50 Years of Bullet Trains and The Tokyo Olympics: Celebrating Japan's Big Anniversaries with J-Pop and Classical Music on Each

This year, 2014, is one of several momentous anniversaries for the nation of Japan. It marks the 50th birthday for the nation's revolutionary Shinkansen bullet trains, as well as the 50th anniversary of the Tokyo Olympics.

Both events were monumental in the history of the 20th Century. Bullet trains are among the most desirable forms of transportation in the world, with both continental Europe and China building their own renditions of the form. The United States has yet to match the current abilities of the bullet trains, but a railway capable of speeds of more than 200 mph is currently in development between Los Angeles and San Jose. The 1964 Olympic Games were historic not only for easing continued tensions between East and West following World War II, but because they were the first Summer games ever held in Asia.

As Japan celebrates a golden anniversary for several huge accomplishments, consider some songs reflecting on the respective events.

"Tokyo Melody" by Helmut Zacharias

The concept of an official song didn't begin with Shakira's "Waka Waka." The 1964 Olympic Games had an official song as well, although it certainly wasn't "Tokyo Melody" (you may have noticed, "Helmut Zacharias" is not the most Japanese of names). Most viewers in the UK got their Olympics coverage from the BBC, who hired popular German violinist Zacharias and his orchestra to compose the songs "Tokyo Melody" and "Teatime in Tokyo" for use on the network's broadcasts. The former caught on and went as high as no. 9 on the UK Billboard charts. Although it was clearly a Western impression of Asian music, many still associate the instrumental track with the Games today...

"Games of the XVIII Olympiad Tokyo 1964" by Yūji Koseki

...although the Games did in fact have an official song composed by a Japanese performer. If the average American were to consider both instrumental pieces, they might be surprised to find out that this was the piece actually composed by a Japanese citizen. While Zacharias reached for Western stereotypes of Oriental music when crafting "Tokyo Melody," Koseki clearly had studied Western composers as part of his work with Nippon Columbia, the Japanese branch of the famous UK label. His work with military songs and marches was an obvious influence on his theme for the 1964 Olympics. If, however, you insist on hearing something distinctly "Japanese" from Koseki, you can always check out "Mothra's Song," the theme he wrote for the iconic kaiju monster.

Bullet Train

Japan doesn't stop at just writing songs about its most famous form of transportation: They have entire bands named after it. Bullet Train is a seven-member J-Pop band working under Stardust Productions, the same company that promotes hit group Momoiro Clover Z (an act that is admittedly sounds like the female clone of Bullet Train). Koichi Yosino and Takashi Matsuo handle most of the main vocals while the rest of the group serves as dancers for the live show. Check out the band's theme for the Japanese television version of Yu-Gi-Oh, "Believe x Believe," and you'll understand why this group is just one English-language hook away from catching on in the States.

Japan Railway Music

London's Tube is pretty excellent in terms of public transit but we have to give it to the Japan Railway company for bringing personality to its system via music. Anyone who's ridden the train to work in Tokyo will recognize "Seseragi" ("Murmur"), the theme that plays prior to the doors closing at many of the city's stops. Some stations have their own themes however, such as the "Astro Boy Theme" playing at the Takanobaba Station. We live in New York and we'd be a lot more positive about the subway if we got fun, pop-friendly commercials such as the one below, which features the original track "Train" from J-Pop act Ketsumeishi.

"Bullet Train" from Choo-Choo Soul

Kids have always gotten a kick out of trains (hence classic like Thomas & Friends) and the Disney Channel has recently updated the formula to incorporate soul 'n' R&B into the mix. Naturally, vocalist Genevieve Goings and conductor Constantine "DC" Abramson had to do a track on bullet trains. Goings describes the world's fastest trains (not technically true at the moment, but Japan is hoping to retake the crown with a 500km/h line in the future) with a funky backing instrumental, and she's sure to point out the proper name of "Shinkansen" to her small ride-alongs. She admits that if she were a train, she'd be a bullet train.