“An amateur pastime in Japan for more than 50 years, [the symphony] is often performed around the holiday season in venues across the country, occasioning the coming together of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of choristers of all ages and levels of vocal training. ‘Ode to Joy’ serves as a popular ringtone for cellphones as well as a ubiquitous selection at karaoke bars.” Says one observer: “Someone told me that it’s the only time that Japanese women are allowed to scream.”