Achieving the Society of True Prosperity Warning for economic society (Rapid urbanization suered from PM2.5) Changes in individual attitudes towards economic a uence and the environment According to the United Nations, social and February, and the Ministry of the Environment issued economic development triggers urbanization, and by provisional guidelines for alerts to warn people of the After the rapid economic growth in the 1960s, surveys, respondents placing importance on material 2050, about 70% of the global population is likely to situation. Then, in May 2013 the environment Japan’s GDP per capita rose to global top levels, affluence slightly outnumbered those placing live in cities. Rapid urbanization in developing nations ministers of Japan, China, and Korea met and and life became convenient and comfortable for a importance on spiritual affluence. But in the late causes serious air pollution, which leads to agreed to establish a new trilateral working-level large proportion of Japanese people. However, 1970s, the situation reversed, and in 2012 the significant health problems for residents and panel to conduct dialogue on the issue. environmental problems became more serious with number of people emphasizing spiritual affluence deterioration in their living conditions. Japan experienced serious health problems when air each passing year. Then, in 2011, the Great East was more than double the number emphasizing One of the air pollutants is PM2.5, a fine particulate pollution became a big problem around the country Japan Earthquake struck, taking large numbers of material affluence. matter which is suspected to cause damage to during the rapid economic growth in the 1960s. precious lives. In its aftermath, massive pollution of A new survey in FY 2012 researched how attitudes respiratory and cardiovascular systems as it gets to However, Japanese industries put their efforts into the environment with radioactive materials has made to protecting the environment had changed after the the lung when inhaled. Therefore Japan took action developing a solution for air pollution, including the people rethink the ideas toward economic affluence Great East Japan Earthquake found that, for all in 2009 by establishing environmental standards for deployment of low-sulfur diesel fuel, the and the attitudes to the environment. survey items, over 45% of respondents rated PM2.5, and is regulating emissions of this pollutant. development of electronic fuel injectors to facilitate Japan has consistently surveyed attitudes to environmental conservation as more important, A monitoring system has also been deployed with complete combustion, and the development of affluence since 1972, asking people about whether while over 60% considered “Saving electricity and the cooperation of local authorities, monitoring exhaust system technology to remove sulfur oxides, in the future they would place more importance on energy” and “Effects of radiation” as more important PM2.5 levels at over 600 locations around Japan. nitrogen oxides, and particulates. Eventually, Japan spiritual affluence or material affluence. In the early since the disaster. In January 2013, significant air pollution occurred in has grown to be one of the leading countries that and around Beijing, with PM2.5 being one of the have the world’s most advanced technologies to main problems. At that time, PM2.5 levels exceeding clean up air pollution. This sort of state-of-the-art Greater desire for spiritual a uence than material a uence environmental standards were observed in western technology has the potential to contribute a global (%) 70 Spiritual affluence 64.0 Japan. Interim measures were put together in challenge for air pollution. 62.9 62.6 Material affluence 60.7 60.0 60 58.8 62.6 57.2 57.2 56.3 60.5 61.4 59.0 60.0 53.0 57.4 56.8 57.0 57.8 49.6 49.1 50.3 DPF structure (example) 50 46.4 52.0 44.3 49.6 49.3 Honeycomb structure of 41.6 41.341.4 41.1 40.9 42.2 46.5 40.0 40.9 40.4 44.8 39.8 Filter ceramic filter Oxidation 40 41.3 37.6 Oxidation Ceramic tube filter 40.3 41.3 40.7 40.1 40.3 36.8 catalyst 39.9 39.5 catalyst Soluble 38.8 38.8 32.9 34.0 37.3 36.7 36.1 36.8 36.8 32.7 35.3 30.5 31.1 organic Oxygen 29.0 30.0 30.1 29.1 30.4 30.2 30.1 30 32.7 32.0 27.4 30.8 30.2 31.0 fraction Carbon 29.3 28.7 27.3 28.1 27.9 28.4 28.6 dioxide

20 Carbon soot Carbon soot 10 Exhaust emissions DPF mechanisms to reduce particulates

Source: Particulate matter—From SPM to PM2.5, 0 Jan 1972Jan 1973Jan 1974Nov 1974May 1975Nov 1975May 1976Nov 1976May 1977May 1978May 1979May 1980May 1981May 1982May 1983May 1984May 1985May 1986May 1987May 1988May 1989May 1990May 1991May 1992May 1993May 1994May 1995May 1996May 1997Dec 1999Jun 2002Jun 2003Jun 2004Jun 2005Oct 2006Jul 2007Jun 2008Jun 2009Jun 2010Oct 2011Jun 2012 Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Survey dates

Note: Spiritual affluence: “Since my lifestyle has become somewhat affluent in a material sense, in the future I would like to place importance on a spiritually rich and relaxing lifestyle.” Material affluence: “I would like to continue to place importance on achieving a materially affluent lifestyle.” Improvements to engine structure and combustion Source: Public Opinion Survey Concerning People’s Lifestyles, Cabinet Office Electronically-controlled linear Electronically-controlled high Inlet and outlet systems EGR valve How attitudes to the environment changed following the Great East Japan Earthquake pressure common rail injector nozzles 0.5 0.5 1. Saving electricity and energy 23.0 46.5 29.6 Rated as more important 0.5 0.4 following the disaster 2. Waste reduction, recycling, and reuse 12.9 36.2 50.0 EGR cooler Rated as somewhat more important 0.6 0.6 3. Greater use of renewable energy following the disaster 17.1 37.3 44.4 (wind, solar, etc.) Unchanged remains 0.5 0.4 following the disaster 4. Respecting and appreciating 18.9 36.6 43.5 Electronically-controlled variable- the power of nature Rated as somewhat less important Stronger components and geometry linear turbocharger 0.6 0.5 following the disaster reduced friction 5. Love for living things and building 13.9 31.0 54.0 Rated as less important connections with nature 0.8 0.4 following the disaster 6. Effects of radiation 28.1 36.2 34.6

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 (%) Source: Particulate matter—From SPM to PM2.5, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Source: Mizuho Information & Research Institute (FY 2012) n = 4000

13 Annual Report on the Environment, the Sound Material-Cycle Society, and the Biodiversity in Japan 2013 14