Japan for Sustainability

Winners of Northern Districts' Energy Conservation and New Energy Award 2012 Selected

Fri, 24 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

The Hokkaido Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry selected the winners of the Energy Conservation and New Energy Award in Northern Districts, and held an award ceremony in December 2012. Twelve groups won awards in four categories: awareness raising and promotion; effective utilization; electricity conservation; and development and production.

Japanese Railway Company to Build a Mega Solar Power Plant in Rail Yard

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) announced on March 5, 2013, that it would build a "mega solar" large-scale solar power plant with an output of more than 1,000 kilowatts at an unused site in one of its rail yards. The electricity generated will be used in offices and train sheds in the rail yard, and surplus electricity will be transmitted to the company's substations to be used for railway operations. The plant is expected to begin generating power by the end of fiscal 2013.

Japanese NGO Calls for National Polity to Reduce Single Use Shopping Bags

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

While some chain stores and local governments in Japan are actively trying to reduce their use of plastic shopping bags, others have not yet taken any action, and the gap between them has grown. In July 2012, Seiyu, a major Japanese supermarket chain, started charging its customers for plastic bags in all its stores, and in February 2013, Ito-Yokado, another major supermarket chain, followed suit. These companies are applauded for making the first step to reduce their plastic use, but some say the price they charge is too low, at two yen per bag (about 2.2 US cents). Also, cooperative initiatives involving consumers and local governments have yet to be seen. In this context, it is difficult to predict the results of these initiatives.

[Newsletter] Integrating Eastern and Western Wisdom Could Hold the Keys to a More Sustainable World

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

JFS Newsletter No.128 (April 2013)

Japan is positioned almost as a bridge between the East and West. The conviction that Japan has something significant to offer toward creating a more sustainable and happy world was one of the reasons I started Japan for Sustainability (JFS) ten years ago.

New METI/MOE Policy Promotes Recycling of Small Electrical and Electronic Equipment Waste

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Environment (MOE) announced on March 6, 2013, its basic policy for promoting the recycling of small waste home appliances, subject to Article 3(1) of the "Act on Promotion of Recycling of Small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment," which was promulgated on August 10, 2012.

Solar Cell Sales for Mega-Solar Power Surge, Surpassing Those for Residential Use

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

The Japan Photovoltaic Energy Association (JPEA) announced on February 26, 2013, that domestic shipments of solar cells used for mega-solar and other industrial facilities, as well as for electric generation businesses, surpassed the shipments for households (on the basis of generation capacity) between October and December 2012, for the first time in Japan.

New Fundraising Project "TAP PROJECT JAPAN" Funds Clean Water Projects in Madagascar

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

The Japan Committee for UNICEF and a group of people at a Japanese advertising and public relations company, Hakuhodo Inc., launched in July 2012, a new type of fundraising project called "TAP PROJECT JAPAN - Clean Safe Water to Kids around the World," in collaboration with restaurants and cafes across Japan.

World's First Soil Fertility Index Based on Microbial Health Developed

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

A research group led by Professor Motoki Kubo at the College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, announced on December 10, 2012, that they developed the world's first soil fertility index (SOFIX(R)) based on the assessment of soil biological characteristics.

'Community Reconstruction with Children' Launched in Disaster-Affected Areas

Thu, 16 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

As part of its reconstruction assistance for areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, Takenaka Corporation, a major Japanese construction company, developed a program titled "Community Reconstruction with Children" in cooperation with Yamagata University. Through the program, Takenaka launched a series of special workshops to provide children with the workshops and role-playing activities to experience adults' jobs in October 2012 at an elementary school in Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, Sendai City and Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture.

Japanese Research Institute, Start-up to Begin Testing Solar Thermal Cogeneration System

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

RIKEN, Japan's comprehensive research organization for basic and applied science, and Da Vinci Co., specializing in heat utilization, announced on January 10, 2013, that they have designed a cogeneration system that efficiently captures solar thermal energy for power generation and hot water supply. They plan to introduce a 1-kilowatt prototype in 2013 and conduct demonstration testing using a 10-kilowatt system in 2014.

[Newsletter] Conserving Black-Necked Cranes in Bhutan

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:00:00 +0900

JFS Newsletter No.128 (April 2013)

A certain village in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, has been covered in the Japanese media fairly often; the story is that the villagers choose to live without electricity because not installing an electricity grid with overhead wires helps conserve Black-necked Cranes that migrate to the valley. A book about Bhutan records an interview: To the question, "Would you really prefer to have electricity, or is conserving more cranes important to you?" Villagers answered, "It's good to have electricity, but we can do without it. But cranes are different from electricity. We feel happy when they visit this valley. We've seen them every year since childhood."

Partnership-type education will be important from now on.

Tue, 14 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

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JR East to Open New Child Care Support Facilities

Mon, 13 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) brought the number of child care support facilities it owns to 71 as of April 1, 2013, increasing the total capacity of nursery schools near train stations to about 3,800 children.

Japan Iron and Steel Federation Clears First Phase of its Challenge to Reduce CO2 Emissions in Steel Making

Sun, 12 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

Among the industry-origin carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Japan, about 45 percent come from steel industry. In order to improve this situation, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation has been conducting the innovative technology development project " COURSE50," which aims to cut CO2 emissions in the steel making process by 30 percent, under the sponsorship of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The first phase of the project, which started in fiscal 2008, was completed in 2012. The second phase to develop more innovative technologies starts in fiscal 2013.

'Fukushima on the Globe' Website Connects Post-Disaster Fukushima to the World

Sat, 11 May 2013 06:00:00 +0900

The Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) released a portal site, "Fukushima on the Globe," on January 15, 2013, to provide information on Fukushima following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. JANIC aims to offer the latest news on Fukushima in English to people overseas who cannot access information in Japanese, despite their interest in learning about the situation after the earthquake and nuclear accident, and thus to help them maintain support. The site offers text information regarding the current status of clean-up operations, as well as on evacuees, and videos that pass on the actual voices of local residents and foreign visitors to Fukushima.