Literally “the bell of hopes or aspirations,” the origins of this particular chime remains a mystery to the Tokyo Weekender team. If you want to hear this tune, head to Toshima-ku. The song experienced a revival when pop group Exile’s Atsushi released his cover version of it in 2012. ![]() Meguro – Minna no Uta chimes: Furusatoįurusato, which means hometown or birthplace, is traditional 1914 song that brings up memories of home and the beauty of the countryside. Meguro Ward is fancy enough to have its own original melody, coupled with lyrics describing how great the area is. (These chimes are usually rung every 15 minutes.) You’ll hear these chimes in Setagaya-ku, Koto-ku and Chuo-ku. The second most popular chimes in Tokyo isn’t a song, but instead makes use of the full version of the Westminster Quarter chimes. The Yuyake Koyake chimes: The original song, with lyrics: Westminster Chimes Those wards using this melody are Shinjuku-ku, Minato-ku, Itabashi-ku, Sumida-ku, Kita-ku, Edogawa-ku, Shibuya-ku, Katsushika-ku, Shinagawa-ku, Adachi-ku, Chiyoda-ku, Nerima-ku, Ota-ku, Suginami-ku and Sumida-ku. The soft and slightly melancholy song sings of country life and what the poet saw every day as the sun set. The lyrics (heard in the original version) were taken from a 1919 poem by Ukou Nakamura and set to music by Shin Kusakawa in 1923. This melody will be familiar to most Tokyoites as it’s played in more than half of the wards across the city. Here’s a breakdown of the chimes you’ll hear across the city and beyond: Yuyake Koyake While each may not have a different melody, most wards have a signature tune, using either a popular nursery rhyme or a simple clock chime. Also, because the tests occur so often, it’s thought better to have a nice melodic tune playing daily, rather than an actual siren sound, which might alarm residents needlessly. These are similar to siren tests in places like France, though here it’s a daily occurrence rather than weekly due to the high risk of earthquakes and other natural disasters. These sound systems are in place for emergency announcements and the daily ring is a way for both the government and the people living and working in the area to confirm that everything is in order. What are the Chimes For?Īlthough it seems that many Tokyoites are under the assumption that this bell is a reminder for children to make their way home, it’s not the chimes’ primary purpose. Some regions change both the tune and time they are played as the seasons change, but most keep to one song, at the magic hour of 5 o’clock. ![]() ![]() In most Tokyo wards and towns across Japan, a chime will sound its eerie tune at precisely 5pm (or, depending on where you live, earlier). One doesn’t have to be in Tokyo - or anywhere in Japan - for long before noticing that something special happens at 5pm daily.
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