Once seen but not heard, Tokyo kids can be noisy again

TOKYO: The sound of children playing can no longer be considered noise pollution in Tokyo, as Japanese authorities try to remove legal barriers to building childcare centres and help parents get back to work.

A local law designed to prevent noise over 45 decibels in residential areas of the capital – which forced some kindergartens to use sound baffling and occasionally prevent youngsters from playing outside – was changed yesterday to exclude children’s voices.