Japan, follow Germany's lead, not America's

I have written several articles today about the increase of restrictions on children's play in Tokyo, Japan. In several of those posts I mention how a morning show on TV Asahi shared a lot of information about the situation. That television program also discussed parallels between Japan and the United States, where children's play has also been curbed (for different reasons). 

However, they also shared Germany's noise law. Did you know that in Germany children’s voices are not noise? I did not know that until to today and I am very impressed by Germany's approach. Noise produced by children, be it talking loudly, laughing or even shouting, is legally considered acceptable. It is no longer considered a breach of peace or an environmental nuisance in legal disputes. And it has a wide scope to, applying to playgrounds, daycare facilities, and even children playing in residential areas. Moreover, it even applies during Ruhezeit, Germany's quiet time when things like drilling and vacuuming are forbidden.

One of the reasons Tokyo has got so restrictive is because of the number of complaints about children's noise. But if Japan were to follow Germany's lead and protect children's voices through legislature, they could change perception as well as avoid lawsuits brought over noise complaints against nurseries, playgrounds, and families. Who knows, it may even encourage people to have more children and address the declining birth rate simultaneously!