This is the venue entrance. Flags from all around the world welcome the visitors. When purchasing an entry ticket, visitors are asked to present their business cards and to also state the purpose of their visit.

The "Bologna Children's Book Fair"is a very large international children's book fair held annually in Bologna, Italy. Every year, a great number of people from all around the world involved in publishing of children's books and the multimedia industry from authors, illustrators, publishers, distributors, people involved in copyrights and patents, mass media, to librarians come to the event. First held in 1964, the Bologna Children's Book Fair (held from March 23rd to 26th this year), which marked its 47th anniversary this year, attracted over 1,200 exhibitors from 67 countries and more than 4,760 visitors.

The booth of Corraini srl, known for having published many of Bruno Munari's works, is crowded with visitors. At this year's book fair, it boasted the greatest number of books on display.

The exhibition serves as a showcase for publishers and a place where they can buy or sell rights, as well as a forum for exchanging information about the current publishing environment or trends in various countries. It also provides all experts involved in publishing with a chance to work together and create new business opportunities. Because the latest information on children's book from around the world can be found at the exhibition, there are also some publishers who use the exhibition as an opportunity for developing new business strategies. Children's book publishers from Japan such as FUKUINKAN SHOTEN PUBLISHERS, INC. and KAISEI-SHA Ltd. also took part in the event.

The booth of French publishers, Éditions Memo. Their "L'HERBIER" was nominated in the Non Fiction category of the "BolognaRagazzi Award." With a book in hand, the staff negotiates copyrights.

The event offers an opportunity for publishers to find new, talented picture book authors and a great chance for such authors to promote their masterpieces. Because new talent discovered at this book fair has lead to works being published, everyone was quite serious. There were many authors of illustrated books and authors-to-be forming a queue in front of publishers' booths with their books in their arms.

There is a board that lets authors and authors-to-be promote their works. Fliers containing authors' contact information that people can take home are eye-catching.

There is also an area where you will see on exhibit original illustrations created by illustrators from around the world. Visitors were looking at the rare illustrations with keen interest.

目次へ移動 Changing trends in the BolognaRagazzi Award?

The only award dedicated to books and presented at the Bologna Children's Book Fair is the"BolognaRagazzi Award."It is awarded to books with the best technical elements, artistic merit, and delicate balance between text and images. It is known as one of the most important and prestigious recognitions in the field because prize-winning books are widely introduced in the media and draw great attention. This year, over 1,160 books from 34 countries applied for the awards and a total of 15 books won the prizes in 4 categories - Fiction, Non Fiction, New Horizons, and Opera Prima.

You can see the books of the "BolognaRagazzi Award" winners on a large poster displayed by the entrance of the venue as well as in various other places inside the venue. This is indicative of how much attention the award draws.

The "BolognaRagazzi Award" awards ceremony. Plaques were given to the award-winning authors during the ceremony (at the Biblioteca Sala Borsa located in front of the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna).

Every year, books that enter for the awards cover a truly wide range of themes. Some depict every day life, others depict what the world looks like through a child's eyes, and others may be comical. This year, many of the books focused on nature. Out of the 15 books that received the awards, 7 of them, so almost half were about nature and ecology. One depicted animals living in harmony, another highlighted a life of a tree. One was based on Charles Darwin's research, and another was based on a dance that celebrates the changes in the seasons. Another book expressed a sample of plant specimens with illustrations. Another one focused on the lifestyle of indigenous people in India, and the last one was created using images of natural materials.

Mr. Antonio Faeti, chairman of the "BolognaRagazzi Award" committee. He was born in Bologna in 1939. After working as an elementary school teacher, he began to study history of children's literature at the Department of Educational Sciences at the University of Bologna. Currently, he teaches Pedagogy of Reading in Bologna (at the Biblioteca Sala Borsa located in front of the Piazza Maggiore in Bologna).

"I'm surprised that there were so many books on nature because this is a new trend. Perhaps, this may be a reflection that last year is Darwin's bicentenary, but I believe authors are becoming more sensitive to nature and the environment," says Mr. Antonio Faeti, the chairman of the awards committee.

Nowadays, global warming and deforestation is often discussed and featured in the media. The publishing industry, too, has begun to focus on such issues, and so there are increasingly more books that express the importance of nature or the environment. Because environmental issues must be tackled by many generations to come, it is a theme that I would also like to see communicated to children of the future through illustrated books.

So what books received the awards this year?
Let me introduce 3 books from The Netherlands, Japan, and India that won awards in the Fiction and New Horizons categories.

目次へ移動 Completing the story with your own words: "De boomhut" (Winner of the Fiction category/The Netherlands)

"De boomhut" (etching by Ronald Tolman, illustrations by Marije Tolman/LEMNISCAAT/2009) http://www.lemniscaat.nl/

"De boomhut" (etching by Ronald Tolman, illustrations by Marije Tolman/LEMNISCAAT/2009). English title, "The Tree House," was published by LEMNISCAAT in 2010.

Generally, illustrated books are a combination of illustrations and text, but there are also illustrated books without illustrations or without text. "De boomhut," winner of the Fiction category, is an illustrated book with one illustration on each double-page spread. It does not contain any text. The illustrations depict animals such as whales, bears, rhinoceros, flamingos, pandas, and peacocks that gather by a single tree, as though they have invited each other, as though they were playing music together. ("De boomhut" means, "house in the trees.")

The booth the publishers of "De boomhut," LEMNISCAAT. Publishers from many countries are negotiating for publishing rights at the same time.

Nearly half of the LEMNISCAAT booth was dedicated to the book, "De boomhut," so you can see that they are really putting their backs into its promotion.

The book came to fruition from a father-daughter collaboration: Mr. Ronald Tolman was in charge of the etching, and Ms. Marije Tolman drew the illustrations.

