*This article contains affiliate links. “There is a fortune in leftovers” is a famous Japanese proverb. Tofu, miso, soy sauce, soy milk, natto and other foods made from soybeans are indispensable to the Japanese diet. However, did you know...
Food waste is something you can’t avoid every time you cook. How to deal with it is an issue, especially in the summer when odors and flies can be problematic. This is where food waste disposers come in, dealing with your food garbage...
Food waste is one of many issues we need to tackle as a society. Some may already know one of the solutions lies in composting. In Japan, more than 40% of household waste is categorized as food waste. Ultimately, composting can help reduce CO2...
Preserved foods are foods that can be left at room temperature for an extended period of time and still be eaten, and they exist in all regions. Preserved foods can last longer by drying them, using salt, sugar and vinegar, or soaking them in oil or...
A power plant, Tohoku Bio Food Recycle, that generates electricity from food waste has started in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture. It generates electricity using methane gas as fuel, which is generated when microorganisms ferment food waste. The food...
Too often, food is thrown away when it could originally have been eaten. Reducing such food waste is one of the major social issues today. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, approximately 5.70 million tons of...
Paper has been an intimate part of Japanese life and culture for more than a millennium. Paper made by traditional Japanese methods is called “washi.” Handmade washi paper has a warm texture, as well as resilience and durability that...
When buying clothes, you may look for something that can be worn for many years. Clothing colored by Japanese traditional plant dyeing, “kusaki-zome,” may be just what you are looking for! Kusaki-zome is now attracting attention again in the...
The basic concept of a Circular Economy is to maintain a supply chain that follows the cycle of 1) make → 2) use → 3) reuse/recycle. This principle has been applied in the use of renewable sources in the energy industry, and in the apparel industry...
The term “composting” is one that we are hearing more and more about these days. In fact, it is an important element of Japanese wisdom handed down from generation to generation, utilizing the action of microorganisms to ferment and...