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July 9, 2025 61 mins

This episode was originally released as episode 3 of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

Today's Question

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do Japanese train stations do that?

Topics Discussed

  • The train system in rural areas versus urban areas in Japan
  • Trains in Kagoshima and Ishikawa
  • What a Wanmanressha (one man trains) is
  • Unmanned rural train stations
  • Why Japanese train stations use cute songs to indicate a train is about to depart
  • Hasshamero (train departure melodies)
  • The use of Nogizaka46's song "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" as a train departure melody
  • The logic behind train departure melodies
  • A brief history of train departure melodies in Japan
  • How the song "Yappa Sukiyanen" by Uashiki Takajin was adapted into a train departure melody after his death in 2014
  • How Osaka locals prefer to use "Umeda" when referring the the area in and around JR Osaka Station
  • Why there are lines and numbers on the train platforms
  • How to line up when waiting for a train
  • Women only train cars
  • The use of high-pitched noises (17 khz) to disperse people loitering at train stations in Japan
  • Standing versus walking on escalators
  • How Japanese railway companies are trying to get people to only walk on escalators
  • Japanese people's reluctance to stop walking on escalators
  • Why standing on escalators can be faster than walking
  • Why Japanese train stations use blue LED lights on platforms
  • The claim that blue LED lights are extremely effective at preventing suicide
  • The role of seken no me (世間の目, the public gaze/the eye of society) on Japanese trains and at Japanese train stations
  • Train etiquette
  • The claim that cell phones interfere with pacemakers
  • Putting on makeup on Japanese trains
  • How there's a part-time job in Nagoya where people stand on the escalator all day in order to stop people from walking on escalators
  • And more!

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You can check out the Citylab article that is mentioned multiple times during this episode via the link below.


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