Mr. Ronald Tolman did the etching for "De boomhut." He also creates sculptures and paintings. (At the LEMNISCAAT booth) http://www.ronaldtolman.nl/

Ms. Marije Tolman drew the illustrations for "De boomhut." 　Her personification of animals is what makes her illustrations unique.(At the LEMNISCAAT booth) http://www.marijetolman.nl/

The judges stated that this book "pleads for an enlightened ecological stance in which an intense awareness that we are part of nature." Perhaps the judges thought that the illustrations featuring various different animals living together in one tree represent our planet where a truly diverse range of organisms lives.

Mr. Ronald and Ms. Marije say that they wanted to create a book without words so that the authors would not be telling a specific story.

"We were trying to search for a space, realistic feel, and freedom so that the story would speak for itself, so that readers could make their own stories. We didn't want to force people to think a certain way." (Ms. Marije Tolman)

「"By reading the book, the readers can see the importance of the natural environment, but we didn't want to tell them what to do or what to think. We value the freedom to allow people to talk each other, imagine, add their own words, and to invent their own story for the pictures they see." (Mr. Ronald Tolman)

Each and every individual perceives the illustrations differently and give them a unique meaning - Mr. and Ms. Tolman hope that this process will be cherished. What people discover for themselves will shine in their hearts like beacon for a long time to come. And the book, "De boomhut," which lets readers think about living in harmony with others and with nature, will provide an opportunity for us to think about the society and the environment we live in.

目次へ移動 A message conveyed in the margins: "Little tree" (Fiction category nomination/Japan)

"Little tree" (text and illustrations by Katsumi Komagata/ONE STROKE/2009) http://www.one-stroke.co.jp/

"Little tree" (text and illustrations by Katsumi Komagata/ONE STROKE/2009). The visitor turns the pages slowly as she listens to the description of the book.

"Little tree" is a pop up book, which depicts a life of a tree, as it grows from a sapling, expressing itself differently in each season, and eventually aging. The tree in various stages of life will pop up in the center of the double-page spread. There is little text, and the ample margins on each page are quite daring.

Acclaimed as "having created a serene tranquility in today's superfluous society" it was nominated for the Fiction category. Mass production, mass consumption is the mainstream nowadays, but this book is handmade, so only 50 copies may be produced per month.

It is beautiful to look at, but the author, Mr. Katsumi Komagata, proposes that readers superimpose their lives with the life of the tree, and have fun writing their own thoughts in the margins. This book has the possibility to become a proof of our existence, a book we bequeath to our loved ones.

The book expresses Mr. Komagata's following feelings.

Mr. Katsumi Komagata. He works out of Tokyo and Paris on design, publications, product design, exhibitions, and workshops. (At the publisher, ONE STROKE's booth)

"My uncle was in a coma and hospitalized for a very long time, but when he passed away in the end, I realized again how much it affects people when they lose their loved ones. If we could recognize a person's existence or understand them while they are still alive, then perhaps we would value interacting and living with other people even more." (Mr. Komagata)

"Books are supposed to change, depending on how the person uses it. I believe that it can be 'incomplete' in a way because this will give room for change." (Mr. Komagata)

A book in which readers write down their own thoughts or experiences. It will help us realize that a person's life is precious and invaluable. A book we helped complete will certainly be a treasure we will cherish throughout our lives.

目次へ移動 A comprehensive project that transcends beyond publishing: "Do!" (Winner of the New Horizons category/India)

"Do!" (text by Gita Wolf, illustrations by Ramesh Hengadi and Shantaram Dhadpe/Tara Books/2009) http://www.tarabooks.com/

"Do!", which won the award in the New Horizons category, is a book that expresses the lifestyle of the Warli tribe who live in Westen India, in the state of Maharashtra. These illustrations are drawn on the mud walls of village homes on special occasions such as weddings. The director of Tara Books, Ms. Gita Wolf, and artists of the Warli tribe, Mr. Ramesh Hengadi, Ms. Rashika Hengadi, and Mr. Shantaram Dhadpe and Ms. Kusum Dhadpe reproduced such illustrations for the book.

Warli are an indigenous minority. They believe that gods are present in nature and live by revering and appreciating nature. They harvest rice in the fields, fish in the rivers, and live in mud huts with their cattle and chicken. Their way of life, living in harmony with nature, helping one another out, is depicted dynamically, together with simple words like "Farm," "Grow," and "Dance."

"Do!" depicts the Warli way of life - tilling the soil, growing rice. The illustrations comprised of lines and simple circles and triangles, seem like a sacred magic spell or hieroglyphs.

To the publishers, Tara Books, the manufacturing process of the book is as important as its content."Do!" is silk-screen printed and hand bound. Many of the other books are also made by hand from printing through to binding. The finish is exquisite and incomparable to mass-produced books. The paper is made of recycled paper, which is also hand-made locally.

The book, "Do!" comes with a band explaining the book making process. Everything, from screen-printing, typesetting, binding, to stitching is done by hand.

Making this book has offered low-income people, who usually paint on the walls of their homes, a chance to apply their skills to making illustrated books, a different line of work. Not only does it create new jobs locally, it also has created a place where people who are involved in the book production can live and work.

*You can watch a video of how "Do!" was created on YouTube.

Books published by Tara Books are exported to countries and read by people all around the world, such as the UK and US, and they have also been translated into Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish. The project coordinator, Mr. Arun Wolf says, "People who are involved in making the book not only get income, but they also acquire great self confidence and satisfaction."

