Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad

With headquarters in Takamatsu, the company operates three passenger railway lines, as well as bus subsidiaries.

In 1943, the modern-day company, Kotoden, was established by the wartime merger of these three rail lines in the Takamatsu area.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, three new stations have opened on the Kotohira Line: Kūkōdōri on 29 July 2006, Ayagawa on 15 December 2013, and Fuseishi on 28 November 2020.

[3] The variation in peak vs. off-peak demand/frequencies is also used in a smart way to get the trains in and out of their respective depots, so that very little empty runs are needed.

Four trainsets start and end in Kotohira, two in Takinomiya and another four at the main depot, located at Busshozan station.

In 1997, the railroad was the first to introduce new track safety precautions in order to combat the rising number of rail suicides.

[5] In February 2005, the company introduced an IC card ticketing system named IruCa.

Despite its financial difficulties, Kotoden has chosen not to do so; all trains remain staffed by a driver and a conductor.

In the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Kotoden painted one of its trains in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, along with a message in support for the employees of Ukrzaliznitsya.