Sound, Space and Sociality in Modern Japan

This book examines sonic practices in contemporary Japan in a range of areas – social movements, popular culture and avant-garde art forms. It explores how the production and perception of sound is affected by the spaces in which sonic practices occur, how sonic practices reflect politics, aesthetics and ethics, and how human relations are entrenched in social and sonic practices. Overall the book makes a significant contribution to the developing field of sensory anthropology.

This book argues that sound – as it is created, transmitted, and perceived – plays a key role in the constitution of space and community in contemporary Japan. The book examines how sonic practices reflect politics, aesthetics, and ethics, with transformative effects on human relations. From right-wing sound trucks to left-wing protests, from early 20th century jazz cafes to contemporary avant-garde art forms, from the sounds of U.S. military presence to exuberant performances organized in opposition, the book, rich in ethnographic detail, contributes to sensory anthropology and the anthropology of contemporary Japan.