Why Tokyo Has Musical Train Stations

[@LGVRhin-Rhone]

They were originally used to make sure people could tell which train was leaving-- each track has a different jingle so nobody has to rush onto a train that isn't departing yet. This is especially useful when you have stations like Shinjuku that have almost 30 platforms

[@derimmerlugt3032]

So which is it now? Is it each station that has its own jingle or each platform? Does Shinjuku station really have 30 different jingles?

[@IchWillNicht0119]

@@derimmerlugt3032 I can confirm that there are unique melodies for each line at the same station. Yamanote, Chuo rapid, Chuo-Sobu local, and the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi lines departing Shinjuku station have very different melodies.

[@thefabulousleowang]

In Maihama station, the station plays Disney melodies because this is the station where Tokyo Disney Resort is located in

[@raphaelromulo8841]

cool

[@jonathanchan4265]

Fun fact: they now use their 40th anniversary theme song “Live in colours” (Platform 2) and “Every wish deserves a dream”, the original theme song created for the nighttime spectacular “Believe! Sea of dreams” for Tokyo DisneySea (Platform 1). I heard the nighttime theme song on the platform last month when I exited the platform and immediately noticed it😂😂😂 Both of the songs are so good and they stuck into my brain. Well done, East JR, Maihama Station and Tokyo Disney Resort.

[@joelife4646]

​@@jonathanchan4265Doesn't that connect to Resprt Gateway station? I've never been there, but did some reading.

[@starrwulfe]

Fact: in 2000 while doing my study abroad in Osaka, I created MIDI files of JR West, Kintetsu and Hankyu jingles so I could have them as ringtones on my phone. The Hanwa line and JR East’s “general announcement” tones are still on my phone as text ringtones to this day.

[@CarfDarko]

They are truly inspiring! Some even really sound like it could come out of a game :)

[@TheCinderDude]

care to share the midi files via google drive? I'd love to have them

[@LaloSalamanca783]

Oh my god PLEASE DO THE WORLD A SERVICE AND UPLOAD THESE😭😭😭😭

[@chriscastillo447]

Do you still having it? I love this melodies and I am trying to make replicas of it, MIDI files would be a great clue

[@evilmatt91]

4 years ago today we were in Tokyo. We stayed in Takadanobaba and the jingle for that station feels so nostalgic now that it brings me so much joy when I hear it.

[@radry100]

The music is NOT for the door closing notification nor the departure. The melody starts playing as soon as you arrive. They are there so you know which station you are at without looking outside because often you can't even see where you are in a cramped train.

[@azravalencia4577]

Fun Fact: In Indonesia, we also have this kind of Train Departure song. The jingles used is Westminster Chimney, but in high pitched. Pretty similar with Japanese School Announcer in terms of tempo. Some station (mostly Regional Large Stations) also have its local song used as departure/arrival song for trains. For examples, in Jakarta Jatinegara they use song "Kicir-Kicir", Surabaya Pasar Turi used "Rek Ayo Rek", or Bandung with "Manuk Dadali".

[@toshiyuki885]

That definitely effective of JR East.

[@KangJangkrik]

"Surabaya.. oh suurabaya.."

[@foxtrotplaysroblox4638]

ah yes. reminds me of sepasang mata bola, and kicir-kicir.

[@valiant8730]

Wtf, those sounds stupid😂😂😂

[@vboiE39]

Another nother fun fact: Indonesia's KRL line uses retired JR West or JR East trains!

[@adorableredfox]

Fun fact: The song at 2:34 is Koisuru Fortune Cookie by AKB48. AKB is an abbrivietion of Akihabara which is also located in Tokyo.

[@zerrenato]

YES! I was looking for this comment.

[@sarahkatherine8458]

As a small person (I'm short), I found new meanings of those melodies: they help me know if I am on the correct station. During rush hours, it is hard for me to see the station screens or have enough attention to (be able to) hear the station announcement, and the melody help me know that yeah, I should get off at this station. Once I was tired and board the train to the opposite direction. At the following stop, I heard the melody I'm not familiar with and know that I board the wrong train. Yes, I was tired, and the moving became a routine so I didn't pay attention to the announcement.

[@FidesAla]

Also, a lot of people sleep on the train, and this gets to your brain to let you know you’re close to your stop better than a voice announcement would.

[@Xavier-mz1wt]

As someone who's been interested in these jingles for almost 2 years yet hasn't stepped foot in Japan, I really appreciate this video. Having heard hundreds of melodies through the videos that Japanese people upload, I feel proud that I could recognize almost every single melody in this video. Thanks for sharing your research as videos like these that are in English are hard to find.

