But closer to town, stone walls give way to walls made of concrete, which has largely replaced stone as the defining material of Japan’s rural infrastructure. Is that because concrete construction is cheaper, stronger, or faster? Not really. Reviving dry stone walling would be better for the environment—as well as preserve aesthetically and culturally valuable scenery. But building more stone walls would mean relying on traditional craftsmanship over modern engineering.
Hannah Kirschner, The Atlantic