Meet the Aussie voice of Japan’s bullet train

You may not recognise her face, but if you’ve been on a bullet train in the past 20 years in Japan, chances are you have heard Donna Burke’s voice as she keeps English-speakers on track.

You may not recognise her face, but if you have ridden a bullet train in Japan, chances are you have heard Donna Burke’s voice.

Hailing from Perth, Burke has been the English voice translating rail messages on Japan’s Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines since 2003.

Now a beloved figure in Japan, Burke has no plans to hang up the mic anytime soon even as artificial intelligence continues to surge.

“One day I could be taken over by AI for sure,” Burke told Confidential.

“But there will be massive backlash from the Japanese. They have always said they love my motherly-toned voice, and it makes them feel calm.

Donna Burke, in Pyrmont, left. She is the voice of Japan's iconic Shinkansen train, right. Pictures: Justin Lloyd/Getty Images

“I don’t think I’m going anywhere and I’m not retiring anytime soon.”

Burke has called Japan home since 1996, and at first Australian accents were not widely appreciated.

“When I first started Australians were seen through the lens of Crocodile Dundee,” she said.

“It was a terrible stereotype. People didn’t respect the Australian accent.”

Burke says that changed thanks to stars like Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett.

“People would hear I was Australian and ask about the big Hollywood stars and it really helped shift perceptions.”

As Japan becomes increasingly popular with Australian tourists and dubbed the “new Bali”, Burke has a word of caution.

Fuji, Japan. A Shinkansen bullet train passes below Mt. Fuji through farmland. Doc Holiday Photo – iStock

“Please be really careful about their laws. You don’t want to end up in a Japanese prison,” she warned, noting Japan’s strict rules around drinking, smoking, and general conduct.

It comes after nearly one million Australians visited Japan last year, marking a 50 per cent increase in visitor numbers, as the country recorded a bumper year in tourism.

Donna Burke has no plans to a mic drop anytime soon. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Burke’s talents extend beyond train announcements as she is known globally for her work in video games and anime as well as the lead vocalist for Metal Gear in Concert since 2017, performing in cities like Tokyo, New York, and Paris.

This November, she will take the stage at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Now back in Australia for the Screen Producers Australia event on the Gold Coast, Burke is amid developing a TV pilot with two major streaming services.

She is also making waves with her invention, Royal Flushh, a sound-masking toilet device popular in Japan that saves water and embarrassment.

“I feel proud to represent Australia in Japan, and to be part of something that touches so many people’s lives, whether on a train, in a game, or in the loo.”