[@joao_1986]

Do you know which one is at 3:15 ?

[@Xavier-mz1wt]

​@@joao_1986 the japanese title of that one is 陽だまり V1 and is used in Shimbashi (新橋) station on the Joban line (常磐線)

[@joao_1986]

@@Xavier-mz1wt Thank you

[@DavidLin]

The 7 second rule only applies to Tokyo Metro. JR East has music as long as 30 seconds (excluding the infinitely looping variations), and most have a length of 10 or 15 seconds. The conductors or station staff can stop the music early or keep it looping depending on the actual dwell time needed for safety. In general the longer ones have a smaller chance being fully played, and there's a station, Etchujima, famous for playing only one beat due to very low ridership.

[@MIO9_sh]

Been there, but it's way less than a beat, it literally is just one single note and that hasn't even finished before getting cut off

[@nonamezebr]

When we were in Japan with friends, we used to call these melodies "endings", like an anime ending. I also made a ringtone from ikebukuro station melody - these MIDI's works great for this purpose)

[@BrightTripTravel]

That's so cool!

[@slowcuber_aze]

Хах, классно!

[@MR.ALFE95]

In Spain we have music on the highways, to prevent drivers to drive too close from the side, avoiding accidents by falling asleep or being unaware of the road. The music starts when the wheels drive through the continuous line on the sides. And it sounds quite loud. Sometimes is a piece of a classical song or sometimes is a typical Spanish melody such as "la macarena". Its fun

[@tark_iol1841]

Ever since I was a kid, I've had an alarm clock that plays train melody. It's already broken, but my heart still beats when I hear the melody I used to listen to every day. Even without such alarm clocks, people living in Tokyo wake up from their dozes when they hear the melody of the nearest station to their office or home. However, when the melody is heard, the doors of the train are about to close.

[@でほはい]

Thanks to the youtube,we can easily retrieve station melodies these days.When I found and listened to the melody of the place I had left 20 years ago,so many memories vividly revived.

[@TilmanBaumann]

Oh the constant din of jingles in Japan. It's charming but also absolute madness. Even pedestrian crossings have one, imagine living next to one.

[@BrightTripTravel]

Wow!

[@TilmanBaumann]

The worst thing is, those pedestrian traffic lights chirp along 24/7! And they kick it up a notch when it's green. I guess it helps blind people. But the price is high.

[@babaganoosh555]

"Charming yet absolute madness" kinda sums up Japan nicely!! 😂

[@TaylorZF1]

I live in Japan, and also live next to a busy crossing. Did annoy me at first but after a while you get used to it

[@xaviergillard9649]

@@TilmanBaumann Then you're not lucky! In my area, past a certain hour in the afternoon, the sound stops and only starts again the next morning.

[@trips4leo]

Thanks for posting, I have added the Akihabara Station melody as my ringtone to remind me of my trips to Japan.

[@BrightTripTravel]

Wonderful! 🎵

[@DrBovdin]

Having worked in Japan for a short while some 15 years ago, I as so many others also took a keen liking to the jingles. It was a great way of being sure one got on the correct train, especially when changing. And yes, I still have a few of them as ringtones at the ready on my phone 😊

[@ばみ-y1h]

I'm Japanese. Matsudo Station Melody is called "Matsudo Telephone Shopping" in Japan.

[@shreevz]

Learnt about Mr. Mukaiya through James May’s hilarious Our Man in Japan docuseries. (Y’all took a couple of shots from that episode too, right?) Great video! Had so much fun watching this, being a train + music nerd myself.

[@BrightTripTravel]

What a great combo! 🚋🎵

[@lil_swarlette]

That series was amazing!

[@xXshinichiconanXx3]

I play densha de go final on my ps2 emulator and ofc it plays the jingles in every station! :D Such a joy. Now that I know that the guy behind the jingles is the one who also created this game it all makes sense.

[@johnsappleseed]

I played 電車でGO! on the DS when I was growing up and the Yamanote line jingles are etched into my brain, and by the time I got a chance to use the line while on one of my trips to visit family in Japan, I'd basically memorised all the stations' names. It was an interesting feeling of familiarity to say the least on a train line I hadn't really used prior.

[@IzHarris]

I loved this Jordy!!

[@scottydude456]

I would absolutely KILL to have these cute jingles play in the NYC Subway!

[@user-on5bu1xd9b]

I'm a highschool student in Japan! I always listen to these melodies but I never get tired of it.

