https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/5e2482c3-3316-41a9-a576-4d6b58566392 A song from workers of the Japanese National Railways, the state-owned company which operated the national railway network in postwar Japan. The JNR was extensively unionised and was a centre of union activity in the country during the Cold War, until it was forcefully split up and privatised by the government in 1987. Notes: • Coal cinders (フラン) — Remains of burned coal. Workers would often inhale this while working, and their saliva and phlegm would turn black. Hence why the song says their bellies are "filled" with it. • Nappa suits (ナッパ服) — The uniform used by workers of the JNR. It is well-known for its blue colour. • Stoker (釜焚き) — The person who tends to the furnace by feeding more coal, stoking it, adding air to it, etc. • Clinkers (アメカス) — Waste that forms when burning coal is allowed to cool and harden. Regular stoking is needed to prevent them from forming. • Rationalisation (合理化) — Refers to the business practice of reorganising a company to boost profits, usually by cutting corners and laying off workers. Performers: Hideo Nakayama (中山英雄), Japan National Railways Yokohama Singing Group (国鉄横浜うたう会), Sendai D51 Choir (仙台Ｄ５１合唱団) Year recorded: 1974 Composition/Lyrics: 1st Hokkaido Creative Workers' Seminar (第1回北海道創作活動者講習会) Source: Vinyl record "鉄路よひびけ" OPS-1003 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:04:13 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://tankie.tube https://tankie.tube/lazy-static/avatars/3ba3ff73-a8b6-49c9-add8-9653ef090c7f.webp https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/5e2482c3-3316-41a9-a576-4d6b58566392 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://tankie.tube/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.