Life with Weaving Noise in Fujiyoshida: A Soundscape as a Commons

Abstract

"This paper aims to establish that an industrial soundscape can be considered a commons through a case study on the effect of weaving noise on people living in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. The author conducted interviews with residents and observed the sonic environment in a district in the northeast part of Fujiyoshida. Most households in the district used to produce silk textiles using power looms in small factories located on their premises until around 1980. Some are still engaged in textile production. The residents, therefore, have the shared experience of a soundscape filled with weaving noise. Weaving noise has been considered the 'sound of work', as some interviewees explained that they always monitored their looms by listening to the noise. The noise has also been taken as the 'sound of everyday life', as indicated by several female subjects who described doing domestic work while hearing the rhythmic weaving noises. Moreover, the noise has been considered the 'sound of the community', as residents gathered information about their neighbours based on the weaving noises they heard coming from the premises. The results show that there are some common attitudes regarding the soundscape. These attitudes were formed by the accumulated physical experiences associated with weaving noise. In the social context, the shared attitudes stem from the fact that the noise was produced by the industry that supported the residents. The concept of a soundscape as a commons suggests the significance of applying local knowledge to soundscape management."