Takarajimasya will release “JR East Midori-no-Eki Clock Book” on January 14. The price is 3422 yen. We have obtained a pre-release copy of the product and would like to introduce its functions and alarm sounds.
The “clock” often seen at JR East station ticket gates, platforms, and ticket booths is now available as a palm-sized alarm clock that can be used at home. The JR logo, the fluorescent green dial, the distinctive hands, and even the frame have been realistically reproduced and have been a hot topic on SNS since pre-orders began.
The key point of interest is the “alarm sound. It is equipped with “high tone” and “low tone” electronic electric bells by Eiraku Electric, which has been in business for 75 years, and can be switched between three patterns: no alarm, departure bell 1 (high tone), and departure bell 2 (low tone) with a switch on the back.
Of the two dials on the back, the left one is for setting the alarm, and the departure bell rings quite loudly at the set time. The alarm sound can be stopped by clicking the button on the top, but even testing it for a few seconds, I was a little concerned that it might disturb the neighbors at night.
In addition, it seems that the departure bells are being replaced by train departure melodies in the JR East service area, so it may be difficult to hear the departure bell sound and feel that it is a sound you hear all the time. The high tone is quite similar to that of the departure bell at platforms 14 and 15 of Ueno Station (Utsunomiya and Takasaki Lines), but the low tone is a bit higher than the departure bell of the Tokaido Shinkansen, which sounds more like the ringing bell of a landline telephone.
The clock measures approximately 100 x 41 x 134 mm (W x D x H). Separately, one AA and two AAA dry cell batteries are required. There is a hole on the back for a hook, so the clock can be placed on a high place as a wall clock, and can be enjoyed by looking up at it, just like a train station.
While an actual station clock has a ticking sound of the second hand, this product has a sweep movement (continuous second hand), so the sound of the second hand is not bothersome even in a quiet room, such as at bedtime.
In addition to the clock itself, a 16-page booklet is included. It includes interviews with railroad fan Saya Ichikawa and Hiroyuki Ito of Eiraku Electric’s Sales Division, as well as an explanation of station melodies by Ken Matsuzawa, author of “Tetsu no Bayeru: Tetsudou Shousha Melody Music Collection for East Japan Railway”.
Railroad fans, as well as those looking for a slightly unique interior design or an alarm clock that will definitely wake them up, should consider purchasing this product.
*The company plans to carry the product in bookstores nationwide and online, but due to the popularity of the product, it may be out of stock.
© Source travel watch