Wakeup Call: Japan’s Smoking Problem is Bad for Health, Worse for the Environment
Robert D. Eldridge, PhD, for JAPAN Forward As readers who have lived here for any length of time will recognize, Japan has been slow to…
Environment
Okinawan city begins ocean cleaning program to jumpstart tourism and heal the reefs
Okinawa – a tropical paradise, complete with year round sunshine, pristine beaches, perfect pineapples and the cheerfulness of Ryukyun locals just to the southwest of…
Get your hands on an environmentally friendly DIY daruma set
With entertainment just a click of a button away these days, it can be hard for us to connect with our more creative and traditional…
PET Bottles Abolished at Sumitomo Riko in Attempt to Improve Environmental Issues
PET Bottles Abolished at Sumitomo Riko in Attempt to Improve Environmental Issues Rubber manufacturer, Sumitomo Riko Co. Ltd made the decision to abolish sales of…
Eating Crickets to Save the World? Japanese Brand Muji’s Insect-filled Crackers to Scurry onto Shelves Next Year
With climate change becoming more and more of a hot issue these days, ecologically-conscious citizens are always on the lookout for ways ordinary people can…
Sexy Enough For Media? Environment Minister Koizumi’s “Sexy” Comment In Context
On the eve of a United Nations climate summit in New York, newly minted Japanese environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi spoke at a news conference for…
Japanese Kit Kats Promote Switch To Paper Packaging With Sending Them As Origami Messages
While Japanese Kit Kats have gained a favorable reputation for their exciting variety of region and season exclusive flavors, sometimes it’s the actual packaging of…
World’s Tallest Wooden Tower to Grace Tokyo’s Skyline and Become Tallest Skyscraper in Japan
Tokyo is adding another tower to its impressive skyline, except this one is a bit different to the others. The new building will be built…
Tokyo Now Has A Group Of Samurai Who Pick Up Trash With Their Swords
When you think of samurai, you probably associate the image of katana-wielding warriors with the values of extreme discipline and an honorable cause followed by…
An Artistic (And Hilarious) Way To Get People Out Of The Shower – And It’s For A Good Cause
Shower. Whether you are winding down after a long day, or you are pumping up for the day ahead (or anything in between), it is…
This Artist Paints Gorgeous Landscapes On Tree Logs To Spread Her Message
Alison Moritsugu is a New York artist who uses logs and stumps as canvases for her beautiful paintings to deliver a mindful commentary on our…
How To Keep Our Streets Clean? This Clever Project Is Helping Prevent Littering.
London-based organization Hubbub is currently engineering a plan to cut down on littering by encouraging people to use their trash in more creative ways. According…
Beijing Goes Blue For A Day—This Is What China Can Look Like Under A Clean Sky.
China, particularly Beijing, has gained notorious reputation for poor air quality and an overall polluted environment. However, the basis for that reputation was lifted for…