Kibi Line (吉備線, Kibi-sen) is a railway line in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The nickname used by JR West in maps and timetables is the Momotaro Line (桃太郎線).
The line opened in 1904.[citation needed] The line is named after the historical Kibi Province ("Kibi Province" (吉備国)).
On 1 June 1944, the Chugoku Railway was nationalized, becoming part of Japanese National Railways (JNR).[1] With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, the line came under the control of JR West.[1]
From the start of the 26 March 2016 timetable revision, the line was branded the "Momotaro Line" (桃太郎線).[2]
Leading on from this is the linguistic / phonetic coincidence that "kibi dango" (millet dumplings) is a famous dish associated with the Momotaro legend despite neither the character, nor millet in general, nor millet dumplings specifically have any particular historical connection to Okayama. The coincidence has been commented on for centuries.
^ abIshino, Tetsu, ed. (1998). 停車場変遷大辞典 国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Japan: JTB. p. 96. ISBN4-533-02980-9.
^岡山・福山エリアの主な路線に「路線記号」「ラインカラー」を導入します [Line codes and line colours to be introduced on main lines in Okayama and Fukuyama areas]. News release (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
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