Do-Dodonpa (ド・ドドンパ), formerly known as Dodonpa (ドドンパ), was a steel roller coaster located at Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan.
[2][3] The ride was refurbished in 2017, removing its top hat element in favor of a vertical loop, as well as increasing its speed and acceleration to 180 km/h (111.8 mph) in 1.56 seconds.
The fastest speed record was previously held by Superman: The Escape at Six Flags Magic Mountain and Tower of Terror at Dreamworld, both of which accelerated to 160.9 km/h (100 mph) in 7 seconds.
The ride's top hat was removed and replaced with a 49-metre (161 ft) vertical loop, announced in a February 2017 press release from the manufacturer.
[11] Once passengers boarded the ride, the train moved them from the loading station to the launch pad, where it waited, allowing time for the compressed air to build up.
[12][13] After the coaster launched at 180 kilometres per hour (112 mph), it entered a wide-radius curve followed by a 49 metres (160.8 ft) vertical loop (a top hat prior to 2017).
As of 2024, that number stands at five (excluding Do-Dodonpa): Superman: Escape from Krypton, Red Force, Top Thrill 2, Kingda Ka, and Formula Rossa.
Fuji-Q Highland owner Hiroaki Iwata apologized for the injuries at a press conference speech on 31 August 2021, stating that an official investigation of these incidents had been ongoing since December 2020.