Ok, here's the back-story from what I can piece together from Google Translate, assorted blogs, YouTube captions and one About.com article. (As ever, your better-informed input is appreciated.)
The opening of a new bullet train line in Japan was scheduled for March 12. This new line would connect two pre-existing lines, making it possible to high-speed the length of most of Japan. It's not actually called the Happy Train. The Japanese apparently pair the name of their high-speed rail system, Shinkansen, with the name of the line. In this case, Kyushu Shinkansen.
So it's a big deal for the country that this rail line is opening and they put out a call to the general public to participate in a new commercial by waving to the train as it makes a pass along the new route. At least 10,000 and maybe more than 15,000 people show up to wave and cheer and from what was shot from the train itself comes the video above.
The day before the line opened, March 11, the giant earthquake and tsunami struck. The celebrations were cancelled and the commercial (which either never aired or only aired a few times) was pulled.
The words at the end are reportedly, "On that day, you waved at us. Thank you. You smiled for us. Thank you. You came together as one for us. Thank you. From now, Japan is linked together, from top to bottom. From now, Japan will become fun."
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Stories like this make me sad when I compare it to America today.
You can barely drive on many major highways in coastal Oregon where I live, the roads are in such terrible shape. Accidents routinely happen at certain places where the roads have cracked and buckled, and those unfamiliar with the road don't slow enough or react in time to stay on the road. And yet we just voted down a ballot initiative that would have created a 2 cents per gallon gas tax specifically for desperately needed road repair and maintenance.
Our national pastime will soon need to be changed from baseball to cutting off our collective noses to spite our face.
"From Osaka to Kagoshima, airplane and train travel times (city center to city center) have become nearly identical, with the trains providing a cost advantage, not to mention comfort and convenience compared with air travel."
Take The Train!
Take The Train!
For goodness sake... take the Train!
/with apologies to, "The Lift". :) (Oh, IMDb calls it, "The Elevator (1983)" now. Sorry.
That. Is. Amazing.
More often than not, when I daydream of the wonderment of national innovations now and to come, or of country ills and challenges, with spirit and resources to overcome, my thoughts drift to Japan for a different perspective.
Thoughts to go.
That is a wonderful CM, but understandable that they held off showing it.
Lived in Nagoya City 20 years...and never went to Kyushu, but the people there are noted for their warmth and 'ramen'!! (Amoung other things!). The ending emphasizes the 'collective' efforts in Kyushu..."Thanks for waving, thanks for cheering, thanks for connecting us together".... It does speak volumes about the collective spirit.... "Hitotsu ni natte"=We became one! This spirit definitely is helping Japan now. Thanks Rachel for the heads up on this!!
There are so many things which are different in Japan. They don't fear technology, and actually welcome infrastructure improvements. (Compare that to Florida). I like how so many of those cheering crowds were part of an organized effort. That huge group holding pink pom-poms for example. As a group, they're more eye-catching and effective. I love personal freedom and individuality as much as any American, but at least in Japan they can sometimes get together and accomplish something for everyone when they want to. That was a joyous ad.
It's inspiring to see things go on and get better no matter what happens.
the republican people have to put thier foot down and realize that if they wouldnt have kill Osama we would be facing negotiation with al-quaida they could have kidnapped a plane kill americans abroad or kidnapping americas abroad until we su...rrender thier leader i belive that a job well done was implemented i have to congradulate the stuff that put the whole thing together and the people that carry on we dont need any proof the AI Jazeera and the pakistani they would be the first ones trying to convince the whole world if the fact was false and thats what i have to say about that...
I like this, a lot. I have always been impressed with the Japanese culture.
When my step daughter came back from Japan with a can of beer she bought for me in a vending machine in a train station, I thought;"This is a civilized culture."
Years ago I engineered a Japanese program on a local radio station. I love the sound of the language and especially the old style Koto music. And the Tsugaru-jamisen. Listen to Hiromitsu Agatsuma, he is fantastic!