Minoru Mukaiya

Minoru Mukaiya (向谷 実, Mukaiya Minoru, born 20 October 1956) is a Japanese musician best known as the former keyboardist of the jazz fusion band Casiopea and producer of the Train Simulator series of Japanese video games.

Minoru Mukaiya
Mukaiya in 2008
Background information
Born	20 October 1956
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Genres	Jazz fusion, funk
Occupation(s)	Musician, businessman
Instruments	Keyboards
Years active	1977—Present
Associated acts	Casiopea

Mukaiya joined Casiopea during its formation in 1977 (with guitarist Issei Noro, drummer Takashi Sasaki (ja) and bassist Tetsuo Sakurai) and remained in the group until their hiatus in 2006. Since leaving the band he has created his own musical production team, "Mukaiya Club." He also serves as the President and CEO of the company Ongakukan (ja), which produces professional train simulators for Japanese transit systems and has distributed video games to the general public.

Mukaiya has also appeared in the event of Nico Nico Douga.

While most train stations alert passengers with basic dings and dongs, metro riders in Japan are often treated to uniquely crafted melodies. Minoru Mukaiya is the mastermind behind these jingles—he's made around 200 distinct chimes for over 110 stations.[1][2] In 2019, British television presenter James May interviewed Mukaiya for episode 3 of James May: Our Man in Japan, discussing Mukaiya's involvement in composing melodies for train stations.

Discography

Solo works

• Welcome to Minoru's Land (1985)
• Tickle The Ivory (1993)
• Sega Rally 2: Rearrange Album (1999)

Other

• Announcement chime in the trains of the Kyushu Shinkansen (2004)
• Departure music at the major stations operated by Keihan Electric Railway in the Kansai region (June 2007)
• Approaching music and departure music at the major stations operated by Hanshin Electric Railway in the Kansai region (January 2009)
• Announcement chime and horn melody of the new Keisei AE trains being built for Keisei Electric Railway's Skyliner[3] (2009)
• Announcement chime for the Tokyu Toyoko Line Shibuya Terminal's last two weeks of operation from 1 March 2013 until 15 March 2013, "Final Approach".[4]
• Departure melody for the Tokyu Toyoko Line shared terminal with the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line starting from 16 March 2013, "Departing from New Shibuya Terminal".[4]
• On-board announcement chime for the Seibu Railway Fifty-two Seats of Happiness train operating since April 2016[5]

References

1. Great Big Story (2018-08-03), In Tokyo, These Trains Jingle All the Way, retrieved 2018-08-07
2. Thomas, Russell (15 June 2019). "Departure melodies: Celebrating the jingles' contribution to the rail experience in Japan". The Japan Times Online. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
3. "京成電鉄AE形" [Keisei AE series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 49 no. 580. Japan: Kōyūsha. August 2009. pp. 10–17.
4. 東横線渋谷駅にオリジナルベルメロディを導入します (PDF) (in Japanese). Tokyu Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
5. Ueshin, Daisuke (18 March 2016). 西武鉄道4000系を改造、観光電車「52席の至福」車両番号も"52"!? [Seibu Railway "52 Seats of Happiness" sightseeing train converted from 4000 series - Even the cars are numbered "52"!?]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.

External links

• Ongakukan website (in Japanese)
• Minoru Land blog (in Japanese)