Why do Japanese train stations do that? | Japan Station 166/Ichimon Japan 03
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Release Date: 07/09/2025
What to know BEFORE you move to Japan: SIM cards, phone numbers & more (Mobal CEO Declan Somers) | Japan Station 173
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about some of the annoying things people have to deal with when moving to Japan. Our guest this time is the CEO of Mobal, Declan Somers. 👉Topics Discussed About visiting Japan for the first time About moving to Japan and working in a Japanese company in the late '90s Japan in the '90s versus Japan today About job possibilities for foreigners in Japan today About moving to Japan today About how difficult it can be finding a hotel in Tokyo Why you need a phone number as soon as possible when you move to Japan About the trouble getting Japanese...
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He SURVIVED a BEAR encounter in Japan! Talking about hiking in Tohoku with GoNorth Japan | Japan Station 172
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking to Quinlan from the GoNorth Japan YouTube channel about surviving a bear encounter in Japan, hiking in the Tohoku area of Japan and more. 👉Topics Discussed About bear attacks and encounters in Japan How to prevent encounters with bears while hiking in Japan Whether bear bells and whistles are effective in warding off bears About Quiinlan's encounter with a bear while hiking in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture What to do if a bear attacks you while hiking in Japan Why bear attacks have increased in Japan in recent years Whether you should yell at a...
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Tales from the Tokaido Road: About the Tokaido Challenge | Japan Station 171/Ichimon Japan 78
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station we ask: What was it like walking the Tokaido Road? NOTE: This is a re-broadcast of episode 78 of the Ichimon Japan podcast. Topics Discussed About the Tokaido Challenge About what it was like walking the Tokaido Road About the challenges of walking the Tokaido Road About what it was like walking from Kyoto to Tokyo About getting stopped by police in Kyoto About walking along the Shizuoka coast How long it took to walk the Tokaido And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn...
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ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Follow me on Instagram and leave a comment on one of my latest post for a chance to win one of two $3 a month PLUS ALPHA tier Patreon memberships!
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DON'T do these 8 things on trains in JAPAN! | Japan Station 170
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about train etiquette in Japan. We're covering a recent Japanese survey that lists the 8 most irritating things people do on trains in Japan. 👉Topics Discussed Eight things you shouldn't do on Japanese trains A survey indicating eight annoying things people do on Japanese trains How people in Japan deal with annoying things people do on Japanese trains And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional...
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Shikoku's 88 Temple Pligrimmage: What You Should KNOW (Kevin Tarpey) | Japan Station 169
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, Kevin Tarpey joins us to talk about what it was like doing Shikoku's famous 88 Temple Pilgrimmage and why Japan is such a great place for long-distance walking. 👉Topics Discussed Why Japan is such a great place for long-distance walking About the famous Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimmage (Ohenro, お遍路) What it's like walking the 88 temple pilgrimmage How long it took to walk the 88 temple pilgrimmage in Shikoku How much distance Kevin covered per day while doing the 88 temple pilgrimmage About getting blisters while walking the 88 temple pilgrimmage About...
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She moved to this Japanese island to FARM INDIGO?! (Sally Hancox of AiAii) | Japan Station 168
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about traditional Japanese indigo dyeing from Sally Hancox, one of the co-owners of AiAii Worshop & Shop on Awaji island. This is a conversation to dye for! Sorry, I couldn't help myself. 👉Topics Discussed About AiiAii Worshop & Shop About the aizome (indigo dyeing) process About farming and preparing indigo for dyeing Why Sally Hancox ended up farming and working with indigo What are the benefits of natural indigo dyeing About the workshops at AiAii About Awaji How to get to Awaji How to get in touch with Sally for scheduling...
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How Japanese scandals EXPLODE! (Igor Prusa) | Japan Station 167
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about scandals in Japan. My guest Dr. Igor Prusa tells about how scandals in Japan work, how they surface and how entertainers/business people/politicians who get caught in scandals try to deal with them. This is a truly SCANDALOUS episode. Sorry, couldn't resist. 👉Topics Discussed The characteristics of a Japanese scandal About the Noriko Sakai scandal Why the Sakai Noriko scandal was such a big deal What celebrities caught in scandals are expected to do About the press conferences often seen after a scandal rises to the surface in Japan About...
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Why do Japanese train stations do that? | Japan Station 166/Ichimon Japan 03
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
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...
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WHICH is CORRECT? Funiki vs Fuinki (雰囲気) | Japan Station 165
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気) and other words that aren't read the way they are written. 👉Topics Discussed About the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気) What the correct way to read/pronounce funiki is Whether you should read funiki as fun'iki （ふんいき) or fuinki (ふいんき) Why so many people pronounce funiki incorrectly About words like manin (満員) and zenin (全員) and why people often pronounce them incorrectly/differently from how they are...
info_outlineThis 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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Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.
You can support the show by donating via Venmo or Paypal.
You can check out the Citylab article that is mentioned multiple times during this episode via the link below.
As mentioned in this episode, Nogizaka Station on the Chiyoda Subway Line uses an adapted version of the Noguzaka46 song "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" (English translation: Your Name is Hope). You can listen to the original version of "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" via the YouTube video below.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E2OXutknVY[/embed]
Another song mentioned in this episode is "Yappa Sukiyanen" by Yashiki Takajin. Following the death of Takajin in 2014, an adapted version of this song was used for a period of time as the departure melody of JR Osaka Station.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GrOq7VY7lM[/embed]
The video below explores the question of whetherit is faster to stand or walk on an escalator. It finds that in theory about 80 people per minute can use an escalator when one side is reserved for walking. However, up to 112 people can use an escalator when people stand on both sides.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX11cxeW6hA[/embed]
You can check out the 2012 study that sparked the "blue light prevents suicide" craze via the link below. Note: many articles written after the publication of this study cite a 2013 study. However, this appears to be the same study and it is dated as 2012. It is possible that this is a preliminary version.
Numerous researchers have looked into the results of the 2012/2013 blue light study since it was originally plublished. In doing so, they have called into question its results. One such researcher is Masao Ichikawa of the University of Tsukuba. You can read his 2014 follow-up study via the link below.
Here is the 2019 BBC article mentioned during this episode that helpsput into doubt the idea that blue lights prevent suicide.
If you would like to check out episode 31 of the Japan Station podcast, which focuses on the skakuhachi, check out the link below.
If you want to learn even more about Japanese tains, then you should check out the Japankyo article below.
We Want Your Questions
Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected].
Special Thanks
Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)
Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.