February 2011 Vol. 4 No. 10

Sustainable Cities Rethinking ’s Community Spaces CONTENTS

COVER STORY

4 Sustainable Cities Rethinking Japan’s Community Spaces

Across Japan, businesses and local communities are working to MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO MASATOSHI reduce their CO2 emissions, drawing on renewable energy supplies, Front cover: Six hundred lanterns illustrated by celebrities and schoolchildren for example, or introducing “smart” systems for energy conservation. lit up the night sky in 's Wadakura Fountain Park last December. The display In doing so they continue to improve people’s lives and maintain was part of the Kouto Tokyo • LIGHTOPIA light festival, which is held annually in the industrial development. Tokyo Station area. For details, see page 7.

6 Electric Unazuki 12 Living Off the Grid The hot spring resort of Unazuki in Toyama R o k k a s h o - m u r a i n Prefecture is positioning itself as a low-carbon is sightseeing area. the location for a pio-

MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO MASATOSHI neering experiment in 7 Kouto Tokyo • “smart house” living. LIGHTOPIA 14 Feeling the Co-benefits LED light displays brought a festive sparkle with a conservationist theme to the Tokyo Station area “Co-benefits” projects led by Japan are helping to last December. reduce CO2 emissions in developing countries while also helping to conserve the local environment. 8 Factory Floors of the Future 16 Ecozzeria Ushers in “Eco Offices” Leading manufacturers are revamping their pro- duction processes both to reduce CO2 emissions Ecozzeria in central Tokyo serves both as a provid- and boost their competitiveness. er of information about environmental issues and as a model of an environment-friendly workspace. 10 Eco-Products 2010 18 The Future City Introducing some of the inter- Concept esting technologies on display at the latest Eco-Products en- An interview with Dr. Shuzo Murakami, chief exec- vironmental fair held in Tokyo utive of the Building Research Institute and head of in December. an expert review panel on the Future City Concept,

WATARU MUKAI WATARU a new Government policy.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011   EDITED AND PUBLISHED BY THE CABINET OFFICE, GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN The views expressed in this magazine by the interviewees or contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the Cabinet Office or the government. No article or any part thereof may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through a form available at www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/mailform/inquiry.html

20 TOPICS 28 TOPICS

A Fresh Start for Forests, Ship for World Youth, 2011

A Fresh Start for Biodiversity Some 265 young people from thirteen countries Reviewing events held to coincide with the end of set sail from Yokohama in January on a six-week the International Year of Biodiversity and the start tour of the South Pacific. of the International Year of Forests.

30 MONODZUKURI 23 PRIME MINISTER’S DIARY Breakthroughs in Bakery Second Kan Cabinet Reshuffle Pan Akimoto in has developed On January 14 Prime Minister Naoto Kan an- a long-life and life-saving bread for disaster victims nounced the second reshuffle of his Cabinet. around the world.

24 PRIME MINISTER’S DIARY 32 NEW TOURISM

Opening Japan and Snow Country Reinventing KIZUNA We visit two unusual tourist re-

Prime Minister Naoto sorts in northern Japan whose AIZAWA TADASHI K a n d e l i v e r e d a chief attractions are centered on snow and ice. s p e e c h , “ O p e n i n g Japan and Reinventing INFORMATION CABINET PUBLIC OFFICE RELATIONS KIZUNA,” at the World Prime Minister Naoto Kan shares his thoughts on Economic Forum in Davos, January 29. issues of the day on “Prime Minister KAN’s BLOG”: http://kansblog.kantei.go.jp/

26 TOPICS

Good Design Award Subscribe to our e-mail notification service for Profiling some of the winners of Japan's Good news of the latest updates: http://www.mmz.kantei.go.jp/foreign/blog/ Design Award for 2010.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011   COVER STORY Sustainable Cities Rethinking Japan’s Community Spaces

Solar panels line the roof and walls of a building, gleaming black. On November 4, 2010, the solar Spanels were installed on the building of Kawasaki City Nishimaruko Elementary School in . The panel has a maximum output of 100 kilowatts, equivalent to the school’s greatest power demand. This school is one of twenty-five in the city to receive the panels from the municipal govern- ment, under a subsidy provided by the School New Deal initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which aims to rap- idly improve Japan’s educational environment. Solar panels line a wall and the Surrounded by the Tamagawa river, which forms eaves of the Kawasaki City the boundary between the Tokyo Metropolitan area Nishimaruko Elementary School.

and Kanagawa Prefecture and by Todoroki Green Park, the school is ideally suited to installation of solar panels in terms of solar irradiation conditions. “In winter, solar irradiation is poorer than in summer, but the output has so far reached a maximum of 80 kilowatts,” says school principal Masahiro Watanabe. As the solar power generation meets the power demands of the school, it ultimately cuts carbon di- BOTH PHOTOS TADASHI AIZAWA TADASHI PHOTOS BOTH

Pupils at Nishimaruko Elementary examine the solar oxide emissions by up to 35 metric tons per year. panels on the roof of their school. This is roughly equivalent to planting ninety trees

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011   with a height of 10 meters. pected to serve as an emergency power source. In the new Environmental Study Room, a high- The solar panels also help with learning. performance power storage system with lithium ion Sae Ogasawara, a fifth grader, says, “Now I feel that batteries has been installed. The system was devel- I understand environmental problems better than I oped by Eliiy Power Co., a business venture set up did before, I study them with greater interest.” by professors of Keio University, when Kawasaki City This issue’s cover story focuses on activities in dif- invited them to take part in waterfront areas. The ferent parts of the country which seek to change the system stores electricity generated by solar panels. nature of cities in consideration of the environment Given that the school is designated as an evacuation while continuing to improve people’s lives and main- center in the event of disaster, the system is ex- taining industrial development.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011   COVER STORY Electric Unazuki

An electric car glides through the hot spring resort of Unazuki

ciple on driving gasoline-powered vehicles. They started with a car rental service of three electric cars and twenty electrically assisted bicycles for sight- seeing in the hot spring town and its surroundings. The electric cars can travel about 100 kilometers, which is enough for a leisurely day of sightseeing in Unazuki hot spring is located in the city of Kurobe, the surrounding tourist areas. In December, the town , at the foot of the Northern Alps. started a demonstration trial of a small generating fa- UThe Kurobe Gorge is a famous sightseeing spot cility that uses the water for fire prevention that flows where viewing the natural scenery from the Torokko through the town to charge the electric cars. train traveling the length of the gorge is a particularly Satoshi Ohashi, director of the executive commit- popular attraction. Toyama Bay is also not far away tee for the Denki Unazuki Project, comments, “We so in terms of the palate, it is possible to enjoy both have arranged for convertible electric cars with cute seafood and mountain vegetables. designs that make many visitors feel that they want Aiming to become a low-carbon sightseeing area, to try them. Recently, there has been an increase in Unazuki hot spring launched the Denki Unazuki visitors who come because they want to drive the Project in April 2010. (“Denki” is the Japanese for electric cars.” The initiative already seems to be pio- “electricity.”) Modeled on Zermatt, the world famous mountain resort at the foot of the Matterhorn in Map of Unazuki and Kurobe

