| This article is about the episode. You may be looking for the magazine story. |
- "All aboard for a big adventure!"
- ― Hiro and Kenji leaving Sodor
Kenji on the Rails Again is the eighteenth episode of the twenty-fourth series.
Plot[]
A ship is scheduled to deliver cargo to Japan, which means Kenji finally has the chance to go home. Thomas is to escort Kenji to the docks, but Kenji suddenly disappears. No matter where Thomas looks, Kenji hides further and further every time. Time is running out, and the ship has to depart soon. Hiro reminds Thomas how long it took to find him when he was broken down in the Whistling Woods, so the two of them both go there. In Hiro's old hideout, they finally find Kenji, who explains that the reason he hid was because he is scared to travel on the ship alone. Hiro, having missed Japan himself, offers to keep Kenji company, which makes Kenji feel better. Soon, both of them are on the ship, and Kenji is much more comfortable with Hiro by his side. Thomas promises to visit them as he watches his two friends depart aboard the ship.
Characters[]
- Thomas
- Percy
- Hiro
- Kenji
- Victor
- Reg
- Sir Topham Hatt
- Ruth
- Henry (cameo)
- Gordon (cameo)
- Porter (cameo)
- Salty (cameo)
- Cranky (cameo)
- Carly (cameo)
- Big Mickey (cameo)
- Tom Tipper (cameo)
- Stafford (mentioned)
Locations[]
- Island of Sodor
- Japan (mentioned)
- China (mentioned)
- Shanghai Harbour (mentioned)
Cast[]
UK[]
- John Hasler as Thomas
- Nigel Pilkington as Percy
- Togo Igawa as Hiro
- Matt McCooey as Kenji
- David Bedella as Victor
- Tim Whitnall as Reg
- Keith Wickham as the Fat Controller
- Dominique Moore as Ruth
US[]
- Joseph May as Thomas
- Christopher Ragland as Percy
- Togo Igawa as Hiro
- Matt McCooey as Kenji
- David Bedella as Victor
- Tim Whitnall as Reg
- Keith Wickham as Sir Topham Hatt
- Dominique Moore as Ruth
Trivia[]
- Going by production order, this is the sixteenth episode of the twenty-fourth series.
- This episode marks the only occurrence of a few things:
- Hiro, Victor and Tom Tipper's only appearances in the twenty-fourth series, as well as Hiro's only appearance in the Big World! Big Adventures! era, not counting being mentioned in World of Tomorrow, thus marking Hiro's first appearance since the special, Journey Beyond Sodor, as well as his first speaking role and appearance in an episode since the twentieth series episode, Letters to Santa.
- The only time Stafford is referred to by name in the twenty-fourth series, let alone the entire Big World! Big Adventures! era.
- The only appearance of Hiro's Hideout in the twenty-fourth series, let alone the entire Big World! Big Adventures! era.
- The only episode where Hiro speaks Japanese in the English dub.
- This episode marks the last occurrences of several things:
- Victor, Reg and Tom Tipper's last appearances, as well as the last time Stafford is acknowledged in any way.
- The final appearances of Henry, Hiro and Kenji in the original series.
- The last appearance of Hiro's Hideout.
- The last episode in where Henry has his Stainer tender, starting from the All Engines Go! episode, Kana Goes Slow onwards, his tender would be a Fowler tender.
- Hiro's final episode with a leading role.
- Kenji's final episode with a leading role in the original series.
- Hiro's last appearance in an episode in the original series.
- The last appearance of Wellsworth, not counting mentioned appearances in All Engines Go!.
- The last episode to have Togo Igawa, Matt McCooey, David Bedella and Tim Whitnall as part of the voice cast.
- The last episode where a non-standard gauge engine has a speaking role or is referred to by name (in this case, Victor).
- Thomas remembering the time he went to China references the events of Big World! Big Adventures!, and Hiro also remembering the time he had broken down in his hideout and how he was found much later by Thomas references the events of Hero of the Rails. Hiro and Kenji also say the rebrand's tagline when they are leaving for their home country, the third instance since Thomas and the Forest Engines where someone other than Thomas says it.
- When Kenji thanks the Fat Controller, he can be seen dipping his front section while closing his eyes. This is presumably a form of bowing, a common way to show respect in Japanese culture.
- In Poland and Israel, this episode premiered before A New Arrival, so the audience would not know who Kenji or Ruth are.
- Shogo Asakura, IP marketing producer at Sony Creative Products, told a radio programme that the book Thomas Comes to Japan was inspired by Hiro's last line this episode: "Promise me, Thomas, you'll come to Japan one day!"
Merchandise[]
- Magazine Story - Kenji on the Rails Again (2022 and 2024)
Home Media Releases[]
UK/IRL/AUS/JPN[]
In Other Languages[]
| Language | Title |
|---|---|
| Arabic | كيني القطار الكهربائي. |
| Brazilian Portuguese | Kenji nos Trilhos de Novo |
| Czech | Kenji opět na dráze |
| Dutch | Kenji Terug op de Rails |
| Estonian | Kenji Jälle Rööbastel |
| Greek | Ο Κέντζι και πάλι στον σιδηρόδρομο |
| Hebrew | קנג'י שוב עולה על המסילה |
| Hungarian | Kenji újra a sínen |
| Italian | Kenji Torna in Giappone |
| Latin American Spanish | Kenji en las vías otra vez |
| Latvian | Kendži ir Atkal uz Sliedēm |
| Lithuanian | Kendžis ir vėl ant Bėgių |
| Polish | Kenji Znów Na Torach |
| Russian | Пора домой |
| Spanish | Kenji vuelve a las vías |
External Links[]
| #01 Emily's Best Friend | #09 Thomas' Not-So-Lucky Day | #17 Gordon and Rebecca, Coming Through! |
| #02 Thomas' Fuzzy Friend | #10 Ace's Brave Jump | #18 Kenji on the Rails Again |
| #03 The Great Little Railway Show | #11 Nia's Bright Idea | #19 Cleo the Road Engine |
| #04 Thomas and the Forest Engines | #12 Cleo's First Snow | #20 Thomas' Animal Friends |
| #05 Emily to the Rescue | #13 Sonny's Second Chance | Special #01 Thomas and the Royal Engine |
| #06 Shankar's Makeover | #14 Thomas and the Inventor's Workshop | Special #02 A New Arrival |
| #07 Nia and the Unfriendly Elephant | #15 The Inventor's Spectacular Bridge | Special #03 World of Tomorrow |
| #08 James the Super Engine | #16 Yong Bao and the Tiger | |