It is said that a Japanese railway timetable is famous about its punctuality. But how punctual is it? I examined it by layering the same train sound for 10 days.
It is said that a Japanese railway timetable is famous about its punctuality. But how punctual is it? I examined it by layering the same train sound for 10 days.
How early the fastest train arrived at the Shibuya station than the last one did?
You can see the answer below.
It is said that a Japanese railway timetable is famous about its punctuality. One day I wondered. "OK, I know its punctuality, too. But how punctual is it?" So holding my recorder, I took the Yamanote-Line. Because it runs as a circle, and you not need return to home spending long time when the recording is done. It seems good for making a CD that it takes an hour going around Yamanote-Line, too. First, I tried early trains to keep my recording away from chatting other passengers. But I found young people who spend all night to drink or something tend to take early trains. As a result of various verifications, it turned out that it was good to take a train in Shibuya Station at six o'clock. I recorded ambient sounds for about a month, selected quiet ones of ten days, cut the sound of chatting or sneezing or coughing, equalized them, and layered them. Finally, I found it is a "metropolitan ambient drone". Because its punctuality, announces sound like echoes. And you may feel like you are in the cave, too. Please take Yamanote-Line when you come to Japan. And, how about adding another layer onto this recording?
The answer is "15 seconds". The fastest train took 60:10, while the slowest one took 60:25. How punctual it is!
You may love Music of Timetables - for Stations On the Yamanote Line, too.
Recorded, edited and photograph by HAGIHARA Yoshiaki.
Sleeve design and artwork by AKIYAMA Mimico.
Last update: June 27, 2009.