Switzerland, the concept is to turn environmentally Sea of Japan friendly urban planning into a spark that ignites inter- Unazuki est among visitors. Local tourism operators and build- Toyama Kurobe Gorge Railway ing contractors got together to start up the project, (Torokko Electric Railway) Kurobe Gorge Keyakidaira inspired by a proposal made by Professor Hiroyuki

Uesaka at Toyama University of International Studies, World Heritage Site Gokayama who has researched the advanced initiatives to protect Access to Unazuki from Tokyo Shirakawa-go 3h 20 min via Echigo-Yuzawa Station (JR Jo’etsu the environment at Zermatt, including the ban in prin- Shinkansen Line) to Toyama Station by JR Hokuriku Line. 1h from Dentetsu Toyama to Unazuki-onsen Station by Toyama Chitetsu Line.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011    Highlighting Japan Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY display. Green, red and blue LED lights twinkling in twinkling lights LED blue and red Green, display. ers were interwoven with light in the Flower Fantasia flow colorful other and pansies carnations, Station, which washeldinJapanjusttwomonthsearlier. (COP10), Diversity Biological on Convention the to of the tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties birds or fish, bringing to mind biodiversity, the theme glittering tapestries of light in the shape of elephants, Palace moat nearby. Here and there could be found Imperial the of walls stone the adorned installation light Koryu the necklace, white beautiful a of shape of illustrationscreatedamagicalatmosphere. hundreds the candlelight, the in view into Emerging on the themes of Earth, the Environment and Peace. messages drawn by prominent persons and illustrated children with lanterns cylindrical 600 displaying Station, Tokyo near Park Fountain Wadakura at Park every year. The organizers set up an Ambient Candle visitors million 2 approximately draws which event, the of anniversary fifth the was It 2010. 29, to 21 staged in the vicinity of Tokyo Station from December LIGHTOPIA Kouto Tokyo • spa the to Station Unazuki from visitors ferrying also provided backing for the project. has peoplelocal among energy green ininterest of flowsthroughlevelhighUnazukispring,thehot and in the upper reaches of the Kurobe-gawa river, which neering newvisitors. h Kuo oy • IHOI lgt etvl was festival light LIGHTOPIA • Tokyo Kouto The “At present, we are developing an electric bus for There is a typically Japanese hydraulic power station In a square in the business district in front of Tokyo In addition, using white LEDs linked together in the - hotels. Recently, there has also been an increase in increase an been also has there Recently, ­hotels. kWh of green energy generated by hydraulic power hydraulic by generated energy green of kWh ers purchased a Certificate of Green Power for 2,000 organiz The energy. of sources natural from erated from visitors. delight of exclamations brought flowers of beds the open inthespring. re will service the but December, of middle the in ings andtourismthroughgreenenergy.” surround natural the enjoy to world the of parts all want to continue to work hard to attract visitors from We Taiwan. and China including Asia from visitors winter light show in a way that is ecologically sound.” Tokyo• LIGHTOPIA. “We Koutowant to enjoy this signature for manager PR the comments third,” one to event the for consumption power reduced have toanother, butcompared totheyear before last, we Thescale of the event hardly changes from one year LEDs formostofthelightsources. choosing by check in kept also was consumption to supply all the power used for the event. Electricity Kouto Tokyo • LIGHTOPIA uses green energy gen The electric car rental closed for the winter season “The conservation of power progresses every year. which flowers were interwoven with LED lights LED with interwoven were flowers which in Tokyo Station, opposite display Fantasia Flower The Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY Japan  - - - - MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO COVER STORY Factory Floors of the Future In Japan, environmental initiatives are underway on the production floors of many leading manufacturers. Miho Kawasaki introduces two ventures whose sustainable operations have been instrumental in boosting their competitiveness.

Innovations to Reduce CO2 Emissions Haruyuki Mizuno of INAX holds samples T INAX, a well-known manufacturer of sani- of the company’s newly developed tary ware in Japan, set itself a target in 2008 of water-retentive ceramic. When used reducing total CO2 emissions in 2050 by 80% as a roofing material, the ceramic absorbs compared to 1990 levels. rainwater, which cools the building Haruyuki Mizuno, officer and general man- when it evaporates. ager of INAX’s Sustainable-Innovation Depart­ ment, explains, “We had been making efforts in everyday office activities such as consistency in also be sent into

conserving packaging resources, using recycled the kiln at the MIHO KAWASAKI raw materials, and switching the company cars same time as to hybrid cars. However, when we investigated the fuel, and using air heated to a high tempera-

CO2 emissions for every department in the com- ture raises combustion efficiency, making it pany, we found that sanitary ware and tile ceram- possible to conserve energy. In testing, the

ics accounted for approximately 80%. To achieve burners reduced CO2 by approximately 30% our target, it was vital to revise the ceramics compared to conventional kilns. The testing technologies that consumed huge amounts of stage has now been completed. In the future, fossil fuel. At the existing plant, the high tem- the company aims to move from firing tech- peratures extended to the area around the firing niques that heat the entire kiln to develop tech- kiln for firing tiles and toilet bowls. That is to nologies that transmit heat only to the product, say, it was an indication that thermal energy was and research is also underway on drying tech- going to waste. We decided to introduce a regen- nologies for ceramics that use microwaves simi- erative burner, which made it possible to reuse lar to a microwave oven. The company has also the thermal energy that we were unable to use in started to examine ways to supply its own natu- the past and set up control technologies.” ral energy such as solar and wind power. A regenerative burner is a system for stor- “Monodzukuri manufacturing is our founda- ing the high-temperature waste heat generated tion,” says Mizuno. “We would like to produce at the time of firing, and sending the heat to the ceramic products capable of contributing to so-

firing kiln to be reused for heating up the air for ciety while working to reduce CO2 on the pro- combustion. When firing ceramics, air must duction floor.”

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011   Cooperation Is Key with LCDs Sharp, the world’s leading producer of LCD (liquid crystal display) panels, has been operat- ing a new plant incorporating advanced envi- ronmental measures in Sakai City, since 2009. At present, this is the only plant in the world capable of processing approximately 3-meter-square glass substrate

into large-size LCD panels that are used in tele- MIHO KAWASAKI Takuo Mori of Sharp’s Green Front Sakai Planning Center visions and so on. Next to the LCD plant is a plant that sup- plies the world with solar cell panels, which panels are embedded in the walkways. There is are becoming popular as a clean energy source. also a plan to install solar panels on the roofs of The most important feature of the plant is each factory. Near Green Front Sakai, Kansai Green Front Sakai, an industrial complex cen- Electric Power is building a large-scale solar tering on Sharp but which also brings together generation facility using thin-film solar cell pan- nineteen companies in various industries that els manufactured in Green Front Sakai. are vital for producing LCD panels (such as Furthermore, each company at Green Front glass substrate, color filters, energy-related Sakai uses IT to share information about the companies and distribution) on the same flow of the supply chain, from production plan- premises. By jointly managing the energy used ning to process management and shipments, at each plant, the companies conserve energy making for high production efficiency. on a major scale. Takuo Mori, general manager of the Green The initiatives to reuse energy go beyond Front Sakai Planning Center, comments, “The the corporate frameworks. For example, heat most surprising thing for visitors who come for generated in the manufacturing process at the tours is that the cooperative structure of nine- glass factory is used to purify the water for teen companies functions as if Green Front Sakai cleaning LCD panels. In addition, each factory were one company. About forty years ago Sharp building is linked with a transport system was the first company in the world to use liquid which not only reduces the production lead crystal in the displays of calculators. Today, time of LCD panels and intermediate stock, Green Front Sakai makes it possible to achieve

