Ueno-Tokyo Line cab view videos

[bikkuri bahn]

Many new services and routes use the "line" monicker for marketing reasons.  For example, the Tobu Isezaki Line (Sen) is referred to in announcements, signage, and promotional material as the "Tobu Skytree Line" to promote Tobu's Skytree observatory and retail complex.  Train staff internally and locals still refer to the line (afaik) as the Isezaki Line (Sen).

 

On a related note, back when the national railways were being privitised in the mid-eighties, there was an attempt to promote the term "E-den", which was deemed trendy-sounding (and perhaps ahead of its time, in retrospect), for the electrified network in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which was long popularly known as "kokuden" (i.e.national electric train network).  It never caught on. People just call it "JR".

Edited August 24, 2015 by bikkuri bahn

[trainsforever8]

Quite interesting, I don't really like it when they use a lot of english, because I find japanese to be a beautiful language so I don't see the need to ad english names. I'm actually disappointed that the Tobu Noda line is now called the Tobu Urban Park line.

[Densha]

The funny thing is, your reasoning is the same as the Japanese have for using English. In Japan the English language is seen by many people as something foreign, cool, modern, etc. Even though proper Japanese words exist, English words are often used in the Japanese language. Just like how you might think Japanese is a beautiful language, the way English is seen in Japan makes it too have a certain marketing potential.

 

On a side note, another reason for using English words in Japanese is either the word being a loanword or it being an English word that has practically replaced an older Japanese word.

[trainsforever8]

The part where english words replace older japanese words is exactly what I don't like, however I understand what you mean. Here in Montreal, our official language is french but since we're located in North America, there's a lot of english and a lot of people use english loan words. I find it strange because I speak french the same way as French, Swiss and Belgians basically even though I'm born here. 

[railsquid]

I still resent the Normans for polluting the language of Beowulf with their coarse provincial French. :P

[Guest ___]

The funny thing is, your reasoning is the same as the Japanese have for using English. In Japan the English language is seen by many people as something foreign, cool, modern, etc. Even though proper Japanese words exist, English words are often used in the Japanese language. Just like how you might think Japanese is a beautiful language, the way English is seen in Japan makes it too have a certain marketing potential.

 

On a side note, another reason for using English words in Japanese is either the word being a loanword or it being an English word that has practically replaced an older Japanese word.

 

Yeah, but that reminds me of the shirt I saw for sale at an ABC Mart in Tokyo that read "Bon Jovi Rock n Roll High School", with the picture of Bob Dylan on it. Sorta reminds me of people who get kanji tattoos that translate to words like, "Fish" or "Lampshade"

[cteno4]

In the 80s there was a craze in japan of translating Japanese to English to Japanese for tee shirts. I got one in Tokyo at a street seller as I was drenched with sweat and had a 3hr shinkansen trip to get on w.o luggage. Looked like nicely painted characters and 100 yen. Later back at home our Japanese neighbor was looking at the shirt oddly one day so I asked him why and he said he was puzzled at the saying, "love small things, but kill them"!

 

Jeff

Edited August 30, 2015 by cteno4

[Densha]

The part where english words replace older japanese words is exactly what I don't like, however I understand what you mean. Here in Montreal, our official language is french but since we're located in North America, there's a lot of english and a lot of people use english loan words. I find it strange because I speak french the same way as French, Swiss and Belgians basically even though I'm born here. 

In the Netherlands, where I am from, English words have also been replacing Dutch words over the years. Nowadays Dutch people hear English so often in foreign movies, music, games, TV programs, etc. that many people eventually end up using these words in daily life. I think this is also the case in Japan.

[railsquid]

In the 80s there was a craze in japan of translating Japanese to English to Japanese for tee shirts. I got one in Tokyo at a street seller as I was drenched with sweat and had a 3hr shinkansen trip to get on w.o luggage. Looked like nicely painted characters and 100 yen. Later back at home our Japanese neighbor was looking at the shirt oddly one day so I asked him why and he said he was puzzled at the saying, "love small, but kill them"!

 

 

Less of an 80s craze, more a long term cultural phenomenon. Observe my witty trashcan.

It emits bon mots every time you deposit something in it.

[Guest ___]

Like that time I misspelled Obon as Oban. right. I mean afterall, all I did was add a little tail to the second o, who'd know how many people I have angered at the yearly festival.