I guess the notion that Japanese people are happy to have the same music played for everyone on the side of a mountain would fit with people's image of Japan being a group-oriented society. I don't know if there's anything in that. I think there may be a wider trend for people everywhere to be uncomfortable with silence. I am probably unusually intolerant of "zatsu-on." When I come across a TV or radio "zats on" with nobody actively paying attention to it, I want to hit the power button - I'm more comfortable once "zats off."