Environmental musician and sound designer Takashi Kokubo appeared in The Mainichi Shimbun’s book review column “This Week’s Bookshelf: Interview with the Author.”

The article centers on Kokubo’s book Designing with Sound: Why Does the Emergency Earthquake Alert Sound Create Tension? and explores the role of sound in society and the philosophy behind its design. Sound is not merely decorative; it directly influences human behavior and psychology. The article explains that sounds such as warning signals and the soundscapes of urban environments are important design elements that contribute to social order and harmony.

The interview also touches on Kokubo’s long-standing work in environmental music and sound design, introducing perspectives on how sound influences human awareness and behavior within public spaces and everyday living environments.

Through sound, Kokubo’s activities and ideas are presented as an attempt to reconsider the relationship between society, environment, and human perception.

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