Mr. Arun Wolf, the project coordinator at Tara Books. (At the Tara Books booth)

Tara Books has not simply just published a book. This was a "comprehensive project" that communicated the tribe's way of living in harmony with nature, employed green manufacturing processes, and created jobs for the local people. I hope more and more multi-functional projects that create such a positive cycle will be undertaken in the future.

目次へ移動 Even the book making process is green

There have been many illustrated books that focused on nature or ecology. Many people may have read "The Man who Planted Trees" (originally written by Jean Giono, illustrated by Frédéric Back), or "Life Story" (written by Virginia Lee Burton). These illustrated books communicate the importance of ecology with its "content," but the books I have introduced are ecological in terms of both "content" and "method." Both the "Little tree" and "Do!" are only hand made in small quantities and thus have a value you can't find in mass produced products. So the book making process itself is green.

Moreover, Mr. Komagata, the author of "Little tree" proposes "transforming books from a medium to a product."

"For example, if books become a product that we can look at from various perspectives or enjoy just looking at, then books will no longer be just a medium that carries information. It will start functioning as a 'product.' If we create something that preserves the paper forever, a book that is like an objet instead of using paper on direct mail and other things that are thrown away very quickly, we may be able to cherish the warmth or texture unique to paper, while reducing the amount of paper we use." (Mr. Komagata)

By reevaluating the way books are supposed to be, or to create a complete manufacturing process like "Do!" - these are themes the publishing industry should be tackling in the future.

目次へ移動 A deeper understanding we gain from experiences

With technological advancement, information is being transmitted more and more via the digital media. But throughout time, there has been a role that only books can fulfill. That is a "deeper understanding" we gain from "experiences."

Understanding that shake our way of thinking or behavior to the core cannot be obtained from information, only from our experiences. "De boomhut," which lets you add your own words to compete the story, or "Little tree," which invites you to relate your whole life to a life of a tree, let you get closer to the story and to read and experience it.

Issues on sustainability we face require a long-term commitment in order to bear fruit. And because these issues are complex and difficult, a deeper understanding we gain from our experiences will become essential.

Parents reading books to their children offer a very valuable experience to both parents and children. They can enjoy each other's voices, warmth, and share time together. The warmth and texture of the paper; the natural aesthetic of the paper, which fades and yellows with time; the warmth of the handwriting on paper - these are things that you cannot experience with digital media. Moreover, paper created from trees from the world of nature is a medium that will bring people closer to nature.

目次へ移動 The power to imagine and the ability to envision a different world

A wide range of organisms lives in and interacts with the diverse environment on our unique planet. Our way of life and social activity, and the Earth's environment that supports this are all interconnected by layers and layers interlaced relationships.

But today's lifestyle makes it difficult to trace how products are created, and where they go after we are done with it. And it is not easy to realize that problems such as the destruction of nature or poverty in far away lands are related to us. In such an environment, the "power to imagine" becomes very important.

Imagination, which illustrated books nurture, will become more and more necessary in the era that we live in. The ambiguity of the margins and illustrations of the books give way to a wide range of interpretation and infinite imagination. The rich sensitivity nurtured with illustrated books will give us the power necessary to see the various relationships and interconnectivity that are getting harder and harder to sense today.

In our era, we have seen the limits of capitalism and we are reexamining what we see and value as wealth and happiness, so where are we headed and what kind of society are we going to create? 大We are facing big changes today, and in such an era, we should not try to "predict" the future based on the present. We should "envision" a world we would like to create. And we should take action to realize this future by first understanding that various situations are interrelated.

Imagination - the "power to envision a world that doesn't exist yet." This is a power that is necessary especially for us adults in this era of change. The imagination and possibility that lie in illustrated books are not only available to children. It is also there for us adults to tap into. Why not take another look at the illustrated books you read as a child?

Keiko Hoshino Biography
Obtained a masters degree in Holistic Science from Schumacher College. She was involved in communications related to the environment and sustainability at e's Inc./Change Agent, Inc. and became independent in 2010. Planned and edited the Japanese edition of an anthology of articles from the Resurgence magazine (translation of the Japanese title - "Toward an era for reconnection: Environmental thoughts and actions aiming for a sustainable society.") Currently, she conducts research on illustrated books, educational materials, and designing relationships.

A 3-hour drive from Christchurch, the largest city on New Zealand's South Island, there is a village with a small stone church situated in front of a milky blue, glacial lake. The village of Tekapo is very small with a population of mere 300. You can look out onto the lake and the beautiful mountain range that elegantly frames the lake from the church window. This view is so mesmerizing it makes you feel at peace within. Many visitors gather from around the world to take in this view.

Tekapo has been known for this resplendent landscape with the lake and church, but there is a gentleman, who created a new image for Tekapo as a "village with a beautiful starry night sky." His name is Hideyuki Ozawa and he began working in the village as a star gazing tour guide 15 years ago.

< Upper left > Tekapo, a small village with a beautiful glacial lake, means "sleeping mat" in the indigenous language of Maori. Because the water contains fine particles of rock flour created by glacial erosion, the lake shines milky white when the rays of the sun hit its surface. < Upper right > "Church of the Good Shepherd" was built in 1935 by European pioneers. The rustic, stone structure blends in well with the surrounding nature. < Lower left > Earth & Sky Ltd., which conducts star gazing tours, is located adjacent to the information center in the village of Tekapo. < Lower right > Mr. Hideyuki Ozawa, who began conducting star gazing tours in Tekapo. When he first started, it was just him and his wife, but now he has 15 staff working with him.

Tekapo is one of the best star gazing spots in New Zealand. In 1965 an observatory was built on the peak of Mt. John, a small mountain that overlooks the lake. The Mount John Observatory is the southern-most observatory in the world.

