Sustainability in Japan


First, I will start this post by quickly listing all of the things I will miss most about Japan:

  • The food – Japanese food is awesome, no further explanation is needed
  • The heated toilet seats and kotatsu tables (heated table with blankets) – they are awesome when it is cold
  • The architecture - efficient houses, beautiful temples, sky-high pagodas, who wouldn’t miss it!?
  • The Japanese gardens – they are so breathtaking, I cannot begin to explain how peaceful it is to relax inside of a Japanese garden
  • The cleanliness – almost everywhere I go in Japan, the streets look very well kept and the streets are virtually trash free
  • Japanese TV – I love anime, so that is obvious, but the game shows are so awesome! (even though it is still difficult for me to understand everything)
  • The sense of safety – wherever I go in Japan, I always feel pretty safe, no matter what time of day or what area
  • The public transportation – it is nice having practically ubiquitous trains, buses, subways that are almost always on time
  • The people – everyone that I have met here has been so incredibly friendly and helpful; I can spout so many stories of how generous and helpful everyone here has been!
  • The mindset – perhaps the thing I will miss most about Japan is the mindset of everyone. Being in Japan has exposed me to a new way of thinking that I really like. I think Japanese people have more of a general respect for everything including other people, the cities they live in, the environment, animals, etc
A Few of the Most Important Lessons Being in Japan Has Taught Me
In the context of sustainability, I have learned numerous lessons from Japan. Of course, I have learned about a few different methods of organic farming. Besides the most standard organic farming methods which merely abstain from pesticides and fertilizers, I am also familiar with the “Natural Farming Method” and “Kyusei Nature Farming” (used in conjunction with Effective Microorganisms) (see previous posts for further explanation). I have discovered the “Chisan Chishou”, “grow locally, consume locally” movement that encourages citizens to buy from local growers and pay more attention to the environmental impact of their food choices. I have seen firsthand how the Japanese mindset promotes efficient use of resources while also minimizing waste. I have realized the convenience and environmental impact of an efficient and widely available public transportation system, as well as the importance of walking and biking for errands instead of using the car.  I have found that the cars in Japan get much better mileage than the average American car, though that is a little bittersweet. It is fantastic that there is technology that allows us to get such great gas mileage and reduce greenhouse emissions, but it is very disappointing that is is not more widely available. I am sad to say that I have become more aware of the impact of money and politics on the environment and I hope the world makes a shift more towards selfless concern for the environment and away from profit.
Moreover, after being away from my family, friends, and comfortable routine, I realize how important it is to not take things for granted. People tend to get used to their friends and family and get bored with their seemingly monotonous daily schedule, but when they leave, they may realize how special it all is. Even those things once thought of as boring become precious. I have realized that I must actively try to remember how lucky I am. I am so fortunate to have met such amazing people in my life, to be at a university that I love, and to get the opportunity to have such amazing experience like traveling abroad so young. I will try to show my love and gratitude to all those around me, so they can always know that I am grateful for everything.
Even more, I have realized how similar we all are. People always talk about “culture shock” and getting used to adapting to a new way of life. Yes, the Japanese way is very different from the American way, and maybe it takes getting used to for some people, but I think that more than anything, traveling to Japan has shown me how similar we all are. There are many differences in the way Americans and Japanese people think, but I have noticed even more things that we have in common. It is difficult to explain, but I think that going abroad shows us there are many commonalities in the way all people act, and we are not really as different as we sometimes think.

Super cool looking dragon bus

Having been in Japan for a while, I have used quite a bit of public transportation. Trains, buses, shinkansen (bullet trains) and subways exist virtually ubiquitously throughout Japan. Even small towns often have train stations that can take you wherever you would like to go. With the super-efficient and highly available public transportation system, it is quite easy to get from any given point in Japan to another. And, even though the system is huge and my Japanese is not the best, I still find it pretty easy to get around Japan. Public transportation in Japan is privately owned, but used by almost every citizen, even for daily activities. Unlike in the United States, where almost everybody goes to work, the store, or anywhere else by car, Japanese citizens often use public transit. It is not uncommon for a person in Japan to commute to work an hour away by train daily. This is especially feasible because Japanese public transportation is very punctual and is considered late if it does not arrive by the specified minute.

