"Siren" noises heard in certain areas in Japan

Couple of Dramas I've watched have scenes of people exchanging dialog near a river, and sometimes near a giant ferris wheel (Yokohama?).

In the background noise there is usually a loud siren that seems like it can be heard from over several Kilometers away.

Can some1 please explain the origin of that siren noise? It's caught my attention, and couldn't find any information on it. Was wondering if some1 living near the source might know the answer. Iv'e always thought it may have come from a drawbridge, or maybe a boat. Whistling

PS: Don't you dare mention a video game in your post. Cussing

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:00 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Hmm... I suppose you're not talking about generic police car/ambulance noise, right? Maybe if you could just post a short clip including that siren sound...

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

It could be, but It dosen't repeat. >_>, they sound very alike however. It could be.

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 3:53 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Im browsing right now, kinda hard to go through 45 minuites of video to find 5 seconds of sound Laugh

Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

If they are like any other place in the world and on a river, then it is probably a draw bridge siren.

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:37 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Sorry I'm posting this kind of late. I just registered now Smile

Sirens are heard all over Japan. It really surprised me when I moved here (about a year ago). Each town has a loud speaker system. They regularly broadcast messages and so forth. In my town the loud speaker repeats a message telling people to be careful of children going to/from school at 7:30am and 4:00om. Most towns also play music on the loudspeaker at 5:00pm (different song for each town).

Getting to sirens. If there is a special public service announcement, they will play a siren before giving the announcement. It is incredibly annoying, but most people seem to ignore it anyway. They will play the siren to announce that there is a fire at such and such an address and that the firetruck will be using such and such street. They will play it to announce that the drinking water is not good to drink. They will play it to announce that a senior citizen with dimensia has gone missing, etc, etc, etc.

I think in my town the siren goes off almost every week. Like I said, when I first heard it I kind of panicked. My Japanese isn't that great and the loudspeaker is hard to understand. I didn't know if it was a tsunami warning or what. Now I don't worry so much and merely ask people when I get the chance.

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:07 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0