There are many stars and constellations we can't see from the northern hemisphere, the most famous of which is the Southern Cross. Depending on the time of year, the Milky Way stretches across overhead, so even if you aren't an astronomy fan, you can't help but look up and admire the stars. What's more, it is sunny many days of the year, dry, and the air is clear, and because there are no large cities nearby, there are hardly any city lights. The beautiful starry night here at Tekapo is accessible to everyone because you don't have to climb thousands of meters to gaze at stars.

Japanese astronomers have a base here as well. There are 5 telescopes on Mt. John, and New Zealand's largest telescope - the MOA-II - is operated by the Nagoya University. They are looking for planets outside the solar system and dark matter, focusing especially on the "center of the galaxy" and the Magellanic Clouds.

The peak of Mt. John (altitude: 1030m) during the day where you can find domed telescopes. Tekapo is located at an altitude of 710m, so you only have to climb a few hundred meters to reach the peak.

With Mr. Ozawa's tour, you make your way towards the mountaintop on a bus after sundown. After the veil of darkness descends, the bus heads towards the peak without any headlights. This is because headlights get in the way of star gazing. Once you reach the peak and get off the bus, you are asked to tilt your face towards the sky while keeping your eyes closed. When you finally open your eyes you are immediately swept off your feet by the breathtakingly beautiful, starlit sky. It doesn't feel like you're looking up at the stars. It is as though you have been suddenly thrown into space amidst the stars.

Mt. John's peak at night. The Southern Cross shines bright with the Milky Way in the background. You can also lie down on the floor of this building and gaze up at the stars.

As we were gazing at the stars, Mr. Ozawa said:

"When I gaze at the stars, I feel like I am bathing in the forest, absorbing the alpha waves."

Here, it's like bathing in the stars. This is an experience unique to Tekapo, where you can immerse yourself in starlight.

Although many places may be renowned for star gazing, and these places may be located far away from large cities, you can often still see the lights of large cities shining in the distant horizon. In Tekapo, stars shine bright all the way down to the horizon. When you're up on the mountain peak looking up at the stars, you get a false feeling that the stars continue endlessly, all around you, even beneath your line of sight.

But for people who live here the starry night sky is quite commonplace; it is as commonplace as the air around us. They took it for granted and did not realize that the starlit sky they enjoy every night is a very rare sight.

"What? A business based on showing people stars...?" When Mr. Ozawa began his star gazing tour, even the local newspaper poked fun at him. But gradually its reputation spread across the country and around the world, so that now there are increasingly more people especially from within New Zealand that come to experience the star gazing tour.

The Astro Café found at the peak of Mt. John. Many people come from all around the world to "experience the stars in Tekapo."

目次へ移動 But the wave of development hits Tekapo as well

Around the year 2000, the development bubble hit New Zealand. This wave rolled in on Tekapo as well, and plans to significantly expand the commercial district,, which used to be a dozen or so buildings, and residential district were drafted. This would ruin the dark starry night in Tekapo - Mr. Ozawa, who had grown up in Japan, could clearly see where this was headed.

In Japan, and in many parts of the world, many cities have and are losing the beautiful nature and unique landscape during the process of development. And Tekapo was about to head down the same path. Mr. Ozawa became quite concerned about the future of Tekapo.

Having said that, because Tekapo has been home to an observatory from long ago, it is not as though the people here had been complacent about "light pollution" that dilute the starry night. The local council had begun regulating lights a few decades ago. Now, even the street lamps have umbrellas to prevent light from spilling over, and the village uses low pressure sodium light bulbs that have less impact on star gazing. However, there are no regulations against lighting for commercial facilities, so should the business district continue to expand, the night sky will certainly become diffused with white, hazy light.

The street lamps use low pressure sodium light bulbs with umbrellas on top to help keep light spill over to the minimum.

Vehicle headlights had long been a problem. Headlights 10km away reach Mt. John's peak. The high beams of cars heading towards the mountain peak cast a clear shadow on the observatory dome walls when they turn towards the direction of the peak.When such lights hit your eyes you can't see the stars very well, even if they are shining bright above your head.

Should development be carried out apace with the momentum of the bubble, the business and residential district expand, and number of cars traveling on the roads increase, the starry night sky will be lost. Is there something that can be done to prevent this from happening? One day, Mr. Ozawa thought of an idea.

"Let's try to get Tekapo's starry night registered as a World Heritage Site."

A "starry night sky" has never been registered as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. So it seemed, at the time, a gargantuan task.

But Mr. Graeme Murray, Mr. Ozawa's partner at Earth & Sky Ltd., was very moved by Mr. Ozawa's desire to "protect the beautiful night sky."

"Those of us who grew up in the village used to take the starry night sky foiled by the pitch darkness for granted. We never thought that it could be something that could be lost. When Hide told me, I realized how precious our starry night really was. That it was indeed a heritage that we should bequeath to the next generation. Moreover, being registered as a World Heritage Site will certainly contribute to "Astro Tourism" we are trying to promote, which fuses together the science of astronomy and tourism."

Mr. Graeme Murray, Mr. Ozawa's partner at Earth & Sky Ltd.

目次へ移動 Appearance of a formidable leader

Ms. Margaret Austin, former Labour cabinet minister of New Zealand.

Mr. Murray then asked Ms. Margaret Austin, who has long been involved with UNESCO, for her assistance on this matter.

Ms. Austin was once appointed New Zealand's Minister of Research, Science and Technology. If Tekapo is registered as the world's first "Starlight Reserve," it may help encourage interest in astronomy as well as science in general among people not only in New Zealand, but also all around the world, especially children. This hope helped convince Ms. Austin to take on a leading role in promoting this movement.

