Solving the 'Too Noisy' Problem in Remote Work in Japan: Creating a Soundproof Home Environment

The Reality Where ‘Noise’ Steals Your Work

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A few months into remote work, you must have realized:

Your home was not built as a “quiet place to work.”

At 8 AM, you wake to the neighbor’s washing machine. At 9 AM, children’s footsteps from upstairs resonate. At 10 AM, construction vehicle horns pass by outside. In the afternoon, the intercom for delivery, and in the evening, family members returning home with living sounds. The “everyday sounds” you didn’t notice in the office mercilessly chip away at concentration during remote work.

According to surveys, approximately 20% of people are bothered by sounds in their residence. This is not a small number. However, many people resign themselves to “just enduring it” and spend their days without taking countermeasures.

This article will help you scientifically understand the “noise” problem in remote work and share practical methods for creating a soundproof environment according to budget and situation.

Why Do ‘Home Sounds’ Disrupt Concentration?

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The Brain’s Response to ‘Irregular Sounds’

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There are sounds you “get used to” and sounds you “don’t get used to.”

Sounds that continue with a constant rhythm, such as air conditioner operation or refrigerator hum, are called “background noise,” and the brain can adapt to them relatively quickly.

On the other hand, sudden door opening/closing sounds, irregular voices, children’s screams E*sounds that occur at unpredictable timings are called “foreground noise.”** This foreground noise is the greatest enemy that robs remote work concentration.

The human brain automatically directs attention to unpredictable sounds. This is a response rooted in survival instinct and is difficult to consciously control. Research shows that once attention is diverted, it takes an average of 23 minutes to return to a focused state.

In other words, being disturbed by foreground noise just 5 times a day means losing about 2 hours of concentration time.

Sound Physics: The Difference Between Insulation and Absorption

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What’s crucial here is the difference between sound insulation and sound absorption. Many people confuse these two, leading them to waste time and money on ineffective measures.

Sound absorption is technology that suppresses sounds generated in a room from reflecting off walls and echoing. Sponge-like materials attached to music studio walls, curtains, and carpets are sound-absorbing materials. While these have the effect of “not letting sounds generated inside leak out,” they have almost no effect in preventing sounds from entering from outside.

Sound insulation is technology that physically blocks sound itself. Walls with mass, double windows, and soundproof doors fall under sound insulation. If you’re troubled by external noise, what you need is not absorption but insulation.

Concerns in remote work like “the neighbor’s sounds are loud” or “outside sounds are bothersome” can only be solved with sound insulation measures.

Sound Leaks Like Water Through ‘Gaps’

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Another important aspect of soundproofing is the “gap rule.”

Sound, like water, enters through even the smallest gaps. For example, even if you apply high-performance sound insulation material to an entire wall, if there’s a 1-centimeter gap under a door, sound will easily enter through it.

Sound entry routes include:

• Door gaps: Especially gaps at the bottom of doors are major sound entry points
• Window sashes: Gaps between window frames and sashes
• Ventilation fan openings: Holes for ventilation are sound pathways
• Pipe penetrations: Areas around pipes penetrating walls

Unless these “weak points” are sealed, no matter how expensive the soundproofing materials you use, the effectiveness will be limited.

Budget-Based Soundproofing Solutions

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[Budget Under ¥10,000] Simple Measures You Can Try Immediately

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First, here are low-budget measures you can try starting today.

Heavy Blackout Curtains
These attenuate sound from windows by about 5-10dB. “Soundproof curtains” sold specifically for this purpose have special resin mixed into the fabric and are more effective than regular curtains.

Cost estimate: ¥5,000-¥15,000 (~$35-$100 USD) per window

Door Gap Tape
Gap tape applied to door bottoms and frames physically prevents sound entry. Since gaps at the bottom of doors are major sound entry routes, sealing here alone provides noticeable effects.

Cost estimate: ¥500-¥2,000 (~$3-$14 USD)

Earplugs / Noise-Canceling Earphones
Earplugs that physically block ears and NC earphones that electronically cancel noise are also options. However, long-term wear strains ears, and they can’t be used during web meetings.

Cost estimate: ¥1,000-¥30,000 (~$7-$200 USD)

While these are easy to try, you need to understand that they don’t provide fundamental solutions.

[Budget Around ¥100,000] Window Sound Insulation Measures

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The most cost-effective noise countermeasure for remote work is addressing “windows.”

