The number of people infected with the novel coronavirus is increasing rapidly around the world. Various measures have been taken in each country to prevent further spread of the coronavirus, including school closures, restrictions on going out and...
The city of Kobe, capital of Hyogo prefecture, and Nestlé Japan Ltd. will start a new scheme to promote ethical consumption in Japan. Earlier this month, Kobe and Nestlé collected plastic packaging waste at stores within the city to accelerate...
FamilyMart Co., Ltd., a Japanese convenience store chain, has started a new service that will improve accessibility for people in wheelchairs. The company will provide information on accessible toilets to WheeLog!, an accessibility app created by a...
Second-hand online marketplaces are becoming a common way to let go of personal stuff. However, when monetary transactions are involved, unwanted costs and friction could arise during the price negotiation process. Sometimes, you might encounter...
On 10 December 2019, Odakyu Electric Railway released ONE, a community service platform. ONE (pronounced oh-ney) is the acronym for Open Next Experience. It is a mobile application that serves as the hub for sharing economy applications. ONE...
There is a growing consciousness in people to contribute back to society in Japan. According to a poll conducted by the government in 2014, 66.1% of its participants indicated that they have the desire to contribute back to society. However, only a...
Labor shortage is growing critical in Japanese agriculture. According to a report by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the aging issue of farmers and decline of new work force are becoming more serious each year. And labor shortage is...
About half of the world’s food loss is generated by businesses, especially shops and restaurants. The losses can result from inclement weather, special events, reservation cancellations, wrong orders, or stocking excessive inventory. However, we...
One of the best ways to reduce plastic waste is to carry around water bottles. However, what happens if your water bottle gets empty and you’re still thirsty? Most people turn to vending machines—alas! more plastic waste. Social Innovation Japan has...
Camping outdoors is always fun. But booking the camp site, preparing the necessary items for camping, let alone setting up the tent, requires a lot of hard work. By the end of the day, what was supposed to be a fun, relaxing time in the wilderness...