"New Zealand was discovered by the Maori who arrived here on a boat from Polynesia.For the Maori, stars are extremely important; at sea, they help them navigate and on land, they serve as a calendar and show the Maori when it is time to harvest. The first white man who arrived in New Zealand, Capitan James Cook, also was lead here by the stars. Stars, which have helped build our nation, are a great legacy for the people of New Zealand."

Actually, in 2005 when Ms. Austin heard about this movement, discussions on the inclusion of astronomy in the World Heritage provisions were also taking place in the UNESCO's headquarters located in Paris.

Although the "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" states that sites with outstanding universal "historical," "artistic," "conservational" and "scientific" value be listed as World Heritage Sites, no sites have been recognized as being a World Heritage Site with outstanding universal scientific value thus far.

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences that mankind has been studying. Perhaps discussions on the registration of astronomical monuments, sites, and landscapes as World Heritage Sites are a natural transition.

Pursuant to various discussions, 5 sites around the world including Tekapo and the Mauna Kea Volcano in Hawaii were nominated as candidates for the pilot study regarding the registration of starlit skies as World Heritage Sites. In the end, Tekapo and nearby Aoraki/Mt. Cook was selected as the final candidate. Currently, Tekapo is closest to obtaining the World Heritage status.

目次へ移動 Local residents left behind

Tekapo's acquisition of the World Heritage status has become a real possibility with the involvement and leadership of Ms. Austin, who plays a key role in UNESCO and in New Zealand. However, people of Tekapo have begun to have concerns regarding this matter.

Mr. Andrew Simpson, a sheep farmer who owns a vast stretch of land in and around Tekapo, said:

"Although such a big movement to register Tekapo as a World Heritage Site was moving forward on a global level, residents had not been informed about it at all. Many people here are concerned that if things proceed as is, one day strangers may come and impose strict regulations on the villagers, and we wouldn't be able to choose our own destiny. For example, it would be a big problem for us if restrictions prohibiting development are implemented."

When I asked if he meant economic development by this he replied:

"I mean in every aspect, including economic growth, streamlining various social functions and frameworks for environmental conservation. There is no doubt that the starlit sky of Tekapo is wonderful. But, if we are told that 'the starry night sky takes precedence over everything, and everything else has to be sacrificed,' as residents, we can't just sit on the sidelines and do nothing."

< Left > Mr. Andrew Simpson who owns a vast plot of land including a 9,700-hectare farm.
< Right > Mr. Karl Burtchur, a local businessman.

Mr. Karl Burtchur, who operates various recreational facilities such as hot pools, spa, and ice skating rink, also expressed his concern.

"Because I run recreational facilities, it is not as if I'm not hoping for benefits that may result from Tekapo being registered as a World Heritage Site. Even still, I'm much more concerned about the lives and businesses of the local residents. For example, it would be seriously damaging to our business if we have to dim the lights of the ice skating rink at night. It won't be just my business that will be affected. Depending on the restrictions set by UNESCO, we would be bound hand and foot, and Tekapo wouldn't work."

So, how does the local government feel about this? Mr. John O'neill, Mayor of the Mackenzie District Council, which includes Tekapo, shared his thoughts:

"We have been taking measures to protect Tekapo's starry night sky by, for example, implementing the lighting ordinance, but at the same time, it is also important to help improve the lives of the local residents, which includes rights to undertake development."

The Starlight Reserve Committee has been organized to promote Tekapo's registration as a World Heritage Site. Mayor O'neill thought it was necessary to have a person who can represent the local residents in the committee, so Mr. Simpson was recently welcomed as a member of the committee. The dialogue between the local residents and the committee is finally about to begin.

Mayor John O'neill of the Mackenzie District Council.

目次へ移動 Can they strike a balance between development and conservation of the dark starry night sky?

The observatory was built here in Tekapo because the astronomer, Mr. Alan Gilmore determined that it was the best location for star gazing pursuant to surveys of various regions in New Zealand at the behest of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gilmore, who has been gazing at the stars in the village of Tekapo ever since the observatory was built, said:

"The village of Tekapo has grown to 3 times the size of what is used to be when I first came here. However, this doesn't mean that the stars have become 3 times harder to see. Even if Tekapo becomes a World Heritage Site and the urban district becomes larger, we can prevent light pollution by employing better lighting methods and with technological advancement."

Mr. Alan Gilmore, resident superintendent of the Mount John Observatory.

Mr. Gilmore also pointed out that large cities around the world are filled with street lamps that needlessly light up the surrounding area and do not effectively light up the desired area (e.g. roads).

"Such lighting just wastes energy. And it makes it harder to see the stars at night. Not only do light bulbs have umbrellas new lighting such as sodium light bulbs is being developed. I'm sure such technology will continue to evolve."

Both Ms. Austin and Mr. Murray said that Tekapo's registration as a World Heritage Site does not necessarily mean that all forms of development have to be prohibited and people's lives have to be bound by rules. Although unchecked development would be restricted, because Tekapo has a history and proven record of controlling lighting, even if some development takes places, people of Tekapo will be able to design a starry night sky conscious town.

Mr. Takahiro Sumi, a researcher at the Nagoya University who has been observing the stars with the MOA telescope said, "The registration as a World Heritage Site may bring about an even darker night sky."

"It is true that the starlit sky has become gradually lighter compared to 10 years ago when I started coming to Tekapo and it is starting to affect our observation activities. Preservation of the dark, starlit sky would be a prerequisite for the starlight reserve's registration as a World Heritage Site, so I hope that any future development will take the conservation of the starlit sky into consideration, for example, the lighting regulation currently only applies to street lamps, but I hope this will also be applied to commercial facilities."

< Left > Mr. Takahiro Sumi of Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University.
< Right > New Zealand's largest telescope with a diameter of 1.8m. You can shoot images of the starlit sky by connecting a large CCD camera to the telescope.

