Some aspects of soundscape studies in Japan

Abstract

Some of the soundscape studies conducted in Japan are reviewed. The concept of soundscape, being introduced into Japan, gave an impact on the methodology of en vironmental acoustics on which conventional researchers in the field of noise contro-lengineers relied on, and forced them to reconstruct the philosophy and methodology of their studies. Several field works have been conducted in Kanda, Kyoto and Fukuoka based on different ideas the workers have about the concept of soundscape and the research methodology. Some musicologists and sociologists have published books and papers describing and discussing on the cultural and sociological aspects of sounds in everyday life referring the concept of soundscape.