Sound trucks in Japan

In Japan, sound trucks (街宣車, gaisensha) are vehicles equipped with a public address system. They have been used notably in political and commercial contexts, and have one or more loudspeakers which can play a recorded message or recorded music as the truck tours through neighborhoods. In the political world, they are used by parties, candidates, and groups to express their views. In the early days of Japanese post-war democracy, they were one of the most common means of conducting political campaigns, alongside the likes of radio announcements and sponsored meetings.^[1] In a commercial context, vendors also use sound trucks for the purpose of selling goods, collecting recyclable materials, and other purposes.

Law

The use of these sound trucks can be subject to so-called nuisance laws, although there have been instances in which police have been sympathetic to right-wing groups who utilise these trucks and have let such behaviour slide.^[2]

Nationalist sound truck, demonstrating in Kyoto, Japan on Constitution day. The large white characters read from the right (the front of the vehicle) 敬愛倭塾 kei ai yamato juku, literally translate as "respect ancient Japan school".

Sound truck, operated by the Japanese Communist Party, seen in Aichi, Japan

References