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Children excluded from noise rules

The sound of children playing can no longer be considered noise pollution in Tokyo, as Japanese authorities try to remove legal barriers to building childcare centers and help parents get back to work. A local law designed to prevent noise over 45 decibels in residential areas of the capital - which forced some kindergartens to use sound baffling and occasionally prevent youngsters from playing outside - was changed on Wednesday to exclude children's voices. "The ordinance was originally aimed at preventing pollution and environmental destruction, so we have revised only a small part of it," Tokyo official Hideka Kimura said.