Take our user survey and make your voice heard.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of rail travel in Japan is the variety of melodies that can be heard at station platforms just before carriage doors close and trains make their departures. While some of Tokyo’s most iconic train jingles can be heard at stations on the Yamanote loop line, with Ebisu’s "The Third Man" and Takadanobaba’s "Astro Boy" theme, other train lines have been offering up limited edition specials recently, like Tokyu Toyoko Line’s "Dragon Quest" theme.
Now, Tokyu Dentetsu, one of the country’s major private railway operators, is following up with another treat for their commuters, with new departure melodies being played at six of their main train stations.
The new jingles are being provided by Walt Disney Japan as part of their collaboration on the “Tokyu Christmas Wonderland 2016-Disney Crystal Magic-” promotion, which includes festive installations at Tokyu Plaza Stores and special character wraps for Tokyu trains and buses. And for those who prefer the less cutesy-side of Disney, there are Marvel-themed trains and "Star Wars" jingles as well.
While the eye-catching visuals have been making news on social media, it’s the unusual train melodies that are grabbing everyone’s attention, with commuters eager to share their audio discoveries online. This video below collates all 12 new jingles into one neat collection, including images of the train stations at which the tunes can be heard.
If you’d like to hear the new jingles in person, this is where they can be found:
- “Mickey Mouse March” – Shibuya Station, Toyoko Line Southbound
- “Heigh-Ho” – Jiyugaoka Station, Toyoko Line Northbound
- “When You Wish Upon a Star” – Jiyugaoka Station, Toyoko Line Southbound
- “Star Wars” – Jiyugaoka Station, Oimachi Line Northbound
- “The Imperial March” (Darth Vader’s theme) – Jiyugaoka Station, Oimachi Line Southbound
- “Under the Sea” – Oimachi Station, Oimachi Line Southbound
- “A Whole New World” – Musashikosugi Station, Toyoko Line Northbound
- “Friend Like Me” – Musashikosugi Station, Toyoko Line Southbound
- “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” – Futakotamagawa Station, Denentoshi Line Northbound
- “A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes” – Futakotamagawa Station, Denentoshi Line Southbound
- “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Tama Plaza Station, Denentoshi Line Northbound
- “Monsters, Inc.” – Tama Plaza Station, Denentoshi Line Southbound
The melodies will be played until the last train departs each station on the night of 25 December. Personally, we’ll be stopping off at Jiyugaoka for the awesome sounds of “Star Wars” and “The Imperial March”.
With trains departing every few minutes, a short sojourn on the platform means we’ll get to enjoy the short but dramatic jingles over and over again… perhaps with our newly-acquired "Star Wars" Ukiyo-e prints in hand.
Source: Jiyugaoka Keizai Shimbun
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Tokyo’s Shibuya Station now sending trains on their way by playing the Dragon Quest theme 【Video】 -- Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon is coming to Shibuya to become Pretty Soldier Sailor Shopper -- Tokyo Station lists departing train’s destination as…New York?!
© Japan Today
21 Comments
Login to comment
edojin
I always enjoy the various sounds heard at stations here in Japan. Such as the tweeting of birds at Yotsuya JR station and, of course, "The Third Man Theme" at Ebisu. Now we don't have to travel out to Tokyo Disneyland anymore to hear familiar Disney sounds ... just go to a nearby station that plays the music mentioned above ... Gotta get out to Jiyugaoka Station to hear a tune that often pops into mind when I want to enjoy a popular tune to "think" to ...
TrevorPeace
Thank God I'm deaf and turn off the hearing aids in stations and on trains.
notagain
It's not kawaii, it's infantile.
Patricia Yarrow
As long as it is not "Let it Go", I good with it. Actually, I wish there was a lot more JAPANESE music. What country are we in?
natsu823
I'd rather listen to Mickey and Donald than AKB any day.
Derek Grebe
I wish they’d do this at my station. I get Moon River every morning and night, a song I loathe and despise. What the blue blazes is a huckleberry friend? It’s a pile of toss.
Goodlucktoyou
Anything is better than xmas carols two months before xmas.
PerformingMonkey
In Osaka, we get Yashiki Takajin.
Aly Rustom
Maybe they should paint and decorate the stations completely with the themes that the particular station is playing.
parallel universe? Its Japan. Oh wait, same thing..
And which station would that be?? All the japanese stations would have to play that one. They should substitute THAT song for Kimigayo.
Not that anybody asked me but if I had a say, here's where I think they should put the following songs-Enjoy...
“The Imperial March” (Darth Vader’s theme) – The nearest station to the PM's house
“Star Wars” – Whichever station is nearest to the US embassy
“Mickey Mouse March” – Hanzo Mon or whichever station is closest to the Imperial Palace
“A Whole New World” – **Narita, Haneda, or any other international airport's closest station
“Friend Like Me” You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Uguisudani Station**
“Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo” –Roppongi Station
“A Dream is a Wish your Heart Makes” “ When You Wish Upon a Star “Under the Sea” – Anywhere on the Chuo Line
“Monsters, Inc.” – Kokkai Gijido Mae Station
SenseNotSoCommon
Hey ho, hey ho, it's off to work I go
Independent thought ne'er a plush toy bought
Hey ho, hey ho, hey ho.
cleo
Is Disney paying to have its tunes played, to advertise its products? Or is Tokyu Dentetsu paying for the privilege of using copyright material? Or does the “Tokyu Christmas Wonderland 2016-Disney Crystal Magic-” promotion mean that it's all happening with no money changing hands?
If it's the first or third option, fine, but if it's the second one I think I'd prefer cheaper train fares.
nath
Who cares?
dcog9065
It would be good if they could liven up the Tokyo Metro as well.. Those lines provide a truly grim commute
paulinusa
I've always enjoyed the train jingles. Part of the pleasure for myself when I visit Tokyo is the sounds of the city, below and above ground.
kolohe
The music will probably make people jump the tracks!
Sasoriza
I actually lolled at this! Do you know the Japanese lyrics to " Heigh Ho"? Hai-ho, hai-ho, shigoto ga suki! I like to work/ I like my job! Now imagine this for your morning commute. No, just imagine morning commute under this tune! The comedy!!
The train arrives under the Imperial March tune...This begs for some pranksters to cosplay as storm troopers!
They need to add "Let it go" too , in the mornings. Then the joke will be full.
Oh, I can't even! More Disney, more Disney, please!
ChaosWyvern
@Moonraker
I'm clueless about this too. It's just supposed to be an audio clue to tell passengers what station they are at. Maybe tourists find it interesting or something? But "enjoyable"? For the train fanboys, maybe....
Haaa Nemui
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is the Disney theme I want to hear.
5SpeedRacer5
I want the theme to Deadpool for my morning commute.
MarkX
Whenever I visit Tokyo I do enjoy hearing the different station music, it reminds me I am in Tokyo, but why oh why does Japan always need Disney! I know about the cuteness factor, and I don't hate Disney, but for me it just makes the country seem weirdly immature
Moonraker
Is this some kind of joke? Is there really some kind of parallel universe where this is" enjoyable"?