but also brings major reductions in the CO2 high productivity through advanced environ- emissions by eliminating transport by trucks mental measures thanks to the cooperative spirit on the premises. and trusting relationship of member companies From the outdoor lights to the vending ma- fostered over forty years while developing the chines, all the lighting on the premises is ener- market for liquid crystal displays.” gy-efficient, long-life LED lighting. Water- ­permeable blocks made using discarded LCD Miho Kawasaki is a freelance writer.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011   COVER STORY Eco-Products 2010

Solar Recharger for Mobile Phones

One of the most popular exhibits was a small solar recharger that enables mobile phones to be recharged by sunlight. After recharging by exposing the panel to the sunlight, all that is needed is to connect to the mobile phone using the dedicated connector. It can be used just like a bat- tery-operated recharger. The new recharger is compatible with a wide range of products, from the iPhone and other cut- ting-edge smartphone products to mobile game machines. Among the exhibits, the Deko Recharger created by Links International for the exhibition attracted particular attention. WATARU MUKAI WATARU

Wall and Roof Afforestation System

Demand for wall- and roof-surface affores- tation has grown, as a measure to make urban areas more verdant. Suntory Midorie has developed Pafukaru, a spongy new material shaped like a pot that can be used to replace soil. Lighter than soil, this prod- uct allows more plants to be placed on walls and roofs. Pafukaru also reduces the need for clean- ing, as it gener- ates no dust. WATARU MUKAI WATARU

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 10 11 Eco-Products 2010, one of the largest environmental fairs in Japan, was held December 9–11 at Tokyo Big Sight, drawing about 183,000 visitors. This twelfth edition of the fair featured exhibits of products, ser- vices, and environmental technologies from 745 enterprises and organizations, in areas including home appliances, daily products, automobiles, houses, energy and food.

Soundproof Wall Using Thinnings

The importance of forests that can absorb large volumes of carbon dioxide has risen, as a mecha- nism for preventing global warming. Although thinning is indispensable for improving forests, a

lack of ways to effectively use thinnings has been OF SHINODA COURTESY an issue. The soundproof wall developed by Shinoda, a construction company in , creates not only environ- mental effects by utilizing thinnings but also enhances landscapes.

Pocket Book Terminal of the Future by Sony

Sony exhibited the Pocket Book Terminal for the Future, which is being studied for future applications. Information and elec- tricity can be supplied to the equipment wirelessly. The thin, lightweight organic EL display with a main body made of plant- derived plastic is easy to carry and hard to break, even when WATARU MUKAI WATARU dropped. The blue wall behind the terminals is made of tiles equipped with a power storage function, which is also under development.

Eco-Products 2010 attracted about 183,000 people over the three days of the fair. WATARU MUKAI WATARU

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 10 11 O 12 n ot n xeiet ht niin oeaig in operating envisions that experiment an out ing carry facilitate would which year-round, widely vary temperatures its that is future, near the in built be to city friendly environmentally proposed a model would that one experiment, present the of site the electricity. as generate chosen was Rokkasho-mura that reason Another to power wind using at fort ef domestic largest the in involved been has mura coast of Aomori Prefecture, in northern Honshu. Rokkasho-mura, a village that sits on the Pacific Ocean at 2010September since underway been has lem practicalovercomingexperimentprobatthisaimed A control. anyone’s beyond factors other and tions condiweather by affecteddirectly is sourcesthese by generatedelectricity of quantity the that fact the such as wind and solar power to generate electricity is sources energy renewable of adoption widespread COVER STORY niomns ht iuae wd rne f geo of range wide a simulate that environments BOTH PHOTOS MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO A beneficiary of strong winds year-round, Rokkasho- the to obstacle an as cited is that problem One recharged at home. at recharged be can which car hybrid plug-in a have each houses smart the in living Families Rokkasho-mura. in houses smart six the of roofs the top cells Photovoltaic Highlighting Japan Japan Living Off the Grid the Off Living FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY - - - - - heat pump operated hot water tanks, and are capable and use, household for batteries stationary panels, generation power photovoltaic including nologies, tech of variety a with equipped are houses smart These Town. Lake Obuchi of District North the in on the site where the experiment is being carried out plug-in hybridcarstotheexperiment. and appliances household system), management energy (home HEMS supplying are which Group), Eos Energy Management (Japan Wind Development and Motor Toyota Works, Electric Panasonic users, electricity representing and, system; ply/demand sup in electrical the managing and building of charge jointly, Development Wind Japan and Hitachi photovoltaic systems as another source of of electricity; charge in is which Hitachi, electricity; powered wind- providing is which Development, Wind Japan graphical regions. A total of six so-called smart houses have been built include experiment present the in Participants - - Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY Japan 13 of micromanaging information pertaining to house- hold energy use. Families of employees of corpora- Living Off the Grid tions participating in the project reside in these smart houses and go about their normal lives therein. An experimental situation has been built here that is isolated from the external power grid: approxi- mately 8 km of private distribution line has been laid between the Rokkasho-mura Futamata Wind Power Station, owned and operated by Japan Wind Devel- Touch panels in the smart houses help residents check opment Group, and the site where the smart houses and control how much electric power they are using. stand. The station is outfitted with 34 units of 1,500 KW windmills with a total capacity of 51,000 kW, electricity output while adjusting to demands via and is equipped with large capacity NAS storage bat- these batteries.” teries of 34,000 kW. In addition, Hitachi provides a The present experiment will examine such factors 100 kW photovoltaic power generation system. as changes in electricity usage in different seasons “Nowhere else in the world has anyone attempt- and at different times of day on the one hand, and ed an experiment involving creating an enclosed trends in electricity usage based on different family area powered solely by renewable energies, and configurations, and will build a system that efficiently having people actually live in houses that are com- balances supply and demand of electricity. “Another prehensively outfitted with environmentally friendly factor that the experiment is set up to examine is technologies,” says Atsushi Otsuka of EOS Energy how the electricity usage of each family is affected Management, which is coordinating among the by information from electricity providers,” Otsuka various participants. “This experimental facility has says. “For example, we will examine the changes in other features that can’t be found anywhere else: the amount of electricity each family uses in relation large capacity NAS storage batteries, developed to changes in electricity prices. And later we will test here in Japan, installed side by side with the wind electricity trading among smart houses to see what power station, and technologies that maintain the their potential is for balancing demand and supply.”

