Departure Melodies: JR East Nambu Line
Nanbu Line
The Nanbu Line, operated by JR East, is a railway line connecting Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture to Tachikawa in Tokyo. Established in 1927, the line was initially used for freight but quickly transitioned to passenger service, supporting the region's industrial and residential growth. The line spans approximately 45 kilometres and includes key stations like Kawasaki, Musashi-Kosugi, and Tachikawa, making it a vital commuter route through suburban Tokyo. The Nanbu Line plays an essential role in daily transportation, linking important industrial and residential areas.
Departure Melodies
There appear to be six generic departure melodies that play at stations without a special or dedicated melody. The melodies are arranged as follows:
- From Shitte Station to Musashi-Shinjo Station:
- JR-SH2 (when traveling towards Kawasaki)
- JR-SH5 (when traveling towards Tachikawa)
- From Tsudayama Station to Inagi-Naganuma Station:
- ホリデイ (Holiday) (when traveling towards Kawasaki)
- 遠い青空 (Distant Blue Sky) (when traveling towards Tachikawa)
- From Inagi-Naganuma Station to Tachikawa Station:
- 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting) (when traveling towards Kawasaki)
- 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version) (when traveling towards Tachikawa)
Special melodies and their stories or origins are noted below.
To listen to any of these melodies, check out this video.
Kawasaki 川崎
Platform 5 (to Tachikawa): 川崎市歌 (Kawasaki Song)
Platform 6 (to Tachikawa): 川崎市歌 (Kawasaki Song)
The "Kawasaki City Song" is the official city song of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, written by Shunzo Kobayashi and composed by Tetsuo Takashina in 1934 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Kawasaki's city status. Although it has a rich history, its recognition among residents has been low. Efforts to increase its prominence include adopting it as the departure melody at JR Kawasaki Station's Nanbu Line platforms in 2016. Recent initiatives aim to promote the song as Kawasaki approaches its 100th anniversary in 2024.
Shitte 尻手
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): JR-SH2
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): JR-SH5
Yakō 矢向
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): JR-SH5
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): JR-SH2
Platform 3 (to Kawasaki): JR-SH2
Kashimada 鹿島田
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): dance on
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): Sunny Islands
Hirama 平間
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): JR-SH2
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): JR-SH5
Mukaigawara 向河原
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): JR-SH2
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): JR-SH5
Musashi-Kosugi 武蔵小杉
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): ナンバーワン野郎！Ver B (Number One Guy! Ver B)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): ナンバーワン野郎！Ver A (Number One Guy! Ver A)
The station is near to the Todoroki Athletics Stadium, the home stadium of the J.League soccer team Kawasaki Frontale. A parody version of the song is used as a cheer for Frontale, and it was adopted with the approval of the composer, Masatoshi Mashima.
Musashi-Nakahara 武蔵中原
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): FRONTALE2000
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): FRONTALE2000
Platform 3 (to Tachikawa): FRONTALE2000
Platform 4 (to Tachikawa): FRONTALE2000
The song "FRONTALE2000" is played because the station is close to the Todoroki Athletics Stadium, the home stadium of the J.League soccer team Kawasaki Frontale.
Musashi-Shinjō 武蔵新城
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): JR-SH2
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): JR-SH5
Musashi-Mizonokuchi 武蔵溝ノ口
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): Jupiter
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): Jupiter
Platform 3 (to Kawasaki): Jupiter
The song "Jupiter" by Ayaka Hirahara, originally based on Gustav Holst's "Jupiter" from "The Planets" suite, has been used as the departure melody at Musashi-Mizonokuchi Station on the Nanbu Line since July 1, 2024. This was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of both Senzoku Gakuen College of Music's founding and Kawasaki City's establishment. A special version, featuring saxophone performed by Hirahara herself, is used with different arrangements on the station's three platforms.
Tsudayama 津田山
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): ホリデイ (Holiday)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 遠い青空 (Distant Blue Sky)
Kuji 久地
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): ホリデイ (Holiday)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 遠い青空 (Distant Blue Sky)
Shukugawara 宿河原
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): すいみん不足
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 夢をかなえてドラエもん (Make Your Dreams Come True, Doraemon)
The songs “すいみん不足” (Suimin Busoku) and ”夢をかなえてドラエもん” (Yume o Kanaete Doraemon) are both theme songs from anime series created by Fujiko F. Fujio. These songs are played at Noborito Station as a tribute to the nearby Fujiko F. Fujio Museum.
Noborito 登戸
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): ぼくドラえもん (I'm Doraemon)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): きてよパーマン (Come, Pāman)
Platform 3 (to Kawasaki): ドラエもんのうた (Doraemon Song)
The songs "ぼくドラえもん" (Boku Doraemon), "きてよパーマン" (Kiteyo Pāman), and "ドラえもんのうた" (Doraemon no Uta) are all theme songs from anime series created by Fujiko F. Fujio. These songs are played at Noborito Station as a tribute to the nearby Fujiko F. Fujio Museum. The museum is dedicated to the works of the manga artist duo, and Noborito Station is the closest station to this cultural landmark.
Nakanoshima 中野島
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): 遠い青空 (Distant Blue Sky)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): ホリデイ (Holiday)
Inadazutsumi 稲田堤
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): 丘を越えて 上りVer (Upward, Over the Hill)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 丘を越えて 下りVer (Upward, Over the Hill)
The song "丘を越えて” (Oka o Koete), released in 1931 and sung by Ichiro Fujiyama, was inspired by the landscapes around the Tama River near Inadazutsumi. The new departure melody is a live recording by students from the Guitar Ensemble Club at Kanagawa Prefectural Tama High School, a group with a strong tradition and numerous awards. JR East Yokohama Branch implemented this change in response to local requests, aiming to foster a deeper connection with the community through the new melody.
Yanokuchi 矢野口
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): 稲城繁盛節 (Inagi Prosperity Song)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): 稲城繁盛節 (Inagi Prosperity Song)
"稲城繁盛節" (Inagi Hanjo-bushi) is a traditional folk song associated with the city of Inagi in Tokyo. The song is likely used to celebrate local prosperity and community events, reflecting the cultural heritage of the region. Folk songs like this are often performed during festivals and local gatherings, symbolizing the community's spirit and traditions.
Inagi-Naganuma 稲城長沼
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): ホリデイ (Holiday)
Platform 3 (to Kawasaki): ホリデイ (Holiday)
Platform 4 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Minami-Tama 南多摩
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Fuchū-Hommachi 府中本町
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): twilight
Platform 4 (to Tachikawa): 星空の下 (Under the Starry Sky)
Bubaigawara 分倍河原
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Nishifu 西府
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Yaho 谷保
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Yagawa 矢川
Platform 1 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Platform 2 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Nishi-Kunitachi 西国立
Platform 1 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Platform 2 (to Tachikawa): 浜千鳥～高速Ver (Hama Chidori - High-Speed Version)
Tachikawa 立川
Platform 7 (to Kawasaki): 春待ち風 (Spring Breeze Waiting)
Platform 8 (to Kawasaki): mellow time
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