[@Brandis13]

My favorite jingle is „The Third Man“ at Ebisu station. They even used to sell little keychain hangers that looked like station signs and when you pushed a button, they would play that station‘s jingle. Loved them and bought a few as giveaway gifts to friends.

[@sidmichael1158]

Thanks for this. I needed a new ringtones for my doorbell.

[@BrightTripTravel]

Hahaha we love that!

[@CarfDarko]

Amazing video, I love the way how you explain it in the tiniest details. Being a long-time (part-time) musician myself I really love that the creator visits the places and truly tries to make the music fit the enviroment, in my book that is writting music with the heart at exatly the right place. Also love the connection between the musician and Densha de Go! Keep up the creativity!

[@Tyranitar66501]

I missed those no wonder these were stuck in my head. And the concept has also spread overseas, like the Taipei metro.

[@MARADERUSOPPUSU]

Mistake 1:41 The reason why the melody was introduced in JR East Japan was triggered by complaints from people living in the neighborhood of the station. 2:02 The upper limit of 7 seconds is only the melody used by Tokyo Metro. JR East also has songs for more than 20 seconds. 3:26 It is not used much outside of the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. Hiroshi Shiotsuka is definitely the one who made the best Hassya Melody in Japan. (JR East, Keikyu, Tokyo Metro )His song is playing at more than 500 stations.

[@Elfangel85]

I've always loved those melodies. Even listening to them in your video gives me shivers, I feel nostalgic.

[@1620kHz]

0:45 松戸の破壊力すごい

[@WorldNo1Wachi]

発車メロディーっぽくないよなw 急にテレビショッピングが始まったのかと思った

[@Nick-wt1no]

I loved these when I travelled to Japan as a kid! Feels so good 😌

[@denshaotoko42]

Love that most of the tunes are relevant to the actual station or neighbourhood.

[@tatsustimulus9671]

One thing that I want you really understand is Mr. Mukaiya is just one of many station jingle composers. Many are involved in this business, so JR East does not adopt his jingle. The Shibuya and Takadanobaba ones in this video are not by Mukaiya, it is composed by Mr. Sakurai.

[@5Stepcloser]

In Indonesia, when a Train arrive, some station has a Music for to play, and also for Departure.

[@dmark1922]

I hardly noticed how many different ones there were (except for the ones based on popular songs) until hearing so many different ones in order on this video... they just blend in with the ambience. I remember when they started in the early 90s in Tokyo; lots used harp strumming sounds.

[@hanafi_pwt]

Most of People always vote the Yamanote Line melody, But IMHO Joban Main Line Melody [Beetween Tokyo - Sendai] is more cool because it has more various melodies in every stations, even some of melody has more than 20 secs duration.

[@MomotheToothless]

"And I kinda want one" is a mood. I saw the alarm clock and immediately wanted one.

[@BrightTripTravel]

Hahaha YES

[@tanegashima5395]

At Kure station, they play the Space Battleship Yamato theme song because that's where the original Yamato was built. I was really surprised when I heard it for the first time.

[@mei_katsuragi]

If you could connect and listen to all the railway jingles used in Japan, you could probably spend a whole day listening to them all. The poster who summarizes that in a short video is amazing.

[@veldtwalker]

There is also the Montreal Metro 3 note chime, apparently it was the three phases of the motor engaging as the older metros left the station, but the metro system adopted it as it standard announcement chime.

[@tverdyznaqs]

I liked the sudden switch to the dischevied video editor look, I too tend to turn into a trash goblin whenever I need to edit a video in a span of a few days, that's very relatable haha

[@moludogRBX]

This is why I love Tokyo train you won’t get bored just riding the train you can listen to it

[@unutenteacaso6791]

thanks for your contribution, it should be noted that most of the jingles you put in the video are JR east lines. Mr mukaya has spent his efforts in composing a large number of jingles for the Tokyo metro, while the credits for the very famous melodies of the yamanote and the JR (in addition to the mr Ide) go to a group of composers, of which I will leave the disc purchasable below from which the JR have derived the sounds ... beautiful video anyway!

[@comradebeaver6173]

My jingle has woken me up multiple times so I don’t miss my stop. I do hear from my apartment but I don’t dislike it, it’s no different then the sound of the train coming for me.

[@gb9727]

The tune of shibuya sounds like a mission complete sound

[@ArnaudMEURET]

“Departure jingle” ? I always associate them with arrival. The first one that is sung by your “street reviewer” is JR Ebisu. My station. I love it.

