Most of us are a total wuss when it comes to roller coasters and we give a blood-curdling shriek at every unexpected bend or dip.
However, the screams of excitement and terror – the background noise of any general theme park – have been strictly banned in Japan, with Fuji-Q Highland amusement park asking visitors to ‘please scream inside your heart’.
The Amusement park recently released a video of two high-ranking executives riding the park’s Fujiyama roller coaster, smartly dressed in business attire and apparently holding their screams deep inside themselves.
Keep your Calm!
カメラ向こうか正面向くか迷った末のカメラ目線
FUJIYAMA4回も乗れたしめっちゃ楽しかった！！#真顔チャレンジ pic.twitter.com/dM2qabGp8M— なおっきー (@ike_naokki) June 29, 2020
No-Scream Policy on Roller Coasters
The video of the men silently riding the gruesome roller coaster is a strange one, made all the more surreal by the complete absence of other passengers on the ride.
Surprisingly, this no-scream policy has reportedly been widely adopted by the majority of Japanese theme parks. It is also set to be a part of reopening guidelines published by the East and West Japan Theme Park Associations at the end of May.
However, perhaps understandably, these daredevils weren’t exactly convinced that it was in any way possible to hurtle through the air at breakneck speed without emitting so much as a squeal. One of the Fuji-Q spokespeople remarked, ‘We received complaints that the theme park association’s request to not make loud noises was impossible and too strict.’
ここ以外終始気持ち悪いほど笑ってました pic.twitter.com/SBwMQKWgnn
— ゆーゆ〜@壮絶な竹富島ロス (@yadoya_nizato) June 23, 2020
So Fuji-Q decided to prove them it that it’s not impossible with this video, setting up the stunt with the two impressively calm executives. Of course, whether or not everybody could keep this cool is a whole different story altogether, but many visitors have been sharing their own determined efforts over social media.
For those who confidently believe that they too could ride the mighty Fujiyama without so much as a peep, should keep in mind that this is no teacup ride.
Standing at a height of 259ft (79m), Fujiyama was the world’s tallest rollercoaster when it opened in 1996, and also boasted the biggest drop on Earth at 230ft (70m).
Fujiyama also held the record for the fastest rollercoaster on the planet for the first year of its launch, before being overtaken in 1997 by the Tower of Terror ride at Queensland’s Dreamworld.
