One of the things that struck me in Tokyo was that high-rise construction (and there’s a lot of it) uniformly had sound barriers constructed around it. It looke

One of the things that struck me in Tokyo was that high-rise construction (and there’s a lot of it) uniformly had sound barriers constructed around it. It looked like just plywood with a canvas cover in most cases, so nothing heavy or fancy. And then, prominently displayed at the top of the barrier, was a digital decibel meter, with the limit clearly painted alongside. After being driven from no less than three apartments by jackhammers and construction, American arguments against noise regulation fall flat to me.