Passenger train

But, the benefits of Japan’s massive public transportation system goes far beyond convenience: it also is much better for the environment. The widespread use of public transit in Japan causes the country to have much less carbon emissions than if cars were the dominant means of getting around. To compare the impact of different means of transportation, scientists usually calculate the amount of energy per passenger mile (100 p-km) to standardize for comparison. In Japan in 1999, the measured efficiencies were 68 kWh per 100 p-km for cars, 19 kWh per 100 p-km for buses, 6 kWh per 100 p-km for railways, 51 kWh per 100 p-km for air, and 57 kWh per 100 p-km for sea. According to this data in 1999, railways, which are some of the most popular ways to get around in Japan, were over 11 times more efficient than using a car! More recent data puts car and air travel in Japan at 2.0 MJ/pkm, buses at 0.7 MJ/pkm and railways at 0.4 MJ/pkm (when caclulated from primary energy) or 0.2 MJ/pkm (when calculated from electricity kwh). Still, one can see that the efficiency of cars is much less than that of public transportation. The widespread use of public transportation in Japan reduces carbon emission by using less energy, and thus is a better way for eco-friendly travel. One study even estimates that if the U.S. had used public transit as its main means of transportation in 2005, it would have reduced CO2 emissions by 6.9 million metric tons: 3.9 directly saved from cars, and 3.0 saved from reducing traffic congestion.

Kyusei Nature Farming, which was started by Mokichi Okada, is another method of organic farming, though it differs a bit from the previously discussed Natural Farming Method. Kyusei Nature Farming, unlike the Natural Farming Method, does not prohibit tilling or weeding, however it does also try to encourage a more natural approach to agriculture.  Mostly, the Kyusei Nature Farming is very similar to any ordinary organic farming method except for one thing: it is often used in conjunction with Effective Microorganisms (EM).

The concept of beneficial Effective Microorganisms was first developed by Teruo Higa from the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan around the 1980s. From his research, he reports that there are certain microorganisms that when used in farming, can positively affect numerous parameters. He found this group of beneficial organisms to contain lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, ray fungi, yeasts and mycorrhizal fungi. In his research, Higa claims that these organisms, in mixed cultures through fermentation reactions, produce organic acids, plant hormones, vitamins and antibiotics. They also did many things that were beneficial to the growing crops. For example, they dissolved nutrients that are often difficult to dissolve (such as rock phosphate), bound heavy metals to prevent the uptake by plants, provided organic molecules for plant consumption, protected crops from pathogens, insects and diseases, stimulated plant growth, and improved the properties of the soil.

For the EM to work optimally, the soil pH must be adjusted to around 6 or 6.5, the soil must be kept moist, a humus content of about 3% must be maintained, and EM must be diluted to about 1:1000.

There has been some debate as to the validity of the claims, and even Higa himself admitted the main issue is the lack of reproducibility and inconsistent results. He went on to say the most difficult aspects of using EM is one must understand the nutritional and environmental requirements of the microorganism as well as its interactions with the environment and other microorganisms very well, which is still being investigated.

Nonetheless, EM is now being researched further, as it could be a promising new addition to organic agriculture. It could allow us to increase productivity while not having to use fertilizers or pesticides. In a paper by Myint Lwini and S. L. Ranamukhaarachchi that talks about controlling wilt disease, it was shown that the most effective bio-control for the disease was EM. Even more, other experiments have been done by numerous individuals that tested the effect of EM use on yield of crops. These studies usually found that there is an increase in crop yield when EM is used.

It seems EM may be a great new way to boost organic agriculture. For the past few years, EM has even used for composting residential waste in Christchurch, New Zealand. The local city council backs EM and is beginning to conduct local research for use as an organic fertilizer.

Japan is a leading manufacturer (and consumer) of solar energy. 45% of all solar photovoltaic cells are produced in Japan and a great amount of what is produced is used by Japanese consumers. In fact, Japan has the 3rd largest solar capacity in the world (behind Germany and Spain).

Since I have been here in Japan, I have noticed the widespread use of solar panels. As I look around at buildings and even residential houses, I notice solar panels everywhere! Although the cost of solar panels in Japan is expensive, just like in the United States, they are somehow much more popular. It seems it is not at all uncommon for families to have solar panels on their homes!

Solar panels on a Japanese house

Solar energy was already on the rise in Japan the past few years, but following the recent nuclear energy crisis that occurred in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami, solar panels are apparently becoming even more popular. I spoke with some Japanese people, and many say they are not especially fond of nuclear power, but due to the high consumption of energy in Japan, there is not much of a choice. Because of this as well as the high prices of oil and coal derived energy, many Japanese families appear to be turning to solar power.

The government also plays a role in solar energy. They aim to meet 10% of total primary domestic energy needs with solar photovoltaic power by 2050 and are considering a making all new houses built after 2030 to come with pre-installed solar panels. The government also offers incentives to use solar power. In 2009, a feed-in tariff was enacted that required electric companies to purchase the excess power from homes and businesses for twice the standard rate.

