1.
train departure melody; departure jingle
A short musical tune played at train stations to signal that a train is about to depart. A distinctive feature of Japanese rail culture, with many stations having unique melodies.
発車メロディが鳴った。
The departure melody played.
この駅の発車メロディは有名な曲だ。
The departure melody at this station is a famous song.
発車メロディが流れ始めたので、急いでホームに向かった。
The departure melody started playing, so I hurried toward the platform.
CULTURE:
Train departure melodies are a unique feature of Japanese rail culture, replacing the older buzzer system starting in the 1990s. JR East stations in particular are known for their distinctive melodies. Some stations use locally themed tunes — for example, Takadanobaba station plays the Astro Boy theme, and Ebisu station plays a beer commercial jingle. Enthusiasts collect recordings of different station melodies.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 発車メロディが鳴る (the departure melody sounds)
- 発車メロディが流れる (the departure melody plays)
- 駅の発車メロディ (a station's departure melody)
ORTHOGRAPHY:
Also called 発車メロディー with a long vowel mark. Sometimes abbreviated to 発メロ in casual speech.