↑To Mutsu

Private distribution line Oishi Athletic Park Aomori Prefecture (electricity, information) 6.6 kV transmission line of approx. 8 km ● (Combines optical fiber) North District of Obuchi Lake Town ・6 smart houses Rokkasho Village Futamata River Oippe River

8 3 ●Oil storage terminal 3 d ● a o l R a n ● io t Rokkasho Village a Futamata Wind Development Co., Ltd. ● N Municipal Office ● ・Windmills (51,00kW) ・Large capacity NAS batteries (34,000kW)

Pacific Ocean ←To Noheji ●日本原燃Smart Grid Control Center Lake Obuchi

N

a ・PV (100 kW) t io n ・Local storage NAS battery (100 kW) a l R o a d

3 3

8

↓To Misawa ↓To Misawa

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 12 13 COVER STORY Feeling the Co-benefits Japan is promoting the co-benefits approach to simultaneously deliver greenhouse gas reductions and environmental pollution prevention in developing countries. The Japan Journal’s Osamu Sawaji reports.

At present, the reduction of greenhouse ments GHG reduction and measures to counter gases (GHG) in developing countries is a point environmental pollution while adapting to the Aof contention in the international negotiations on development needs of the developing countries, climate change. The industrialized nations are has been attracting attention worldwide in re- demanding that developing countries reduce cent years.” GHG, but in the developing countries, there is a As specific examples of the co-benefits ap- deep-seated wariness that measures to reduce proach, one might list efficiency improvements GHG would have a negative impact on the eco- to thermal power plants, methane recovery and nomic development in their own countries. power generation from industrial effluent, and Hiroaki Takiguchi, director of the Inter­ improvement in efficiency of public transporta- national Cooperation Office at the Ministry of tion networks. the Environment, comments, “The impact of Japan has already implemented advanced climate change increases even while lengthy measures in these fields. In the period of rapid international negotiations continue. That is why growth from the latter half of the 1950s, Japan we must reduce GHG in developing countries experienced serious environmental pollution, as much as possible from now on. In this con- but since the 1960s, the public and private text, the co-benefits approach, which imple- sectors have cooperated and taken measures to combat pollution. In addition, as a result of the huge impact of the two oil shocks in the 1970s when the cost of living rose rapidly, the government has promoted the formulation of a legal framework for energy efficiency, and the business sector has developed energy- ­efficient technologies. As a result of these initiatives, Japan has made dramatic improvements in pollution and COURTESY OF THE MINISTRYCOURTESY OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Visitors from China look inside a boiler at the Electric implemented effective energy consumption Power Development Co.’s Isogo Thermal Power Station in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, as part of ongoing with the consumption of energy in the industrial Japan-China co-benefit cooperation. This coal-burning station is equipped with some of the world’s leading sector remaining flat over the thirty-year period technologies to combat atmospheric pollution. from the early 1970s to the early 2000s when

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 14 15 GDP approximately doubled. potential such as HFC23 at factories have been Takiguchi comments, “In terms of results, the mainstream. However, Yamada believes Japan’s efforts in reducing pollutants and that in the future it will be necessary to conduct achieving energy efficiency were consistent activities that are closely connected to the ev- with its economic growth. Utilizing the experi- eryday lives of people and register them as ence and technologies accumulated in the past CDM projects. Yamada cites the example of to provide support for technologies, systems Nippon Poly-Glu, which is involved in the sup- and human resources training in developing ply of safe drinking water.” countries is a role for Japan.” “In order to supply safe water, electricity is Bilateral cooperation agreements aimed at required for normal water services, purification promoting the co-benefits approach both with and other processes. If it is possible to supply China and with Indonesia. Japan is carrying out safe drinking water without using electricity, it

human resources training and joint research on is the equivalent of reducing CO2 emissions by the effects of co-benefits. the quantity of unused electricity. There are many examples of co-benefits that people may Co-benefits, Changing Lives not be aware of.” The Ministry of the Environment also started In terms of co-benefits approaches, Yamada a co-benefits CDM (Clean Development Mecha­ is currently involved in a project to compost sew- nism) feasibility study in 2007, subsidizing half age sludge using the YM bacteria at a sewage of the initial investment to private enterprises treatment plant scheduled in Nanjing City in selected for the model project. One of the proj- China. The YM bacterium is a microbe that was ects is underway in Thailand. It is a project to discovered by Masaichi Yamamoto of Sanyu Co. collect biogas from wastewater in an ethanol in Japan. If you add YM bacteria to organic mat- factory and to use the gas for the boiler at the ter such as sewage sludge or food scraps, and factory while improving the water quality of the send air through the mixture, the organic matter

waste liquid. In terms of CO2 conversion, this ferments and decomposes at high temperatures project is expected to reduce GHG by 15,000 over 100 degrees. Then, after forty-five days it

tons CO2 equivalent annually. becomes good quality compost that does not Kazuhito Yamada, director of Pacific emit any foul smells. It is possible to prevent the Consultants-Institute for Global Environment atmospheric release of the methane gas that Research, comments, “The co-benefits ap- forms in the process of decomposition when un- proach not only prevents atmospheric pollution treated sludge is buried in landfills. and water quality contamination, but it also en- Yamada comments, “Japanese and Chinese ables contributions to sustainable development, corporations are cooperating, aiming to develop which is the principal CDM objective.” this project as CDM projects. In the future, I Speaking of CDM projects, large-scale proj- would like to increase the number of CDM proj- ects such as renewable energy or destruction of ects that contribute directly to improving peo- chemical substances with high global warming ple’s lives.”

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 14 15 COVER STORY

Ecozzeria Ushers In “Eco Offices”

This is the salon zone at Ecozzeria. The room is furnished with chairs and tables made with bamboo, a difficult-to-process native plant that grows in abundance, by using a proprietary technique for processing bamboo as an aggregate material. The bamboo aggregate material has also been used for the circular shades over the ceiling lights. The ventilation ducts in the ceiling are fashioned from cardboard made from old newspaper. Inside and out have been fireproofed by wrapping in aluminum foil. ALL PHOTO MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO MASATOSHI ALL PHOTO

