The Iga Railway in Mie Prefecture, Japan, recently marked a significant milestone with the introduction of its first homegrown female train driver, Naho Tagawa, who has been in service for over a year. At 28 years old, Tagawa expressed her deep affection for the Iga region, sharing her aspiration to become a train driver admired by locals. Originally from Tsu City and raised in Saitama and Tokyo, she has academic roots in cultural geography, with a thesis focusing on tourism related to ninjas, reflecting her past experiences riding the Iga Railway itself.

After graduating from university in 2020, Tagawa initially worked in a hotel but had set her sights on a career in railways during her job hunt, despite not securing offers from train companies at that time. Her passion for train memorabilia led her to discover a recruitment advertisement for train drivers on the Iga Railway's website, prompting her to apply. Following a successful interview and assessment, she was hired in April 2023, subsequently training for three months at a Kintetsu training school in Nara before beginning practical driving training alongside experienced drivers, which concluded with her certification in December 2023.

Her debut as the first female driver from the Iga Railway was celebrated with flowers and heartfelt support from the community, marking what she described as the true beginning of her career. Tagawa is not only a trailblazer in breaking gender barriers in the railway industry but also emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique character of the trains she operates, indicative of both her professional dedication and personal connection to her work and community.