A glimpse into the future, from the past

We take a look at Shonen Club magazine's 1936 transport dreams

By Robert Michael Poole 2 July, 2010

飛行船？それとも飛行機？ 1936 年にデザインされたプロペラ機。

Japan has built a reputation for leading the world in technology, but what happens when we look back at what the Japanese thought would be tomorrow's world? Pink Tentacle traced down a 1936 issue of Shonen Club (youth club) magazine, featuring an article titled "World Transportation Invention Competition" and found out that some fanciful ideas of the future have still yet to materialise.

Included in the feature were a car with three spherical wheels supposed to ease comfort as compared to the bumpy ride in a four wheeler. Another concept, immaculately drawn by Kikuzō Itō, shows a monorail train system using a plane propeller and tail fin.

タイタニックの悲劇を避ける秘策、小型ボート内蔵の船体

Safety First

The drawings also reveal, in an era that had not seen the start of commercial airplane travel, an idea of combining then popular blimps with technology used by the mostly military-only aircraft of the day, with propellers and airducts on an aerodynamic body shape. Here on the left though, is proof that security was an issue of the day, as a passenger ship by Gyosui Suzuki offers easy getaway in trouble via mini-ships within the hull of the cruiseliner.

To view the gallery, check here.

[All images from: 昭和之雜誌廣告・ナツカシモノ]