Due to a devastating earthquake on Noto Peninsula Island, a great number of residents, estimated at 40,000 households, were deprived of access to water even after one month had passed. Although drinking water has become more available compared to...
As cities have flourished and economies have grown, the natural elements that once contributed to our health and biodiversity have been overshadowed and pushed aside. The resulting urban environments are far from sustainable and lack a vital...
In 2018, I spent a year in Tokyo with my then 3-year-old son. At first, it was a breeze, coming from New York City. Train stations have an elevator, and bathrooms are clean and everywhere. Over time, though, I began to sense unspoken social...
“Zero waste” refers to efforts to reduce garbage produced, by keeping waste and extravagant consumption to a minimum. In accordance with the name, various municipalities and corporations are expanding their specific zero-waste activities with the...
In Japan, where the birth rate is declining and the population is aging, the problem of akiya (vacant houses) has become a serious issue in recent years. According to the Japanese government, the number of akiya in Japan increased by about 1.9 times...
A nonprofit organization “WAIKI” from Lifecare Vision Co., Ltd., operates assisted living residences for the elderly. Recently, it has launched “Ikinuki cafe,” meaning stress relief cafe, in Osaka for children going through a tough time but who do...
Nippon Telegraph and Telecommunication East Corporation Tokyo East Branch (NTT East Tokyo East Branch) is providing all evacuation shelters in Bunkyo Ward “Mieru-Tsuyaku,” a tablet device with real-time visible interpretation for the first time in...
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...
After experiencing the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, Sendai-city in Miyagi prefecture has been working on creating a disaster-resilient and environmentally-friendly city. To do so, Sendai is strengthening city infrastructure and spreading...
It is important to involve multiple stakeholders for cities to move forward with decarbonization. Hamamatsu-city, Shizuoka prefecture is leading the way with the use of renewable energy generation such as solar. Blessed with more than 2,460 daylight...