[@eplazai]

Brilliant video... finally someone explains this so well. Thank you!!!

[@driaan_louw]

This is amazing! Matsudo is definitely my favorite jingle you played! Also Jordy - are you starting a let's play channel?

[@johannesofie777]

In Bergen, Norway they have those small jingles on the tram, but they play them before each stop is announced. The jingle is connected to the stop, like at the train station you can hear train sounds in the background. And some are shortened version of famous songs from Bergen. But the format of the songs is very close to the onces that is played in this video.

[@Likes_Trains]

I found this fascinating when I was on a choir tour through Scandinavia! We were pleased to hear Grieg's composition at Troldhaugen

[@jmstransit]

the 'I am Working on the Railroad' jingle is the most adorable thing

[@DanTheCaptain]

I’ve been to Japan and hearing all the different jingles was awesome. And you bet I was absolutely out of this world ecstatic when I walked into an arcade in Akihabara only to discover a full size Denshade GO arcade game with replica train cabin! That was probably the happiest 30 mins of my life!

[@danielfilipe1815]

The most fun fact about these train station melodies is that Minoru Mukaiya (the composer of many of them) is that in the 80s he was one of the most legendary keybord players and used do be part of and awsome band called Casiopea

[@allanau]

Thanks for making this video, been to Tokyo many times I actually enjoy the train tones there.

[@danielalba7651]

Good to see a scene from "james may: our man in japan". Nice video.

[@BrightTripTravel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiramutoujaeger]

James may sumimasen,love that jinggle that made

[@LaClocheFrancaiseOff]

In France, they don't do that for train or subways or buses but for schools, to calm children and teenagers. For so many years, we got a awful bell to annonce class start/end or pauses. Now we get melodies like Japan get for buses/subway or trains :)

[@EJL88]

I use a train jingle as my text notification. I get funny looks, laughs and smiles when my texts sounds. Fun video! Thanks!

[@S春香]

I think I went to see Mr. Mukaiya's concert at VinaWalk, a shopingmall locating in the city of Ebina. But didn't know his work much. Thank you for introducing Japanese culture to the world!

[@katyoutnabout5943]

This was well-researched, well done!! Thanks for giving a shout-out to great big story (RIP).

[@BrightTripTravel]

We really appreciate that, thanks 🙌

[@AlexNotFound404]

And a year later, great big story is back! :D

[@daisei-iketani]

These jingles are great for when you have dozed off. I don’t know why but my brain catches the melody and I am able to wake up before the doors close.😂

[@unduloid]

When I heard that first melody I got virtual smothered by an avalanche of nostalgia. Man, I miss Japan.

[@LashanR]

I had no idea this was a thing! So cool, like you're living inside a Pokemon game 😅

[@BrightTripTravel]

Hahaha, yes!

[@adiba9734]

jingle station is also implemented in Indonesia, it's just that we use one song in all stations except for long distance trains they have their own song

[@adiba9734]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXTUXnmdfsaqoLM

[@BrightTripTravel]

That's so cool!

[@bmolitor615]

our system has a "tune" of three tones throughout, bing-bah-boooong, and the doors start to slide closed right at the end of the last prolonged tone - it gives you yer run-n-jump timing!

[@catgirltransit]

That has gotta drive you crazy, they opened a new railroad line and every time a drive goes thru the civic center station I HAVE TO LISTEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE NEW T CHINATOWN EXTENSION AND THEN HEAR IT 4 MORE TIMES IS OTHER LANGUEDGES

[@jph4852]

The JR East Japan station by Tokyo Disney Resort, Maihama Station, sometimes has Disney songs for its platform jingles.

[@markvogel5872]

Freaky...I was thinking the other day about train music then this pops up in my feed.....I'm terrified and also really happy to have watched this all at the same time.

[@babaganoosh555]

I have various train station melodies on my phone as ring tones and notifications. The next time i went to Japan after doing this i kept going for my phone whenever they'd play in the station 😅

[@PrograError]

while creating panik...

[@Cal3000]

I always wondered what the concept behind them were. Thanks for the info :)

[@BrightTripTravel]

You're welcome 😊

[@spottyfawn]

You know what melody was a little much? Osaka loop line’s approaching melody at Osaka station 😂 It just plays again and again and again and again

[@ggbirdymill1618]

Great video. I really enjoyed everything

[@kc0eks]

The trains at Denver airport have a nice jingke too

[@madnar9]

They also pump in bird song too on the outdoor platforms, in order to tie the people to their natural surroundings. Very Zen

[@kelly_browning]

That fun fact at the end was the PERFECT easter egg. That's nuts they use that!! 😆

[@evenstarelectricrailway3281]

The concept of a station melody system is first imported into Taiwan by Taipei Metro a few years ago, yet in an all different way. Instead of as "departure" melody, Taipei Metro use them as "arrival" melody, signaling train arrival in 10 seconds. Now, arrival melodies can be heard in all Taiwan's 4 existing metro systems.