On the other hand, Mr. Ozawa is quite seriously concerned about development.

"Tekapo's registration as a World Heritage Site will be good for my business. Even still, I'm very worried that once Tekapo is registered as a World Heritage Site this area would undergo excessive development, making the starlit sky brighter and destroying nature. Depending on the situation, it may be better to withdraw our application to the World Heritage Site."

What he proposed in order to stop development may have quite the opposite effect and bring on even greater development. Perhaps Mr. Ozawa feels deeply responsible about the situation since he was the one who came up with the idea.

目次へ移動 The key to "the registration of a Starlight Reserve as a World Heritage Site" lies in the hands of people living in Tekapo

Mr. Ozawa constantly asks himself "what good will the registration of Tekapo as a World Heritage Site do to local people who live here quietly."

"It's easy for people from the outside to come in and ban lighting for ski slopes and ice skating rinks, but ice skating has been an intricate part of people's lives here in Tekapo since long ago. And street lamps that light up the dark streets at night are important for ensuring people's safety. I don't think it's right to reject the village's cultural heritage and one-sidedly demand that villagers sacrifice their lives to protect the starry night sky. I'd like to talk to each and every villager and hear about their feelings towards registration as a World Heritage Site."

Enchanted by Tekapo's beautiful nature, Ms. Debra Hunter moved here 6 years ago and she now runs a café that serves organic coffee. Ms. Hunter said:

"I'm in favor of Tekapo becoming a World Heritage Site. But I think we should find the answer to striking a balance between protecting the starlit sky and our lives, lifestyles ourselves. It would be best if we can take pride in the fact that 'we are helping to preserve the starry night sky,' rather than being ordered by someone else to do so."

Mr. Ozawa asks Ms. Debra Hunter, who runs a café, how she feels. Mr. Ozawa is not taking any shortcuts; he is meeting with many villagers in search of clues that will lead the way to the best solution.

It is also my hope that the World Heritage Sites not only preserve the landscape, nature, and townscape exactly as it appears in a still photograph,but that they also pay due attention to the lives of the people who live in those areas. Heritage that does not embrace the people - for whom is it for?

Having said that, if Tekapo's starlit sky becomes recognized as a World Heritage Site, restrictions applied by UNESCO will provide a huge umbrella framework for protecting the starlit sky, and we can hope for development involving unprecedented new ideas that takes light control and environmental conservation into consideration. On the other hand, Mr. Ozawa's concerns may be justified and the starry night sky may be lost due to development that may take place with the expected World Heritage Site registration.

So, what path will Tekapo decide to take? 　Although we received varying feedback from the people we met during our visit, the common denominator was their appreciation for the beautiful nature of Tekapo and the local community. I have returned to Japan, but I am looking forward to seeing what path the people of Tekapo will choose. It is my hope that the registration of Tekapo as a World Heritage Site will not be something that is decided by the authorities, rather, that it will be decided by the local residents who will continue to cherish and protect Tekapo's beautiful starry night sky.

The Milky Way and the Southern Cross disappearing behind the "Church of the Good Shepherd" on the edge of the Tekapo lake.

Eri Eguchi Biography

Born in 1973. She became a freelance editor and writer after working at Hankyu Communications Co., Ltd. (former TBS-BRITANNICA Co., Ltd.) and at the UK-based Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. as an intern. Author of "Bonobo - The Most Human-like Apes on Earth" and "The Meerkat Family" (published by Soensha Co., Ltd.).

Photographed by: Tsunehide Chino

The state-owned "Akaya Forest" we visited this time is located in the town of Minakami, near the border of Niigata and Gunma prefectures. The nearest station to the town, the Jomo-Kogen station, is an hour and a half away on the bullet train from Tokyo. It takes about the same amount of time on a car via the Kan-etsu Expressway, so it is fairly easily accessible from the city. There are many hot springs with a great atmosphere along the way such as the Yujyuku Onsen, Sarugakyo Onsen, Kawafuru Onsen, and Houshi Onsen, so perhaps people who love hot springs have been in the area before.

Near such areas popular among tourists, there are very advanced activities underway that aim to bring back biodiversity. Have you heard about this project?

Generally speaking, the water that comes out as hot springs is water from rain or snow from 30-40 years ago that has been accumulated and heated underground. And it is the fruit of a very rich forest (Houshi Onsen, Choujukan). Photographed by: Tsunehide Chino

The Akaya Project Map
The Akaya forest, which has various visages, is subdivided into 6 broad categories. And the management theme has been tweaked to suit each area.

1. Akaya headstream area - to restore natural forests with giant trees to protect the golden eagles' nest building site.
2. Oizumata area - to protect the vegetation. Site for research and development of text for environmental education and implementation.
3. Houshizawa/Mutakozawa area - to nurture forests where headsprings may be found and to protect the mountain hawk-eagle's nest building site.
4. Old Mikuni-kaidou (road) area - to create forests that will help transform the old road into an optimal nature observation route and to restore the river/stream environment.
5. Hotokeiwa area - to research ways in which forests may be used for traditional cultures such as creating charcoal and making tools, to support people's lives, and to communicate technologies.
6. Kassedani area - to conduct research and implement experiential ways to manage man-made forests in a new era.

Shigekurasawa, where the dam destruction project I reported on is underway, is located in area 4. And the mountain stream restoration working group of the Akaya Project is in charge of the region.

目次へ移動 Seeing and experiencing what it's like onsite

November 10, 2009 - I took part in a site inspection and went to see the dam in question. Until now, countless concrete dams have been constructed in the middle of nature, but I took part in this inspection because I wanted to take a closer look at the historical site where a dam was "destroyed" for the first time in Japan through a public-works project.

