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My Thoughts

A New Melody on the Tokaido Shinkansen

A personal reflection on the fervor of activity on social media on 7/21/23, when the melody played on the Tokaido Shinkansen changed.

How many of you can recall the melody that plays on the Tokaido Shinkansen when you arrive at your destination? If you're like me, maybe it's a fuzzy memory - as I was typically more concerned about where to go after I got off the train. However, I learned that the chime changed as of July 21, 2023. This change sparked many social media posts and YouTube videos dedicated to commemorating the old melody and welcoming the new.

Surprise #1: The old melody was AMBITIOUS JAPAN! by TOKIO. I have heard this song so many times and never realized the connection (I'm also not the most musically gifted). The song was introduced 20 years ago when the Shinagawa Station opened.

Surprise #2: A full-page ad in the Nikkei Newspaper was dedicated to the change. It's framed as a letter of gratitude - quite emotional and poetic. It weaves in lyrics from the song. I prepared a rough translation for your reference.

A Rough Translation of the Ad

"To my dear friend who ran with us
That morning of excitement before a vacation.
That day returning home from a nerve-racking business trip.
That spring filled with anticipation for a new living situation.
That long-awaited day to finally reunite with a loved one who lives far away.
Even as the world changed around us,
you were always there to connect countless people.
Twenty years. With you. Together.

Thank you, "AMBITIOUS JAPAN!"
We will continue to connect countless people.
Without stopping. Without looking back.
We will keep pushing toward the future.

Here it is, the last special day.
As usual, let's keep going.
Today, countless people are waiting to connect.

Surprise #3: Countless social media posts highlighted personal stories and sentiments associated with the change. I was particularly struck to learn that the conductors expressed their gratitude during the in-train announcement.

I reflected on the magnitude of the emotions swirling around that day. I felt it encapsulates the mindset to appreciate what we have grown to accept as "every day." Yes, it's just a melody, a chime on the bullet train. However, I think the ability to commemorate and celebrate the change as a milestone highlights the Japanese way of treasuring the small but significant components that make up our lives. They could have just changed it without an announcement. But they transformed the experience into a shared moment, and I think that's the beauty of it. Together, we can each reflect on our memories. And together, we can look forward to making new ones.

If you're curious, this is the new song:

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