One of the direct consequences of the tragic train accident that occurred in early 2026 in southern Spain is that many people will have discovered that the Japanese firm Hitachi also manufactures trains; in fact, they are the supplier for the Italian high-speed rail operator Iryo, one of whose trains was involved in the catastrophe. Traditionally, we have associated Hitachi much more with electronics and, specifically, with high-fidelity equipment, but the reality is that they have been producing trains for many decades. As is the case with most Japanese multinationals, when we look at their origins, we find surprising facts. This is because their beginnings are not linked to electronics or railways, but to a copper mine in the former Japanese province of Hitachi.