Approximately 80% of external noise enters through windows. While walls are made of materials with mass like concrete or plasterboard, windows are made of thin glass. This is the biggest sound entry route.

Inner Window (Double Window) Installation
Installing another window inside the existing window creates an air layer between them, significantly improving sound insulation performance.

Effect: Sound insulation improvement of about 10-15dB (external noise “feels like half or less”)
Cost estimate: ¥50,000-¥150,000 (~$350-$1,000 USD) per window
Construction period: 2-3 hours per window

Construction methods that allow restoration to original condition exist even for rental properties, and can be introduced with property management approval.

Selecting Soundproof Glass
The selection of glass used in inner windows is also important. Thermal insulation double-pane glass (two panes of the same thickness) is not necessarily acoustically superior.

For soundproofing performance, choose the following:

• Asymmetric laminated glass: Prevents resonance by varying the thickness of two panes
• Acoustic laminated glass: Structure with soundproof film sandwiched between glass panes

Inner windows using these can achieve sound insulation of 20dB or more.

[Budget Around ¥1,000,000] Unit-Type Soundproof Rooms

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For genuinely seeking a quiet work environment, unit-type soundproof rooms are the most reliable option.

A unit-type soundproof room is a “box-shaped soundproof space” installed inside an existing room. Manufactured by companies like Yamaha, Kawai, Daiken, and Kawai Musical Instruments in Japan, they have the following features:

• No construction required: Assembly type, installable even in rentals
• High sound insulation performance: Dr-30 to Dr-35 (conversation barely audible level)
• Relocatable: Can be disassembled and moved when relocating

With Dr-30 sound insulation performance, voices from adjacent rooms are almost inaudible. You can obtain an environment where you can concentrate completely without being disturbed by external noise.

While it may seem expensive, considering improved work efficiency for 8 hours daily and reduced stress, it’s an investment that can be fully recovered in the long term.

Why Window Measures Are Top Priority

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The ‘Acoustic Defect’ of Double-Pane Glass

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When considering window soundproofing measures, it’s important to note that “thermal insulation glass” and “soundproof glass” are different things.

Double-pane glass (insulated glass) adopted in many Japanese homes has a structure with an air layer sandwiched between two panes of glass, and while thermal insulation performance is high, it’s not acoustically superior. Particularly, using two panes of the same thickness can cause “resonance” at specific frequency bands, sometimes even amplifying sound.

This phenomenon is called the “coincidence effect”—when the wavelength of a specific sound matches the glass thickness, sound becomes easier to transmit.

Selecting Glass Suitable for Soundproofing

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For soundproofing performance, you need to select the following glass types:

Asymmetric Laminated Glass
By varying the thickness of two panes of glass, resonating frequencies are shifted, demonstrating sound insulation performance across a wide frequency band.

Example: 3mm + 5mm combination

Acoustic Laminated Glass
A structure with special soundproof film (interlayer) sandwiched between glass panes. The film absorbs sound energy, demonstrating high sound insulation performance.

These are available from specialized dealers as “soundproof glass” and can be installed as add-on inner windows.

Cost-Effectiveness of Window Measures

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The cost to install inner windows at one location is ¥50,000-¥150,000 (~$350-$1,000 USD). While this may seem expensive, it offers the following benefits:

• Significant reduction of external noise (10-15dB, 20dB or more with soundproof glass)
• Improved thermal insulation performance (reduced heating/cooling costs)
• Reduced condensation
• Restoration to original condition possible even in rentals

If remote work continues in the future, this is the most cost-effective investment.

Summary: The First Step to Regaining Concentration

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The “noise” problem in remote work stems from homes not being designed as “places to work.”

Sounds entering from outside cannot be prevented with sound-absorbing materials. What’s needed is “sound insulation,” with window measures being the top priority.

Budget-based measures are summarized below:

1. Budget under ¥10,000: Soundproof curtains, gap tape, NC earphones (simple measures)
2. Budget around ¥100,000: Inner window installation (highest cost-effectiveness)
3. Budget around ¥1,000,000: Unit-type soundproof room (fundamental solution)

Investment in soundproofing is not a “luxury” but a “health investment” that protects your work quality and mental well-being. Silence provides time for the brain to become “blank,” directly leading to improved concentration, creativity expression, and sleep quality.

First, look at the windows in your home. That’s where sound enters. Why not start by getting quotes for inner windows from nearby home centers or window specialists? Also, some music stores offer soundproof room experiences.

Actually experiencing silence should significantly change how you work.