If you have ever traveled by train in Japan, you too have likely witnessed the following phenomenon. The train car is nearly silent as riders all around you are absorbed in their phones, newspapers, and books. Across the way, someone is peacefully dozing, leaning on the person in the neighboring seat without a worry in the world. Suddenly, a cheerful jingle fills the air, and the sleepy traveler springs to their feet and makes their way to the door, not once glancing up to check the scrolling station sign. The bolt up and awake just in time for their stop, as if by some sort of miracle. But how do they do it?
The secret lies in the peppy little tunes shattering the silence of the train car. These are called “eki melo,” meaning station melodies. Each station in major metropolitan areas such as Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka has a signature song that functions as a sort of auditory identifier. These songs are played shortly before arriving at the station, rousing nap-takers and catching the attention of those engrossed in their social media. They also prove useful during the morning rush hour when the packed trains can make it hard to see signs.
Station songs also assist several groups of people. For those with visual impairments, the songs offer a simple way to track where the train is and when they should prepare to disembark without having to rely on the assistance of others to read signs. These songs also prove useful for children and foreigners who may not be able to read the signs or perfectly recall the names of stations, but can still recognize the jingle of the station closest to home.
Eki melo have risen in popularity across the country since they first became common in the 1980s as a pleasant replacement for blaring bells and buzzers. These seven-second snippets are carefully composed to be audible even in crowded spaces, and the beats per minute encourage people to move at a reasonable pace. They are also unique enough to not be confused with other station songs on the line. Additional melodies are now played both when departing stations and as precursors to announcements being made on the platforms.
While many stations have bespoke songs, others choose to use beloved tunes from all over the world. For example, at Osaka Umeda Station, you’ll hear the ever-so-appropriate “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad.” Meanwhile, when arriving at Maihama Station in Chiba, the closest station to the Tokyo Disney Resort, cheerful bars of “Zip A Dee Doo Dah” and “It’s a Small World” will welcome you to the magical world of Disney. Other stations use Japanese songs to pay homage to hometown heroes and history. In Fukushima, Koriyama Station honors local J-Pop legends GReeeeN by playing their hit song “Kiseki.” At Noborito Station in Kanagawa, songs from the popular cartoon Doraemon are played as a nod to the local creator, Fujiko F. Fujio.
Much like the trains themselves, these melodies have gained quite the following in Japan. And it’s easy to see why! After a week of traveling in Tokyo, you too might just find yourself humming along to all the greatest hits of the Yamanote line.
About the author:
Nadine Lindskog
Nadine first became interested in Japan and Japanese culture after working with an exchange program at her university. After hearing so many wonderful things from the exchange students she worked with she was longing for a chance to see Japan for herself. That opportunity came to her in the form of the JET program where she spent 5 years on a small island in the beautiful prefecture of Okinawa. While living in this very rural community of just under 1,300 people she was lucky to experience a glimpse into some of Okinawa’s unique traditions and culture. In her free time, she traveled the main island of Japan as well as eastern Asia, seeking out the most delicious foods and exciting experiences. She currently resides in the United States but hopes to return to Japan in the future.
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