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 16 17 were used in The business district in the vicinity of Tokyo Station the foundations is the heart of metropolitan Tokyo. The Ecozzeria for the Shin Tenvironment information office operated by the M a r u n o u c h i Ecozzeria Association, established by local corpora- Building before tions, is located on the tenth floor of the area’s land- its reconstruc- mark Shin Marunouchi Building. At approximately tion in 2007 420 square meters, the Ecozzeria premises house have been re- An Ecozzeria employee works at her desk under self- the offices for the Association, as well as a range of used to make adjustable LED lighting. exhibitions designed to increase interest in environ- floors and a mental problems. There are also spaces for seminars door at Ecozze- and meetings on environmental issues. ria. In addition, the 3Rs (reuse, reduce, recycle) The office has introduced an LED smart system have been thoroughly incorporated in the interior that allows the workers to change the color and design with tables and chairs made from waste, brightness of lighting to their own preferences and and benches made of newspaper. physical condition using illuminometers and PCs in- Naka Inoue, environmental events director at the stalled at each desk. As a result, power consumption Ecozzeria Association, comments, “At first it felt both- has been roughly halved compared to conventional ersome to adjust the lighting by myself, but when offices where the lighting is uniform. you change the lighting and the color, using the PC In addition, the office has also introduced a radia- for long hours is much easier on the eyes. The air tion air conditioning system that controls indoor conditioning system is also popular, and many of the temperature by radiation panels fitted with hot/cold female staff say that sensitivity to cold and stiff water pipes installed in the walls and ceilings, im- shoulders have been reduced.” For corporations it is proving on problems with existing air conditioners ideal to create an office where the staff feel comfort- where, depending on the distance from the ventila- able, and where it is possible to improve productivity tion duct, there are differences in room temperature while considering environmental aspects such as even in the same room. Since thermal efficiency has preventing global warming. been improved, the consumption of energy to power Anyone is welcome to visit Ecozzeria. The the fan and pump for the air conditioner has been Association is aiming to expand the number of cor- reduced to porations introducing eco offices by validating the approximately actual impact on visitors. Inoue comments, “I believe one quarter. that there is significant information coming out of The wood- this area, which is prominent as an international en posts that center for business.”

One person in Japan emits 25 kilograms of CO2 per day. This heavy chair weighs a fraction of that. Visitors to Ecozzeria are invited to pick up the chair to get a

feel for the weight of CO2 they emit on a daily basis.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 16 17 COVER STORY The Future City Concept

The Future City Concept is one of the major policies in the Government’s New Growth Strategy, which was adopted by the Cabinet in June 2010. We spoke with Building Research Institute Chief Executive Dr. Shuzo Murakami, who heads up an expert review panel on the Future City Concept, about the purpose and aims of the concept.

A First, please describe the concept ple can live comfortably.” behind Future Cities. The Future City Concept plan comes with three premises. The first is to have the growth Shuzo Murakami: The Future City Concept is strategy take shape through efforts such as a concept to introduce broad legislation, includ- the ongoing creation of international collabora- ing special measures, based on the New Growth tive ventures centered on superior environ- Strategy adopted by the Government last year, mental technologies. The second is the ad- and to try to build cities that generate new value vancement of green innovation that aims to for the environment, the economy and society. establish a low-carbon society, and lastly is Ultimately, the aim is to realize a “prosperous progress on regional revitalization aimed at a and sustainable economic society in which peo- super-graying society. The goals behind the concept include realiz- ing a low-carbon society and rich biodiversity [creation of environmental value], making it so that people can maintain their health in an in- creasingly aging society and the achievement of regional self-sufficiency [creation of social value], and advancing the accumulation of knowledge [creation of economic value]. The Future City Concept plan is being de- veloped to bring about concrete action to achieve the goals of the concept based on these premises. Let’s look now at how the future cities con- cept can be realized by enhancing the three val- ues, namely environmental, social and economic value. As I mentioned at the beginning, since Building Research Institute Chief Executive the starting point is the New Growth Strategy, Dr. Shuzo Murakami it is important to envisage a city able to create

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 18 19 economic value. The promotion of this concept will be crucially important to the path Japan as We have to approach the a whole takes in the future in terms of new eco- nomic development, not to mention the global realization of Future environment and solutions to social problems. Cities with an “open country” mindset in which What kind of things were behind the we collaborate with development of this concept? interested parties from At the moment, from a global perspective, cities overseas from the initial act as the hub in the accumulation of informa- planning stages. tion and generate a significant proportion of GDP. The same goes for Japan, where the Tokyo metropolitan area produces more than 30% of the country’s GDP. The question of what dently. For instance, some cities which have aspects will further increase the value of cities been successful as Eco-Model Cities have lead- in the future is attracting global attention. It is ers who excel in project management. We need against this backdrop that the Future City to learn from them and speed up the process of Concept came up for discussion. developing human resources. Another important thing is having a global What are the key elements that will perspective. In smart grid demonstration ex- ensure the success of Future Cities? periments being conducted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the cities of The key elements would be the Government Yokohama and Kitakyushu are operating to- being involved and putting energy into driving gether with foreign companies. I think we have the initiative in its own way, and project man- to approach the realization of Future Cities with agement. The implementation framework is an “open country” mindset in which we collabo- largely divided among three parties; namely, rate with interested parties from overseas from the Government, which formulates the pro- the initial planning stages. Globalization from grams and allocates budgetary funds, promo- early on would provide a significant stimulus tional organizations such as advisory boards, for that sense of stagnation in Japanese society, which the Government establishes either inside or for the things that need to be enhanced, like or outside organizations, and the agents of high cost structures and the slowness of management and implementation who operate decision-making. This is an aspect that would under consortiums made up of the Government, revitalize Japan as a whole, as well as lead to business and academia. Government subsidies opportunities for Japan to make international are finite. Future Cities need to develop systems contributions to solutions to the environmental where they can promote the concept indepen- problems the world’s cities face.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 18 19 TOPICS ALL PHOTOS MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO MASATOSHI ALL PHOTOS

Representatives from national governments, international organizations and NGOs gather at the bridging ceremony linking the International Year of Biodiversity with the From December 18 to 20, 2010, a closing event International Year of Forests for the International Year of Biodiversity was held, Fmainly in the city of Kanazawa, . The Closing Ceremony held on December 18 A Fresh brought together about 400 participants from twenty-nine countries and regions, including Minister of the Environment Ryu Matsumoto, Minister of Start for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Michihiko Kano, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Forests, Diversity Ahmed Djoghlaf, and other officers and representatives of the governments of various coun- tries, international organizations and NGOs. A Fresh In the first and second parts of the ceremony, leading representatives gave speeches on the results Start for achieved at the tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) held in Nagoya, in October, 2010. Minister Biodiversity Matsumoto, who presided over COP10, said, “Thanks

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 20 21 to the cooperation of so many of you, we were able to achieve numerous re- sults, including the Aichi Target and Nagoya Protocol. In retrospect, the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity turned out to be a very fruitful year for global biodiversity, and an unforgettable one for me.” Afterwards, a bridging ceremony to the 2011 International Year of Forests was held. Jan McAlpine, director of the United Participants in the panel discussion held as part of the Nations Forum on Forests, said, “The Commemorative Symposium ceremony marks the starting point, not only for forests but also for biodiversity.” McAlpine International Year of Forests. and Djoghlaf then exchanged plaques bearing the logos of the International Year of Biodiversity and Life in Harmony The next day, a symposium commemorating the International Year of Biodiversity was held in the morning, with the general public invited. Gov- ernor Masanori Tanimoto of Ishikawa Prefecture give a presentation on conservation and use of sato­yama and sato­umi, human-influenced natu- ral environments which cover about 60% of Ishi- kawa’s area. He then reported on the application to have satoyama and satoumi in the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture registered as Globally Im- portant Agricultural Heritage Systems (established by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2002 for protecting and utilizing traditional farm- ing methods, landscapes and biodiversity). To close the symposium, singer MISIA, the COP10 honorary ambassador and promoter who is plan- ning to start the MISIA Forest Project in Ishikawa Prefecture, passionately sang “LIFE IN HARMONY,” COP10’s official theme song.

