Japan introduces newcomers with a whole new world of sounds. Tokyo creates its own score for the rhythm of daily routines, adding music to everyday life.
Tokyo is full of all kinds of jingles, tunes and sounds unlike anything visitors have experienced before. Those who plan to visit Japan should prepare for an experience that is one for the record books: one that’ll leave visitors with stories to tell for years to come.
The opening track of Japan’s album begins somewhere mundane to most, the elevator. Different from American elevators, they are more vocal. From the second passengers enter the elevator until they get off, the robotic voice provides guidance, a contrast to the stereotypical ‘ding.’
Their jingle is sure to catch a newcomer’s attention and often becomes one of the most memorable parts of many Japan trips. When asked, most of the SJMC Japan students mention how it’s their favorite sound of the trip.
A number of the main cities are also bustling with rhythm and rhyme, though not in a way foreign tourists would expect. When someone thinks of a busy city, they might imagine something like New York or Los Angeles where chatter and loud conversation are prevalent. Japan is no different when it comes to their larger districts, especially Shibuya.
Shibuya’s nightlife soundtrack is full of life, energetic drum kicks and adrenaline-filled bass lines. Every corner is full of music from different shops. Illuminating lights try and succeed at catching the eye of someone ready to empty their pockets. Stores play everything from American pop to Japanese ballads. The farther visitors fall into the district, the more the sounds drives you to the next store.
Known among foreigners and locals, one shop of Shibuya is bustling with life. Don Quijote consists of tightly crammed aisles and dozens of “sumimasens” (Japanese for excuse me) shared between customers. It is rarely silent for longer than a moment. While chaotic, it creates a recognizable tune where the theme song is sure to get stuck in a visitor’s head.
And when you go to check out, expect to hear from the credit card machines. Similar to the elevator in its instructional tone, the tool may seem ordinary to locals, but for visitors it adds to the overall auditory experience, even including a thanks to the customer for the payment.
Japan is full of different music and sounds, and while much of it is fun and colorful, there is another side to the song that drives in silence.
“Everything has a voice,” public relations major Isabela Escalona said. “The elevators kept talking to us, but honestly other than that, it’s relatively quiet.”
After such a thrilling intro, there’s a still silence that takes over the melody for a moment. Japan is full of new exciting sounds but also full of quiet moments.
On most trains, it’s so quiet, a dropped pen can be heard through the car. Passengers tend to keep to themselves, silent, with very little conversation exchanged to protect the calm atmosphere.
The district of Omori, the location of SJMC Japan’s hotel stay in the first part of the program, is much like the trains: still and quiet. Its peaceful atmosphere is reflected by the silence that surrounds it. A very polite neighborhood, the crosswalks in Omori are silent, forcing pedestrians to pay attention. Even talking above a whisper may feel disruptive to the locals around. It’s so serene that remaining quiet feels like a way to respect the peace residents have created.
“I think of it as a hub of culture,” advertising sophomore Valeria Cerecer-Vargas said. “You hear very different sounds and different music that you wouldn’t hear back in the U.S.”
The sound of Tokyo is unique. It’s unlike other cities in the U.S., and there’s a lot of value to the soundscape that adds to every visitor’s experience.
Tokyo is an amazing place, but not just in the way it looks but also in how it sounds. There are dozens of different tunes, jingles and sounds that are unique to the city and its surrounding areas. Unlike other major cities, Tokyo is a city that is constantly singing.
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