Abstract

     This paper presents the idea of soundscapegraphy and describes the soundscape of Yamahoko-cho area in the old capital of Japan, Kyoto, from various aspects based on an intensive survey of acoustic ecology. The area is famous for Gion Festival that is one of the biggest and oldest festivals in the country. Ordinary day soundscape in the area is mostly predominated by sounds of automobiles passing through the streets. But it changes in July when the festival is undertaken over the month. The soundscape comes to be predominated by various sounds related to the festival. Questionnaire survey and interview of the inhabitants tell the festival music is recognised as indication of the city and is closely connected with the inhabitant’s lives.

Biography

     Born in 1946. Went to Eng. Dept. of Kyoto Univ., Japan. Researchfellow of Southampton Univ., UK, in 1981. Mostly worked in the field ofnoise effects, experimentally and epidemiologically. Field works ofsoundscape from 1985. Director Genral of Soundscape Association of Japan.