VOL. 147 August 2020 MOTTAINAI: CREATING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY 6 12 Towards the Realization of a Sound A Luxury Hotel Recycling Food Material-Cycle Society Waste An interview with Sakita Yuko, journalist For more than twenty years, a famous and member of the Ministry of the hotel in Tokyo has been turning food Environment’s Central Environment waste from within the hotel into a Council. resource. 8 An Eco-Town Where Resources Are Reused and Recycled Kawasaki’s coastal area has become a leading Japanese “eco-town,” attracting at- tention both inside and outside Japan. 14 Protecting the Pacific Islands from Waste Features Japan has been supporting Pacific island countries in Oceania for many years through activities to improve waste management. 10 New Technology for Recycling Used Clothes A Japanese venture company has developed proprietary recycling technology for discarded clothes. 4 22 24 PRIME MINISTER’S POLICY-RELATED NEWS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DIARY A Smart Relationship with New Technology for the Also Plastic Processing of Marine Plastic Waste COPYRIGHT © 2020 CABINET OFFICE OF JAPAN WHERE TO FIND US The views expressed in this magazine by the interviewees Tokyo Narita Airport terminals 1 ● JR East Travel Service Center (Tokyo Narita Airport) ● JR Tokyo Station Tourist and contributors do not necessarily represent the views of Information Center ● Tokyo Tourist Information Center (Haneda Airport, Tokyo Metropolitan Government the Cabinet Office or the Government of Japan. No article Building, Keisei Ueno Station) ● Niigata Airport ● Chubu Centrair International Airport Tourist Information & or any part thereof may be reproduced without the express Service ● Kansai Tourist Information Center (Kansai Int’l Airport) ● Fukuoka Airport Tourist Information permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through a form available at: www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/mailform/inquiry.html 2 | highlighting japan ISSUE 147, AUGUST 2020 Theme for August: MOTTAINAI: CREATING A SOUND MATERIAL- CYCLE SOCIETY he 4th Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound 16 Material-Cycle Society Mottainai Grandma Active Around was announced by Japan’s the World T Ministry of the Environment in Mottainai Grandma is a popular picture book 2018, and initiatives under the series with a protagonist who communicates the importance of taking care of things. plan are continuing apace. In this month’s issue, we spotlight a few examples and reveal how 20 the traditional Japanese trait of The Joy of Fixing Toys The Japan Toy Hospital Association is an treasuring things, captured in organization made up of volunteers who the phrase mottainai, is always repair broken toys mostly for free. to the fore. 18 Kintsugi: The Healing Power of Pottery Repair A traditional repair method for pottery known as kintsugi is growing in popularity in Japan and overseas. 26 28 30 MY WAY ENJOY DRINKING ARCHITECTURAL TREASURES New Ways to Wear Kimono The Sake of Fushimi, Made The Keep of Matsue Castle with Famous Waters PRODUCTION The Japan Journal ON THE COVER MANAGING EDITOR Sawaji Osamu Illustration from the Mottainai Grandma series of books by Shinju Mariko. In EDITORS Alex Hendy, Chiba Hitoshi, Fujita Mao the accompanying text, the grandmother character tells the boy that the water EDITORIAL SUPPORT Kiura Eriko would say “Mottainai” (What a waste!) if he left the tap running. CONTRIBUTORS Kato Kyoko, Sasaki Takashi, Sato Kumiko, Umezawa Akira Courtesy of KODANSHA DESIGN Imai Mei, Okadome Hirofumi EDITORS’ NOTE Japanese names in this publication are written in Japanese order: family name first, personal name last. August 2020 | 3 Prime Minister’s Diary JAPAN-GERMANY LEADERS VIDEO TELECONFERENCE MEETING n July 16,2020, Prime Min- ister of Japan Abe Shinzo Oheld a Japan-Germany leaders video teleconference meet- ing with H.E. Dr. Angela Merkel, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Abe paid tribute to Ger- many’s success in containing the Japan-Germany Leaders Video Teleconference Meeting spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), adding that drugs. The two leaders confirmed tion in the Indo-Pacific region and “the international order is facing that they will also work together agreed to work together to revital- serious challenges as a result of on support for developing coun- ize German-Japanese relations, as the spread of COVID-19, and the tries, including the Sahel region in next year will mark not only the responsibility of Japan and Europe, Africa, and agreed on the impor- hosting of the Tokyo Olympics and with their shared universal values, tance of moving forward with Paralympics, but also the 160th is greater than ever.” the process of investigating and anniversary of Japan-Germany In response, Chancellor Merkel reforming the WHO. The two lead- relations. began by expressing her sympathy ers also discussed the impact of the The two leaders also discussed for the disastrous torrential rain COVID-19 outbreak on the global various regional situations. On