Fujiyama (roller coaster)

Fujiyama
The Fujiyama roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland amusement park, Japan.
Fuji-Q Highland
Park section	Mountain Park Section
Coordinates
Status	Operating
Opening date	July 1996
Cost	$40,000,000
General statistics
Type	Steel – Hypercoaster
Manufacturer	TOGO
Designer	Morgan
Model	Hypercoaster
Track layout	Out and Back
Lift/launch system	Chain
Height	259 ft (79 m)
Drop	230 ft (70 m)
Length	6,709 ft (2,045 m)
Speed	81 mph (130 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	3:36
Max vertical angle	65°
Capacity	1,100 riders per hour
G-force	3.5
Height restriction	48 in (122 cm)
Fujiyama at RCDB Pictures of Fujiyama at RCDB

Fujiyama is a steel roller coaster at Fuji-Q Highland, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. When Fujiyama opened in 1996 it was the world's tallest roller coaster at 259 feet (79 m), and had the largest drop in the world at 230 feet (70 m). Fujiyama was also the world's fastest roller coaster for a year of its operation, succeeded by Tower of Terror at Dreamworld theme park in Queensland, Australia in 1997. Despite being the world's fastest roller coaster in operation for a year, Fujiyama set no world records for roller coaster speed. Steel Phantom at Kennywood set the world record for speed before engineers added additional brakes to slow the ride down because of safety and rider comfort concerns.

Name

Fujiyama is named after the iconic Mount Fuji, which stands to the west of Tokyo. The term Fujiyama comes from "fuji", and "yama" which means mountain. Mount Fuji is seldom referred to as "Fujiyama" in Japanese culture, but is instead more commonly referred to as "Fujisan", using the on'yomi pronunciation of the "mountain" character. The roller coaster Fujiyama is named as a play on the common foreign mistranslation.

Design

As with many Japanese roller coasters, Fujiyama has a maximum rider age (62 years old) and a (if an unlimited ride ticket has not been purchased) separate entrance fee (1,000 yen) in addition to the height restrictions typical of any roller coaster. The layout of Fujiyama is that of a typical out-and-back roller coaster. It incorporates many of the elements that are typical of this coaster design, including a large first drop, "headchopper" elements and a series of small "bunny hills" near the end of the coaster's course.

Reception

File:Fujiyama rollercoaster 2005-05.JPG

Daytime view of Fujiyama

Given its record-breaking status, Fujiyama attracted considerable attention when it was built. The ride has been rated positively by some reviewers, garnering 5 stars in Steven Urbanowicz's The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion. Fujiyama did not, however, achieve a listing amongst the top 50 steel roller coaster in Amusement Today's 2009 Golden Ticket Awards.

In medical literature

Fujiyama inadvertently attracted attention in 2000 after an article was published in the journal Neurology. The article discussed the possible relationship between riding roller coasters and the occurrence of subdural hematomas. The primary case study cited by the authors was a woman who had reported severe headaches after riding several roller coasters at Fuji-Q Highland (including Fujiyama). Upon investigation, it was discovered that this woman did in fact have a subdural hematoma. Subsequent research, however, has maintained that this risk remains low and is not unique to this particular coaster.

Records

Preceded by Big One	World's Tallest Complete Circuit Roller Coaster July 1996–May 2000	Succeeded by Millennium Force
Preceded by Moonsault Scramble	World's Tallest Roller Coaster July 1996–January 1997	Succeeded by Tower of Terror
Preceded by Unknown	World's Tallest Roller Coaster Drop July 1996–January 1997	Succeeded by Tower of Terror
Preceded by Steel Phantom	World's Fastest Roller Coaster July 1996–January 1997	Succeeded by Tower of Terror