MISIA on stage at the symposium singing “LIFE IN HARMONY,” the official theme song of COP10

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 20 21 TOPICS

Experiencing Satoyama kind bandana I made… Now I’m fully aware of how In the afternoon, an excursion program welcomed the Japanese people have utilized the gifts from sato­ a large number of participants. Visits were made to yama so skillfully.” Kenrokuen, a traditional Japanese garden, Kanazawa Castle and other places that introduce Kanazawa’s natural features and the culture and history that have been cultivated there. Blessed with rich nature, Kanazawa abounds in traditional crafts that make use of Kanazawa’s vegetation, such as dyed prod- ucts, handmade Japanese paper and lacquer ware. One of the foreign participants who tried indigo dye- ing on a bandana at the Center for Crafts and Culture said with a smile, “I’m very happy with the one-of-a- BOTH PHOTOS MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO MASATOSHI PHOTOS BOTH

Participants on the excursion program at Kanazawa Yuwaku Edo-mura, where eight houses from the Edo period (1603-1867) have been relocated

Participants tried indigo dyeing on a bandana at the Center for Crafts and Culture in a suburb of Kanazawa on December 19, 2010.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 22 23 PRIME MINISTER’S DIARY Second Kan Cabinet Reshuffle

On January 14, Prime Minister Naoto Kan reshuffled his Cabinet for a second otime, following his first shakeup of min- isters on September 17, 2010. At the first meeting of the newly inaugurated Cabinet on the same day, the Basic Policies for the Second Reshuffled Kan Cabinet were decided. “Regarding this year as the base year for launching a twenty-first-century opening up of Japan, we will aim for

the Japanese people as a whole to be Prime Minister Naoto Kan speaks to the press following his second active internationally as occurred in the Cabinet reshuffle, January 14. Meiji Restoration and in the postwar era, through trade liberalization and the revival of ag- efforts to rebuild in an integrated manner the riculture in which young people participate,” the economy, public finances, and the social security Cabinet stated in the Policies. system while implementing the New Growth In addition, the Cabinet agreed that “in order to Strategy steadily and rapidly.” create a society in which the people can have At a press conference held before the Cabinet hopes for the future, we will engage in good-faith meeting, Prime Minister Kan explained that the main purpose of his second reshuffle was to strengthen the Cabinet’s capacity to overcome the critical situations facing Japan at this time, such as economic stagnation, worsening public finances and an unstable social security system. “A major issue at present is a social security system regarding which we can have peace of mind going forward, meaning what modalities the system should take and, at the same time, how we can ensure sustainable fiscal re- BOTH PHOTOS CABINET PUBLIC PHOTOS OFFICE RELATIONS BOTH sources for it. It will be necessary to hold Ministers of the second reshuffled Kan Cabinet pose for a commemorative photograph after their first Cabinet meeting, discussions on these matters,” Prime January 14, 2011. Minister Kan said.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 22 23 PRIME MINISTER’S DIARY

Prime Minister Kan speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, January 29

Opening Japan and Reinventing KIZUNA CABINET PUBLIC OFFICE RELATIONS

Prime Minister Naoto Kan delivered a speech, one and a half centuries ago, when the nation aban- “Opening Japan and Reinventing KIZUNA,” at the doned the samurai government’s policy of national PWorld Economic Forum in Davos on January 29. seclusion, then opened itself for a second time after “The theme of this year’s gathering—‘Shared the end of World War II. Norms for the New Reality’—matches my own per- “This spirit of opening up the nation is now called spective,” Prime Minister Kan said. “In the twenty-first for in Japan,” Prime Minister Kan said. “One specific century, there is growing concern in Japan that in the policy is the promotion of economic partnerships. The midst of its economic stagnation the minds of its Japanese Government will continue to hold consulta- people including the youth are becoming inward- tions with the United States and other relevant nations looking. Opening the nation is needed through and will reach a decision on whether to join negotia- breaking out of this stifling atmosphere in people’s tions by around June this year. We also very much minds and in the economy. At the same time, forg- look forward to beginning negotiations this year with ing new connections between individuals is needed the EU, another important trade partner for Japan.” so that the opening of the nation will not bring about Today, there are concerns around the world about rupture among people.” whether tackling global environmental problems is Prime Minister Kan explained that such connec- compatible with economic growth. “My view is that tions are known as “kizuna” in Japanese. they are compatible,” Prime Minister Kan said, ex- The Prime Minister went on to explain that Japan plaining that the key is “innovation.” first opened itself to the outside world a little over “Japan is a top runner in this area. Japanese hybrid

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 24 25 vehicles, which enjoy a 90% global market share, to the two Japanese scientists who were awarded and LED lights produced in Japan both have the po- the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year.

tential to reduce CO2 emissions by around 40% “Their achievement was a scientific method known compared to conventional products.” as cross-coupling, which is to separate bound atoms The Prime Minister emphasized that Japan would and molecules and create innovative materials by continue to “take the lead in grappling with the is- forming different bonds among them. The role ex- sues facing the world, including in the area of the pected of the world’s leaders today would be that of environment, showing the global community models the catalyst in cross-coupling. As the leader of Japan, of ways to overcome them.” I want to achieve a cross-coupling for Japan and for In closing his speech, Prime Minister Kan referred the wider world as well.”

Japan Night 2011 Opening Japan and Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), were among Among the many side events of the World Economic those to enjoy the party. Forum in Davos this year was Japan Night, held on Prime Minister Kan would later refer to Japan Night in Reinventing KIZUNA January 27. JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) his speech at Davos, saying, “Many people must have hosted the event, which featured traditional perfor- enjoyed it. Japanese food culture, which took form in mances including Japanese court music as well as sushi the particular cultural milieu of our nation, is now attract- and other Japanese foods including the popular winter- ing praise around the world as delicious and healthy. season hotpot, oden. Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary- Japanese people are very pleased with this. In fact, the general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and output of Japan’s agriculture ranks fourth in the world. Development (UNCTAD), Klaus Schwab, the founder As the attractiveness of Japan’s food culture spreads and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, throughout the world, it is possible for Japanese agricul- and Francis Gurry, director general of the World ture to revitalize itself as a growing industry.” COURTESY OF JETRO COURTESY

