1.
SV Heavy traffic through Tokyo street PAN ACROSS TO Nearby houses (2 shots)
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2.
SV Children in lane
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SV Blocks of flats
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4.
SV PAN Train crossing viaduct bridge
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5.
SCU Noise meter at roadside
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SV Housewives shouting at policeman during protest against proposed highway
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7.
LV Aircraft landing at Osaka airport
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8.
SV Aircraft coming in to land over roofs of houses
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9.
SV Small children in playground (2 shots)
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SV PAN FROM Washing outside house in narrow street PAN TO Campaign poster on door
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LAURI: The Japanese may have more reason than others to complain about noise. Population density, thin walls and small space tend to compound the problem. In housing estates like these, Tokyo police handle thousands of noise complaints each day. Train and traffic are the worst offenders. Yet the most done in many areas has been to simply erect noise meters. Popular protests over highway construction have erupted in several parts of Japan. A protest often results in shoving matches. And if residents are lucky, no peace and quiet, but perhaps some financial compensation. In Osaka there are no Concordes landing or taking off at the international airport, but thousands of people on the edge of the airfield have suffered the noise every four minutes for years. Last year they finally won a court battle, and night flights were banned. A popular campaign is continuing now for more compensation so that residents can move.




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(This film is serviced with a sound commentary by NBC reporter, Jim Lauri, and a full transcript is provided on page two.)

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The residents of such big Japanese cities as Tokyo and Osaka, are becoming increasingly angry about the amount of noise they have to put up with every day of their lives. The noise pollution is mainly generated by traffic, trains and jet planes.

In Tokyo, housewives have held angry demonstrations to try and get the noise level reduced, and the city authorities have erected noise monitoring meters along the highways. In Osaka, residents near the city airport are plagued by the noise of aircraft landing and taking off every four minutes. Last year, however, they managed to persuade the authorities to ban jet night flights. But during the day the noise continues.

In 1971 the Japanese Government announced a programme costing 3 million yen (GBP3,472 sterling) for dealing with problems of pollution - including noise - over a ten year period. The industries which gave Japan its remarkable post-war economic boom were encouraged to use some of their profits to end the environmental deterioration they helped to produce.

But nevertheless the problem of noise has continued to grow. Last year the number of cars on the streets of Tokyo totalled 2,600,000, and it continues to increase at a rate of five per cent a year. The density of traffic in Japan is nearly ten times greater than that of the United States, and more than double West Germany's.

SYNOPSIS: The residents of Japan's big cities are becoming increasingly angry about the amount of noise they have to put up with every day of their lives. Trying to make himself heard over the noise of traffic, trains, jet planes and demonstrators, reporter Him Lauri sent this report from Tokyo and Osaka.