in Japan, adding that “the inter- economy, mutually explained their the matter of North Korea, Prime national community is being chal- countries’ respective economic Minister Abe sought understand- lenged as never before by COVID- measures, and exchanged views ing and cooperation for the swift 19, and I hope that Japan and on the importance of increasing resolution of the abductions issue, Germany will cooperate with each investment in innovation in terms which is a top priority for Japan other. Japan’s efforts to combat of developing a highly secure and and obtained Chancellor Merkel’s COVID-19 have been very success- reliable information and communi- support. Both leaders affirmed ful, and I hope that Germany can cations infrastructure. that they would continue to work learn from Japan’s methods.” In relation to Germany’s assump- together closely on the issue. They Prime Minister Abe expressed tion of the Presidency of the EU, also exchanged views on the global his intent to contribute to the Prime Minister Abe expressed his implications of the US-Russia dia- development and distribution of expectations for Germany’s leader- logue on arms control. The two vaccines by means of the Access ship in holding the EU Presidency, leaders expressed concern about to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accel- suggesting that Europe is stronger the enactment of the national secu- erator, while Chancellor Merkel united, and the two leaders agreed rity law in Hong Kong, stating that stated that Germany, as holder of to work together for the success of it undermines Hong Kong’s auton- the EU Presidency, would work to the G7 Summit. The two leaders omy under the “One Country, Two secure vaccines and therapeutic also exchanged views on coopera- Systems” framework. Photographs and text courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the Cabinet Public Relations Office of the Government of Japan 4 | highlighting japan Feature MOTTAINAI: CREATING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY MOTTAINAI: CREATING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY The 4th Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Material-Cycle Society was announced by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan in 2018, outlining integrated measures toward a sustainable society focusing on the 3Rs of reduce, reuse and recycle, as well as waste management, environmental restoration and international resource circulation. In this month’s issue, we take a look at a variety of public and private initiatives contributing to the realization of a sound material-cycle society. At the same time, we reveal the influence of the traditional Japanese trait of treasuring things, captured in the phrase mottainai, an expression of regret at the full value of something not being put to good use. Photos: Courtesy of JEPLAN, INC. August 2020 | 5 Feature MOTTAINAI: CREATING A SOUND MATERIAL-CYCLE SOCIETY Towards the Realization of a Sound Material-Cycle Society Sakita Yuko, A key point of the fundamental plan is the estab- journalist lishment of “Regional Circular and Ecologi- cal Spheres.” Regional Circular and Ecological Spheres is a concept by which regions can make use of their local resources, such as renewable resources and circulative resources, while taking into account regional characteristics and aiming for sustainable and active regional development. Although as far as possible, resources are circu- lated within individual regions, when that is diffi- cult they are circulated in a wider area and regions supplement and support each other. Japan is currently going through a process of great change towards the realization of a sound material-cycle society. For example, from July this year charges were applied to plastic shopping bags across Japan. This is a chance for us citizens to reform our single-use lifestyle and carefully apan is now accelerating its work towards think about recycling and reducing plastic waste. achieving a sound material-cycle society. Companies, including large manufacturers and JSakita Yuko is a journalist who has led various small retailers, are also enthusiastically working NGO activities related to environmental issues on these efforts. One large beverages producer is and who serves as a member of the Central Envi- cooperating with small retailers that put bottle ronment Council, the Ministry of the Environ- collection boxes outside their stores to make new ment, Japan. We spoke to her about Japan’s work PET bottles using the bottles collected. in this area. In the energy field too, to date large electric power companies have supplied electricity to As a member of the Central Environment Coun- every corner of Japan, but in recent years, for cil, you were involved in the drafting of the 4th example, there are movements leading to regional Fundamental Plan for Establishing a Sound Mate- vitalization by selling electricity created by power rial-Cycle Society (2018 Cabinet Decision). Could generation from biomass such as thinned wood, you please tell us about the plan’s key points and and waste products.