Produced in collaboration with Cameron Finucane.

In Tokyo, a commuter can expect to hear unique melodies for both arriving and departing trains on nearly every platform. While most stations have only two platforms, some have as many as 35. At 8:33 AM, the peak of traffic for Tokyo’s railways, 503 trains start moving at once.

A computer, synchronized to Japan Rail’s incredibly accurate schedule, simulates what one would hear were he or she able to stand on every train platform at once. Because of the time difference, the work is generally silent between 11:30AM and 5PM.