The dam, which was destroyed, is the Shigekurasawa No.2 dam located on a tributary of the Akaya River, a reservoir along the Tone River. It is the second dam when you count from downstream.

No.2 dam before construction

The deconstruction began last year in October 26, and the central portion measuring approximately 8.6m of a dam 28m wide and 9m tall was taken down. Photographed by: Tsunehide Chino

From around 1945 to 1955, 17 erosion control dams were constructed on the river and tributaries in Shigekurasawa. This dam construction frenzy was a reaction to typhoon Kathleen, which hit Japan in 1947. The typhoon killed a total of 1,000 people; 592 died in Gunma prefecture. This tragedy caused by severe mudslides is still talked about even though it happened more than 60 years ago. Back then, there were hardly any trees on the mountains due to lack of resources during and after the war, which ended up magnifying the damage, and there was also a big cave-in in the Shigekurasawa area upstream. The construction of the Yamba Dam also began as a result of typhoon Kathleen.

目次へ移動 What kind of dam is an erosion control dam??

Although we referred to all dams as just being dams, there are actually many different types of dams. Some of the main dams include "flood control dams" that adjust water levels to prevent floods, "water utilization dams" that are used to secure water and for power generation, a "multi-purpose dams" that serves a combination of these functions, and "check dams" that prevent soil erosion and mudslides.

The dam that was taken down this time was an erosion control dam. Many of you may be hearing about this type of dam for the first time, but these dams are built in compliance with the "Forest Act" passed to protect and manage forests on rivers and streams where mountainsides are in danger of collapsing after heavy rains. It is hoped that this type of dam would yield the following 3 results:

1. Stop soil erosion.
2. Make slopes more gradual to slow down the speed of mudslides should they occur.
3. Anchor the foot of the mountain (technical term for this part of the mountain is "spur").

The objective of an erosion control dam, simply put, is to "fix the mountain," so once the forest recovers, it has fulfilled its mission. Erosion control dams all around Japan have become damaged and deteriorated, but this is the first time that an erosion control dam has been intentionally taken down. On the other hand, even today, there are many dams around the country that are still mid construction.

Because erosion control dams are constructed on a remote river or stream deep inside the mountains, often times they don't involve payment of any relocation compensation. These dams serve as large sandbags in time of disaster, so the scales of these dams tend to be smaller. They are relatively easy to construct as a disaster prevention measure, so it is said that more erosion control dams have been constructed across Japan than was actually necessary.These dams badly damage the river/stream environment, but there have not been many opportunities to openly discuss their demerits.

For nature, rivers are like our blood. By flowing smoothly, they encourage the "metabolism" of the river/stream environment. Photographed by: Tsunehide Chino

目次へ移動 The turning point, Erosion Control Project

As we mentioned before, The Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J) is one of the organizations that are responsible for the Akaya Project. In the feature article, "Restoration of the river/stream environment" published in its newsletter, "Nature Conservation," (March, April 2008 edition), Mr. Goichiro Takahashi, an associate professor of Environmental Systems Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, wrote the following.

In places where disaster prevention measures have become no longer necessary or conditions have changed, we can reconsider plans to construct a concrete dam. And when reexamining the dam (for reparations or refurbishment) we can also have a think about making the dams smaller or removing them altogether. But in reality, such actions have never been undertaken (translation of excerpt).

Associate professor, Mr. Takahashi points out that "erosion control" - with traditional erosion control dams at the center - are facing a turning point since society's thinking and the law （※） is beginning to change with the times.

※　 Respective laws include the Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan (drafted in 2007) and the Law for the Promotion of Nature Restoration, which attempts to restore lost natural environments (enacted in 2003). Moreover, the "Integrated Management of Sediment" illustrates how the policies on sediment management should undergo change with a new word, "sand-flow," to prevent the erosion of river channels and coasts caused by the lack of sediment being carried down from the mountains to the sea. These are all indications of how society has begun to focus on how to allow sediment to flow rather than to cut off sediment flow with traditional dams.

目次へ移動 Walking along the river and a trail lined with pebbles

Because we had to cross mountain streams, with sneakers my feet would get wet, so I borrowed a pair of boots with spikes and quickly headed down the road strewn with fallen leaves.

Laboriously walking down the path putting one foot in front of the other.

Everyone involved in the project that took part in the inspection said, "The forest has changed quite a bit when you compare its state to what it was 50 years ago." After half a century, the mountains have begun to regain its rich nature.

Photographed by: Tsunehide Chino

We arrived at the still-intact No. 1 dam, which is farther downstream than the No. 2 dam. The green moss that covers the concrete is an indication of the dam's long history. The water from the stream fell gently.

The No. 1 dam is the same size as the No. 2 dam and was built around the same time.

The bottom of the No. 2 dam fell apart in a flood 8 years ago, sending sediment downstream. That is why there wasn't very much water in the river on the way to the No. 2 dam. A rocky, pebbly path continues for a few hundred meters (sediment path).

A long sediment path. The river flows down the edge.

We finally arrived at the site where the No. 2 dam used to be.

The remains of where the breaker took down the dam.

When we saw the remains of the dam, there was a few meters of sediment left at the bottom, and water was guided through pipes to go around the right side rather than the center of the dam where the bottom had fallen apart (construction completed by end of November).

Usually they create a path to let heavy machinery through, but for this construction, a small monorail was set up to bring necessary materials to the site. The construction was pushed back because they had found a Mountain Hawk-Eagle's nest, and the monorail was built to leave the environment in tact as much as possible.

A mini monorail that delivers materials.

There were many questions from the people who took part in the inspection about the reason why both sides of the dam have been left in place. Some were quite harsh and asked, "People may not consider this as being dismantled." Of course it would be ideal if the whole dam could be taken down, but after taking the risks of excessive outpour of sediment or the collapse of the mountainside into consideration, as the initial step only the central part of the dam has been taken apart.