Snapshots of Japan Night 2011

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 24 25 T Award Design Good 26 ed with the Good Design Award, and among them, among and Award, Design Good the with ed tional trade.” In 2010, 1,100 products were present toward industrial development and promote interna work to and products, of quality superior a creating by and conditions living “improve Trade to 1957 in Industry) Economy, of Ministry (now Industry and Trade International of Ministry the in by tablished announced were es was Award Design Good The Japan, 2010. September in design dorsing en and evaluating for award comprehensive only TOPICS 2010 2010 The winners of the 2010 Good Design Award, the te ojcs ih dacd ucinlt, bu 9 rcpet o te od Design Good the Award oversuccessivegenerations wereondisplayatthisexhibition. of recipients 90 about functionality, advanced with objects other and cameras batteries, seat, toilet bidet electric an electronics, consumer to Japan, familiar in other objectslong cup ramen containers,stationeryand to 6.From March 4 from days three for Delhi New in (FICCI) Industry & Commerce of Chambers Indian of Federation the of facilities the at held be will Japan from exhibition Design Good Good Design Award (see story above), is expected to be launched. At the same time, a the of version Indian the year, This profile. national the raise and design promote to launching the India Design Council as the organization to implement the policy, aiming In 2007,theGovernmentofIndiaannouncedaNational DesignPolicy, Japanese GoodDesignExhibition inIndia Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY Japan - - - - that has been developed for the diverse spheres of spheres diverse the for developed been has that the numberofawardsandbreadthgenre.” applications, of number the of terms in unique is “It Organization. Promotion Design Industrial Japan the at Office Design Good the of Suzuki Sae comments than fifty years is extremely rare even internationally,” sense ofdesign. high a of back the on products their market to able are and evidence, as Mark G so-called the use can Gold Award. Products given the Good Design Award the with presented fourteen Grand other the the and Award, for chosen them of one Best with Award Fifteen Design Good the for selected were excellence particular for recognized items fifteen with someoftheGoldAwardwinners. along page, facing the on profiled is Multiplier Air The 2010. in Award Grand the won Dyson firm ish Brit the by made fan bladeless A applications. total of 20% approximately for accounting Award Design ALL PHOTOSrations have also started to pay attention to the Good corpo MASATOSHIforeign years, recent In Design. Project ment selected for one of the Gold Awards for its Entertain was SAKAMOTOAKB48 group idol the 2010, In designs. ered consid also are ideas and systems activity,” human Since the Good Design Award targets “everything targets Award Design Good the Since more back going history a with award design “A exhibition in India. in exhibition Yamaha’s Silent Yamaha’sSilent Violin will be be will Violin shown at the the at shown - - - - Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY Japan 27 Grand and Gold Award Winners (Selection), 2010

Good Design Gold Award (Living) Leaf (Nissan) Presented with the award for comprehensive initiatives to promote the zero emissions society and grow the market for the Nissan Leaf electric car. Comprehensive initiatives such as forming partnerships with national and local gov- ernments or electric power companies, producing lithium ion batteries, using recycled materials in vehicles, and setting up a charging infrastructure.

Good Design Grand Award Air Multiplier (Dyson KK) The Air Multiplier is a fan without blades. It suctions in the surrounding air, accelerates it and blows it out. No blades, safe, easy to maintain.

Good Design Gold Award (Society) Kibo Japanese Experiment Module (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Kibo, the Japanese experiment module, is one of the facili- ties at the International Space Station being built with the cooperation of Japan, the United States and fifteen other countries. Kibo improves astronaut operability and pre- vents errors in operations, the system automation reduces the workload and, in addition, the design is easy on both vision and hearing with base tones in white and blue and a silent interior.

Good Design Gold Award (Network) AKB48 (AKS) With songwriter Yasushi Akimoto as producer, this “idol” group started performing in December 2005. The concept is “idols you can go to meet.” The group has its own AKB48 Theater in Akihabara where there are daily performances focused on song and dance. As of October 2010, there have been 2,072 performances, attracting a total audience of ap- proximately 510,000 people. The members are selected by means of auditions based on applications from every part of Japan. The group also performs overseas in the United States, Russia, Korea and Singapore. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF JAPAN INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION DESIGN PROMOTION OF JAPAN COURTESY ALL PHOTOS

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 26 27 I

28 ALL PHOTOS MASATOSHI SAKAMOTO they see off the ship at the start of its forty-one- its of start the at ship the off see they as shore the from waving are members family and a bigstir. the direction of the pier, singing, dancing and raising in bands colorful tossing are countries different of costumes national the wearing people young deck, the On Yokohama. in terminal Osanbashi the from away pulls leisurely Program, Youth World for Ship the January 21. A steam whistle sounds three times, and Ship for World Youth, 2011 TOPICS day journey. day “Bye-bye, have a safe journey!” Many friends friends Many journey!” safe a have “Bye-bye, of afternoon the in four past minutes five is It Fuji Maru Fuji Highlighting , carrying the 265 participants in the in participants 265 the carrying , Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY Japan un o aa o Mrh atr iiig ii and Fiji visiting after 2 March on Japan to turn re will and Pacific south the to heading is ship The Micronesia. of States Federated the and Tanzania, Oman, Chile, Mexico, including states Pacific the Central America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and from Japan and twelve other countries in South and of the program with the participation of young people year twenty-third the marks year This society. tional people with the ability to show leadership in interna from Japan and other countries, and aims to nurture people young among friendship and derstanding un mutual promotes Office, Cabinet the by sored The Ship for World Youth program, which is spon - - - - Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 FEBRUARY Japan 29 Participants pose for a photograph before the Fuji Maru departs Yokohama.

ministrator of the United Nations Development Ship for World Youth, 2011 Program (UNDP), is just one of them. Alumni associations consisting of past participants have been organized in most countries, helping to select participants and carrying out exchanges with the alumni associations in other countries.

Ship for World Youth Program participants “This program is fantastic for young people all wave goodbye as the Fuji Maru pulls away from Yokohama, January 21, 2011. around the world,” comments Luciana Yonekawa, who works for the Ministry of Education in Brazil and is presently the national leader for Brazil on the Ship for World Youth. “We have the opportunity to mingle Brisbane in Australia. On board the ship, the partici- with different cultures together, make many friends, pants will engage in a program of discussions divided and gain knowledge about other countries.” into seven different themes including cross-cultural understanding, education, and sustainable global community, give national presentations about life in their own countries, or enjoy sports and other activi- ties. The intention is also to visit universities and en- gage in exchange with local youths in the countries where the ship visits. So far, 5,880 people have participated in the Ship for World Youth program, forging talented people An “icebreaking” event held for Ship for World Youth who are active in every field. Helen Clark, former Program participants at the National Olympics Memorial Center in Tokyo, January 17. prime minister of New Zealand and presently ad-

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 28 29 MONODZUKURI Breakthroughs in Bakery

Can you name a Japanese product that has earned the gratitude of thousands of victims of major earthquakes in Haiti and Sri Lanka, and that was also taken into space on the Space Shuttle? Miho Yanagisawa introduces the product developed by Pan Akimoto.