[@gibusspy5544]

Funnily enough, JR decided to not use these chimes altogether in some lines due to the fact that people will bum rush into the trains the moment they hear it.

[@HonzaGames3017]

Fun Fact: In czech republic we have for all train to which was a train going example [insert Any CZE jingle] R to Náchod and Broumov. schesule departure: 12:26 is now on platform n. 5 tracks n.29a or: R from Trutnov hln is now arriving to platform n.5 track n. 12a

[@thibaudda]

I live in Japan since more than a year and I'm still enjoying those melodies every day 🤭

[@RafQueiroz1]

I remember finding it confusing to navigate the subway in Tokyo. It was quite different from other countries' standards, with multiple companies managing each line. However, it was also intriguing in its complexity, almost like solving a puzzle, especially with the unique songs playing at each station. It felt like being the protagonist in a '90s game. I wish I could experience that again; I miss Japan.

[@FidesAla]

1:12 a loud buzzer would sound of (cue gentlest noise you’ve ever heard referred to as a “buzzer”)

[@neville132bbk]

Heard the jingle at Imabari station /Ehime Pref when our daughter was an ALT there for 2 years... but I can't for the life of me find it on line :0-(/ BTW.. the "human" Jordy is lovely .

[@Dukefazon]

5:20 - yes, you are so wrong on Densha de Go! It's a series that started in 1996 on Arcade, PlayStation, PC, Sega Saturn, WonderSwan and Game Boy Color. The plug&play games came much-much later.

[@YouTube視聴者]

日本人なので英語でなんて言っているかわからないけど、発車メロディーに関して相当詳しい人ですね。 英語でここまで詳しく取り上げている動画は初めて見ました。

[@deftcoleman0552]

0:41 “I’ve been workin’ on the railroad”

[@ykk-1]

Recently, it has become more common for train drivers to drive trains alone, so the departure melody is playing more and more from the car's speakers.

[@jerfareza]

Oh shoot now I need to check the stations around me for jingles!

[@Zenit_Bourg]

2:08 heheh i love how it's technically Japanese train but it's the exported Indonesian livery

[@ronthunderr9754]

Densha de Go my beloved. I imported the japanese Switch version alongside the available controller and can only recommmend it even if it might be a little confusing and stressfull at first, especially for people that arent that much into trains

[@franciscoflamenco]

I live in the Tokyo area and I never really noticed this. I'll keep an ear out for it next time I go to Tokyo proper.

[@BrightTripTravel]

Yessss!

[@DE-bs9cf]

Not to be a jerk but are you deaf? Either that or you have never taken a train because as an outsider the train melodies were one of the first things I noticed to be different im Japan compared to where I'm from.

[@DrZark]

I need some of them as my ringtones...

[@seejayep4258]

This makes you feel like you're living in the Pokémon world

[@BrightTripTravel]

Hahaha, yes!

[@kefas2playpama04]

@@BrightTripTravel Or maybe something from a Nintendo video-game franchise, don't you think??

[@Steve211Ucdhihifvshi]

Its been this way for decades. Short answer its so you can tell if the train is departing or arriving and also so you can tell which station is which easily.

[@HawaiiJapan808]

I love the the jingles. Thx I looked everywhere for those keychains and alarm clock and couldn’t find them. Do you know where to buy?

[@jakolu]

Sometimes they are line related I think - not always unique to a station. Like others have said it helps you know which line/platform's train is leaving.

[@anonymoususer7792]

Densha de Go! is not from Ongakukan, only the "Train Simulator" Series.

[@jossdeiboss]

Mukaiya Minoru is like one of the best musicians ever.

[@louie1234]

Nice video👍🏻 It let me know more about the history of the train melody in Japan.😄

[@rambro5104]

This is soo underrated :0 Why doesnt everybody know this?

[@BrightTripTravel]

Hopefully this video helps with that 🙌

[@relaxcookingvlog1746]

Lovely sharing - Amazing track

[@BrightTripTravel]

Glad you like it!

[@mailonef37]

3:10 めっちゃレアなメロディ 90年代に数年しか使用されなかった幻のメロディ