet train' dates back to 1930s when a high-speed train was first planned in Japan. The first 0 Series Shinkansen did resemble a bullet with its long-nosed tapering front and, of course, its speed. The first Shinkansen train ran at a maximum speed of 210 km/h. Today, a Shinkansen's maximum speed is 320 km/h. It was the fastest train in the world till 2002 when China ran a maglev train at 431km/h.Despite braving sudden natural calamities such as earthquakes and typhoons, a Shinkansen's average delay is less than 60 seconds even when it cover hundreds of kilometres. If a train is more than a minute late, the crew has to offer an explanation. Not just that, dozens of Shinkansen trains run only three minutes apart, so effective is the automated traffic management. Since drivers cannot spot signals due to the high speed of the train, the whole traffic management is automated.Despite high speed, Shinkansen trains have never been involved in any accident since 1964 when they started running. Shinkansen has an inbuilt safety system even for an eventuality like earthquake. Advanced sensors can detect an earthquake at an early stage and automatically stop the train.A process popularly called the "seven-minute miracle" reflects the work culture of Shinkansen trains. The train cleaners are so efficient that they clean a train in only seven minutes due to little turnaround time of these trains. They bow to the train when it arrives, then to the passengers coming out. Once the train is empty, they rush in, hurrying through cabins, cleaning every small bit and collecting all the waste. Within seven minutes, the train is squeaky clean and ready to welcome passengers for another journey.Due to its legendary technology, Shinkansen has become a global legend. The UK, China and Taiwan already run Shinkansen train while projects are on in the US and now India. Several Shinkansen projects are being planned in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, the US, Canada, Brazil and Vietnam.It is clear that the cutting-edge technology of Shinkansen requires uncompromising work culture for smooth running. India's first Shinkansen will also bring with it the iconic Japanese work ethos of punctuality, hard work and dedication. Today, India is standing at a historic junture. It is trying to emerge from the straitjacket of old socialist economy. The government has already brought in several ground-breaking economic reforms. What India needs today for growth is technology as well as work culture. Hopefully, the Japanese bullet train will speed up India by launching a technological age and a new work culture.