However, some of the bread had passed its use-by date before it was delivered to the vic- tims, and was consequently discarded. An ac- Pan Akimoto President quaintance of Yoshihiko, who later told him Yoshihiko Akimoto

BOTH PHOTOS BY TADASHI AIZAWA TADASHI BY PHOTOS BOTH about the wasted bread, asked him, “Couldn’t you make soft bread that would keep well like kanpan (a sea biscuit)?” Normally, bread only remains fresh for a “That’s impossible,” was Akimoto’s first an- few days. But canned bread stays edible for as swer. The soft texture of bread and preservative Nlong as three years. This groundbreaking prod- qualities conflict with each other, and are im- uct makes it possible to enjoy the soft texture of possible to combine. bread whenever you open the can, as long as it “Kanpan and ordinary soft pan (bread) is before the use-by date. are completely different products, although The canned bread was developed by Pan their names sound similar. Nevertheless, be- Akimoto, a bakery located in Nasushiobara, tween my regular tasks, I started to experi- Tochigi Prefecture. This local bakery started to ment with production.” make canned bread following the Great With advice from a professor at a university Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which struck on agricultural department, Akimoto tried to cre- January 17, 1995. The magnitude 7.3 earthquake ate a material composition that would reduce killed more than 6,000 people and left more the deterioration of the bread dough, or the than 40,000 injured. deterioration of the starch contained within it. Hearing about this tragedy, the current He also came up with a method of baking bread president Yoshihiko Akimoto and his prede- cessor, Kenji Akimoto, thought that as bakers Business name Pan Akimoto Co., Ltd. Representative Yoshihiko Akimoto they ought to be providing bread for the vic- Capital 35 million yen tims. They trucked in more than 2,000 loaves Number of employees 45 while roads and transportation facilities were Address 295-4 Higashigoya, Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi, Japan yet to be restored. The long journey from Website Tochigi took them one and a half days. www.nasuinfo.or.jp/FreeSpace/aki_pan/English/index.html

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 30 after putting it into a can, which keeps it sterile. He also succeeded in preventing deterioration caused by oxidization by putting a deoxidizer into the can and clos- ing its lid in a sterilized room. A technique for retaining a good taste is to keep the bread wrapped with ovenproof paper while baking it. By using this method, Yoshihiko succeeded in preventing the bread from being dried out. And so, after nearly one year of trial and error, he had Pan Akimoto’s Ever Fresh Bread has a shelf life of three years. developed canned bread. The canned bread earned an excellent reputation after it was used as relief supplies 2,000 individuals, local government bodies and for victims of Japan’s Niigata Chuetsu Earth­ private companies. quake that struck in 2004 and for victims of the “Canned bread is intended for use in emer- earthquake in the Indian Ocean off Sumatra gencies such as disasters, so the best thing is that occurred at the end of that same year. not to have to open it. However, because I am a baker, I want the bread to be enjoyed by people Canned Bread Crosses Borders rather than being thrown away.” In 2007, when canned bread was being widely Akimoto’s father, Kenji, was an air force used as an emergency food by many companies pilot during World War II. He was ashamed of and local governments, Akimoto came up with having participated in the war and wanted to an idea of reusing it. He started to trade in canned contribute to the world. The wish of the father bread that would expire within a specific time. is now being taken on by his son. He sends letters to purchasers of the bread, in- In 2009, the canned bread not only crossed cluding schools, companies, and local govern- borders, it left the Earth entirely. After pass- ments, collects products that will expire in one ing the NASA test, which requires “200% safe- year, and sells them new canned bread at a trade- ty,” it was included on the Space Shuttle in price. The collected bread is then sent to areas Discovery as space food when Japanese astro- suffering from food shortages as relief supplies naut Wakata Kouichi stayed at the International by NGOs working to save people from hunger. Space Station. Buying back the canned bread allows purchas- “I felt very motivated, because that is un- ers to buy new products at lower prices and to precedented,” says Akimoto. As he continues make an international contribution as well. to take on new challenges, that motivating force Full-scale operation of the project began in is his passion. 2009. So far more than 30,000 cans have been sent overseas thanks to the support of around Miho Yanagisawa is a freelance writer.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 31 NEW TOURISM Snow Country

Bathers unwind in the hot spring on the ice at Lake Shikaribetsu ALL PHOTOS TADASHI AIZAWA TADASHI ALL PHOTOS

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 32 Tourists drink from ice glasses at the Lake Shikaribetsu Ice bar.

Snow Country During the winter season, many different festivals and Devents that benefit from cold weather and heavy snowfalls take place in the Tohoku re- gion, in and else- where, in northern Japan. We look at two wintry tourist at- tractions that draw large num- bers of visitors.

Lake Shikaribetsu Igloo Village There is also an ice bar, made of snow and ice, Lake Shikaribetsu is located in the Daisetsuzan where you can have a drink from a glass made of National Park near the heart of Hokkaido. At an ap- ice. At the ice theater, movies are projected to the proximate altitude of 800 meters, it is the highest ice screen. Concerts are held in the ice hall. You can lake in Hokkaido. In winter, it is so cold that the stay overnight in an ice lodge, also made from snow lowest temperature may fall to -30 degrees Celsius. and ice. It is said that its water freezes earlier and the ice The Kotan offers opportunities to enjoy a range melts later than in any other natural lake in Japan’s of experiences and activities, such as ice glass northernmost island. making, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling Lake Shikaribetsu is the venue for what this year is on ice. the 30th Lake Shikaribetsu Igloo Village, which runs from January 22 to March 31. A village made solely of snow and ice appears on the lake surface, which looks like a snowfield. One of the highlights of this event is the open-air hot spring bath on the ice, something that probably has no equivalent in the world. A large bath tub is placed on the frozen lake surface about 100 meters away from the bank, and hot spring water is pumped from the bank into the tub so that you can take a

bath there. The changing room is also made of snow Igloo Village on the iced-over, snow-covered Lake and ice. Shikaribetsu

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 33 NEW TOURISM BOTH PHOTOS AFLO PHOTOS BOTH

Kamakura in Yokote kura. Each is three meters high and three meters A kamakura is a snow dome created by hollowing across. In addition, many snow domes are built at out compacted snow. Originally, it was a traditional home and in the grounds of the workplace. During wintry event in the snowy areas of the Tohoku re- the festival, visitors can enjoy making a kamakura gion, in which the deity of water was honored inside with the help of the locals. In the evening, local chil- the dome. Today, kamakura are built at many events dren play inside the domes and enjoy chatting with held in different places during the winter season. the tourists. For instance, the event of building kamakura in the The city has a Kamakura Museum, where a kama­ city of Yokote in can be traced back kura made of local snow is stored in the exhibition about 400 years. For the Snow Festival in February, room, with the temperature kept at -10 degrees the local tourist association sets up nearly 100 kama­ Celsius, so that it can be viewed year round.

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 34 35 Kamakura at night in Yokote, Akita Prefecture

The Yokote City Tourist Association dispatches skilled kamakura builders with decades of experience to set up full-size snow domes made from Yokote’s snow in other regions. It also sells miniature kamakura, which are dome-shaped foam containers of 30 cm x 30 cm packed with Yokote snow.

Miniature kamakura illuminated by candles on a Yokote riverbank

Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 Highlighting Japan FEBRUARY 2011 34 35 AFLO

February 3 is Setsubun in Japan, the day when winter ends and the day before spring begins. The spring Setsubun (literally, seasonal division) is marked nationwide by a ritual in which ordinary people throw dried beans while shouting, “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” (Demons out, fortune in!). One of the nation’s grand mame-maki bean-scattering ceremonies is held at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gu shrine in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. Here Miss Kamakura, along with “men of the year,” namely those born in a year with the same Chinese zodiac sign as the current year, throw small packages of peanuts and dried soybeans to the massed ranks of fortune-seeking visitors.

FEBRUARY 2011 Vol. 4 No. 10

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