The Plastic Resource Recycling Promotion Law was passed in Japan earlier in June to address the chronic plastic problem that faces the world today. The Japanese government plan to create a system that verifies the eco-friendliness of manufacturers’...
Forest decline is one of Japan’s prevalent environmental issues. One underlying cause is the country’s rise in unmanaged forests. This surge is caused by the decrease in demand for domestic wood, leading to a lack of adequate forest management. It...
Have you ever tried Japanese denim? Denim came to Japan from the U.S. in the 1900s, and domestic denim production started in Okayama prefecture in the 1960s. Today, Okayama and Hiroshima are known as the largest producers of Japanese denim, with...
Amid the global pandemic, Japanese carmaker Toyota is now allowing eligible official workers to work permanently from home. The policy is part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, as well as to accommodate employees who are caring for small...
Fighting climate change requires both drastic reform and individual action. We can do small things in our everyday lives such as avoiding disposable products and opting for reusable alternatives, including bottles and bags. However, consumers...
Upcycling brand FROMSTOCK is back with a collaboration with carutena, a student group that also focuses on upcycled fashion. They have co-produced a series of “Double Story Bag” by utilizing leftover clothes in warehouses. These Double Story Bags...
In less than a decade to go, the 2030 goals of the SDGs are upon us, and Japan still has some catching up to do. The launch of the “SO GOOD!! Shibuya Club” is a promotion project to encourage more young people, especially the so-called...
For more than one thousand years, Kyoto has held Japan’s biggest festival, the Gion Festival. In a regular year, throughout July, more than one million people crowd into downtown Kyoto City to experience the street stalls, the towering wooden...
Green energy is essential for stopping the worst outcomes of climate change. Fossil fuels such as gas and carbon are a huge factor in global warming. The transition is not going to be easy for every country. Japan, in particular, relies mostly on...
Veg Out cafe lies along Shichijo-dori street in Kyoto, looking out to the famous Kamogawa River. It is not quite the area for tourism, yet many still visit the cafe for meals. The menu is healthy and varied, offering also volume for a satisfactory...