JR stands for Japan Railways, the network that operates many of the busiest train stations in Japan, where short electronic melodies are played for arrivals, departures and announcements. Each station and platform can have its own tune, which helps passengers recognise locations without looking at signs and creates a calmer boarding experience than a harsh buzzer. Clips of these chimes spread online through travel recordings, rail fan videos and transit sound collections, and creators now reuse them as an instant audio shorthand for Japan, trains and starting a journey.