Like the ubiquitous neon signs and abundant convenience stores scattered throughout Tokyo, departure melodies at train stations are probably something many residents don’t give much thought to as they travel around the city each day. Whether it’s bells, harps, or the theme to “Astro Boy,” many train stations in Japan have a special departure songs. Even after the melodies had been assigned to individual stations, some rail operators were unconvinced passengers would know what these new melodies were on the morning of March 11, 1989. Ten years after their introduction, 60-70 percent of respondents in a 1999 survey conducted by JR East on departure melodies were positive about their impact. Read the full story on The Japan Times online. (Andrew Lee photos and illustrations)
.
.
.
.
.
.
#Japan #Tokyo #train #music #culture #publictransport #日本 #東京 #山手線 #電車 #撮り鉄 #音楽 #🚉
AloJapan.com