Japan is a country with comparatively little natural resources, so it is not surprising that most Japanese people do not like to waste. However, it seems that conserving resources and not wasting is embedded in the foundations of Japanese culture. In Japan, it is polite to finish all the food on one’s plate, down to the very last grain of rice. But, there are even federal laws that require people to make the best use of their resources. First of all, every citizen is required to follow specific sorting rules for their waste (burnable, non-burnable, recyclable) which is collected by the city and stored for processing. Then, each year, recycling companies are required to collect the waste and transport it to the recycling facilities. To make sure the companies do their job, they are only paid once they show a delivery report signed by the receiving facility. Even more, businesses and manufacturers must pay a recycling fee that varies depending on the amount sold or produced. With all these regulations, it is not surprising Japan ranks very well compared to many other developed countries in terms of recycling.

Comparison of recycling in various countries ; a lower number is more favorable (Kim, 2004)

 

For burnable things which are not paper, aluminum, glass, or steel, Japan uses incinerators. There are huge pros and cons to both landfills and incinerators, as both still contribute to pollution, but Japan attempts to make the best of incineration by recycle even the ash byproduct. Incinerators do not completely destroy waste. Instead, they reduce the mass by 80–85% and the volume by 95-96 %. So, Japan uses the remains from incineration to produce cement. Still, with all the negative effects of both landfills and incinerators, of course the best way to protect the environment is to minimize the amount of waste produced overall. In this category, Japan still ranks well. In a survey done by the OECD Environmental Data Compendium, the municipal waste of 17 different developed countries was measured, and Japan had the least waste per capita with nearly half the amount of the United States.

Comparing municipal waste in 17 developed nations (OECD Environmental Data Compendium, 2002)

 

Japan is a great example for other countries to follow as in terms of waste and conservation of resources. If other places could learn to minimize waste and process it as well as Japan does, the world would be well on the way to becoming a little more environmentally friendly!

In this blog, instead of focusing on just one type of organic farming done in Japan, I will try to cover as many schools of thought that I can learn about while I am here studying sustainable living and farming. First, I will cover the method of natural farming or “Do-Nothing Farming” which was started by Masanobu Fukuoka.

The natural farming method stresses these main principles: no plowing, no weeding, and no fertilizers or pesticides. This method follows the philosophy that crops should be allowed to grow freely and naturally with little human intervention, except when necessary. The method does not use fertilizers or chemicals and uses very little water. It also encourages grow crops according to their proper environment.

No Plowing

There are many organisms that live in the ground that are very beneficial to crops. They work breaking down matter, giving nutrients to plants, aerating the soil, and other acts vital for farming. However, when land is plowed, many of these organisms are killed and the amount of beneficial organic matter is reduced. Also, plowing can leave soil vulnerable to wind and increases the rate of erosion.

No Weeding

Weeds should not be looked at as enemies. Instead, they should be recognized as important. Kawaguchi’s method does not use weeding, except in the early stages. He uses the analogy of parenthood: as a mother of father takes care of their children, farmers protect young crops until they can survive on their own. After the crops are big enough to survive themselves, the weeds need not be taken out. Many people think that weeds compete with the crops and cause a lesser yield, but if they are prevented from overtaking young crops, the affect is minimal. In fact, weeds can be beneficial. The weeds actually enrich the soil. In an uncultivated field, after each cycle, the plants die and the dead organisms pile up, enriching the soil more and more every year.

No Fertilizers or Pesticides

When an whole ecosystem is allowed to exist in harmony with the crops, the decaying organisms will provide fertilizer for the crops and symbiotic relationships will form. Some “weeds” provide food for the crops and can also deter certain pests. Even more, the absence of chemical fertilizer, which often attracts pests, mostly eliminates the need for pesticides. By allowing the ecosystem to work naturally, many common threats to agriculture can be eliminated.

So, I learned something really cool about Japan and sustainability today! There is a large (and still growing) movement in Japan called chisan-chishou (ちさんちしょう  or 地産池沼). In Japanese,  it means “produce locally, consume locally” and is a movement to encourage local eating (not unlike the movement for local eating in the United States).

 

An image promoting Chisan-Chishou

Many Japanese people are joining the movement and buying from local farms. At my friend Misa’s house, for example, they buy rice and vegetables grown in the fields directly next to their house! And, when I went to the store yesterday, I actually noticed that on the strawberries, it says exactly where they were grown. As you might expect, they were indeed grown same prefecture that I bought them in! How cool! In Japan today, most farms are still small-scale and run by families, so it is not surprising that in Japanese suburbs many vegetables at the supermarket are grown nearby and have just been harvested hours before!

And, just in case you were wondering, yes, I will be posting about the sustainable farming soon!