Reed Clinic

A visit to Japan

Hiroaki Ohashi kindly meets me at my hotel. He is here to accompany me across Tokyo to see the Yamaha premises in Ginza. What Fifth Avenue is to New York, or Königsallee is to Düsseldorf, Ginza is to Tokyo.  Here are all the famous names: Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, even a branch of Boots and, of course, Yamaha. 

We travel by train. On each railway station of this city jingles identify the route you are taking. The tune on this route is particularly attractive, with an unexpected modulation. On the train I jot down the melody on the back of a receipt for my sushi lunch. 

“The Yamaha company provided the railway company with those jingles,” Hiroakitells me. “Each one symbolises a route.” Hiro is Assistant Manager of the International Sales Department. I’m being introduced toYamaha sooner than I expected.