No. 22, with a Bullet Train

When the average Japanese salaryman heads home each evening, you can bet the last song he wants to hear from his car radio or earphones is his company's anthem, or shaka, the corporate tune that employees are forced to sing at year-end parties and sometimes even during morning calisthenics in the factory yard. Pity, therefore, the workers of Yokohama-based Nihon Break Kogyo. After its anthem was played on a popular midnight variety show, Asahi TV's Tamori Club, so many listeners responded with requests for copies that the company decided to release the song as a single. It debuted last week at...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!