Sonic Japan: Sounds of 3/11

This recording was taken in Shijo, the commercial and financial centre of Kyoto. In April 2015, there was a local election underway, and as noted in other posts individual candidates used sound trucks to advertise their campaigns. This was a stationary truck parked at a busy street corner which represented a political party rather than an individual candidate. The Japanese Communist Party is a small but still active organisation. Their stance, especially since 3/11, focuses on a nuclear free Japan and anti war policies. Their point of view conflicts directly with the then Prime Minister's policy of increasing Japan's military presence abroad. You can see their banners with slogans here such as 'Stop the restart of the nuclear power plants; Japan as a Zero Nuclear Nation' and 'Let us not send our young people to war!' (2015/04/05)

The sound of Buddhist monks beating drums along the sidewalk between the subway exit and the corner at of the entrance to the Prime Minister's Residence. As the researcher walks through the sound, the volume and intensity of the drums changes. (2013/10/11)

Edited speech by a Fukushima evacuee at an anti nuclear protest in front of the Prime Minister's residence. Here we hear her remember the sound of sirens the day of the earthquake (2013/10/11)