Many participants gathered in front of the dismantled dam

Examples of "slit dams" with comb-like slits or fish ladders allowing migration of animals and fish or facilitating the swim upstream for salmons during spawning season are found nationwide, but such a bold attempt to remove the dam, even its foundation, was never before undertaken in Japan.

Mr. Tsunehide Chino, a NACS-J staff who has been engaged in the project for a long time responded, "Whether or not the bottom structure barricades and impounds water is the criterion for determining whether or not the structure is considered a dam. In this case, the structure is no longer a dam since we have taken down the concrete entirely from its foundation." If even the slightest part of the foundation remains, this would affect the habitat of insects flying right above the water's surface.

"Rivers should be created by rivers." 、Mr. Chino's words left a lasting impression. removing a dam will allow the water and sediment to flow freely and the river will regain the power to create its own flow.This is the primary goal of removing the dam.

目次へ移動 Striking the difficult balance between biodiversity and disaster prevention

After visiting the No.2 dam, we went back again to a point halfway between the No.1 and No.2 dams, where "protection walls" have been newly constructed as a measure to control the outpour of sediment or water in case of floods.

The concrete walls found on both sides are the protection walls. These walls have been erected between the No.2 and No.1 dams.

Low, concrete walls have been built like gates on both sides leaving a space about 11m wide in between. The protection walls have been constructed to prevent massive landslides in case mudslides occur as a result of heavy rainfall. They will continue to monitor the area over time and these walls will be "removed" once they are confident that the mountain may be safely preserved without these walls.

The mountain stream restoration working group was established within the Akaya Project in 2005. And at that time, a partnership with an organization of experts, the "research committee for the master plan for the Shigekurasawa Erosion Control Project in the area of Niiharu (Chairman: Mr. Takehiko Ohta, professor emeritus at Tokyo University)," was also created. Support from such an organization has also backed the reasoning for dam destruction since inspection by and knowledge of specialists are essential to verifying disaster-prevention measures.

The project finally received the green light when the following criteria were met: the forest had significantly recovered, there are no homes in the surrounding area that may be affected should mudslides occur, and since the No.1 dam is located downstream, it can prevent disasters, so technological development related to the dam destruction may be implemented further upstream. The aim of the project is to restore the river/stream environment and thereby bring back biodiversity, but it is clear that it is very difficult to strike a balance between restoring biodiversity and preventing disasters.

目次へ移動 New way to make decisions

Some people may consider the partial destruction of the erosion control dam as a "small step." But this project intentionally destroyed a concrete structure, which in the past were only constructed (never destroyed) in the middle of nature, by also involving the government. This means that the project will be financed by national tax, but the fact that the decision was made based on a consensus reached through discussions with local people was an enormously big step.

So, how was such a decision-making platform created?

目次へ移動 A coincidental beginning

The Akaya Project is officially called the "Biodiversity Restoration Program for the Mikuni Mountains and Akaya River." This project, which has rather a long name, is based on the agreement signed by the Kanto Regional Forest Office, Forestry Agency, NACS-J, and the Akaya Project local council on March 30, 2004.

What had created the foundation for this project were the protest movements undertaken by the local residents against construction plans for ski resorts and dams, which emerged during the bubble years. I was told that the region's relationship with NACS-J began back then. It became apparent through these movements that forests not only provide delicious water and rich hot springs, but they are also home to endangered species such as golden eagles, Mountain Hawk-Eagles, Asian Black Bears and Japanese Serows.

(Upper left) Asian Black Bear, (upper right) Mountain Hawk-Eagle, (lower left) Japanese Serow, (lower right) family of golden eagles - illustration by Ms. Misako Hirata, Forest Officer of the Forestry Agency who was in charge of the Akaya Forest from 2005-2007

In 2000, affected by the collapse of the bubble economy, development plans for ski resorts and dams were called off. Although the residents were successful in preserving nature, they did not consider it as "the end," rather they began to feel a desire to put into place a system that further preserves and nurtures nature. The NACS-J, on the other hand, was searching for a suitable location for a model case to demonstrate the process involved in restoring biodiversity for a case involving a difficult evaluation method. The interests of the 2 parties overlapped nicely, and they decided to approach the Forestry Agency with a proposal to jointly manage the state-owned Akaya Forests.

The response of the Kanto Regional Forest Office, Forestry Agency, to the proposal was better than what they had expected and the preparatory meeting was set up smoothly. The national government had lead the management of state-owned forests until then, but it was decided that any decisions regarding the Akaya Forest would require the approval of the "project management meeting" involving the members of the local council and NACS-J. Although legally, the manager of the forest is the Kanto Regional Forest Office, the authorities promised in the agreement that they will reflect the matters discussed with the Akaya Project in their program.

What lies behind the Forest Agency bestirring itself to take such an unprecedented, concerted step are the changes of the times with respect to state-owned forests. The prices of timber produced since the end of the war declined dramatically in the 1970s. And the Forest and Forestry Basic Act was revised in 2001 when the government saw that traditional policies that focused on the cultivation of man-made forests was reaching the end of the line. In this act, the government decided that it would focus more on the innate ability of the forest to, for example, protect water and soil, coexist with mankind, and ability to maintain a good cycle that provides a sustainable supply of natural resources.

Some newspapers reported that the Forestry Agency and NACS-J had reached a "historical reconciliation" since the 2 parties had clashed over logging of state-owned forests in the past. Mr. Naoya Tanaka, director of the Akaya Forest environmental preservation fureai (interaction) center, Kanto Regional Forest Office, recalls, "I had also witnessed the local people protesting against the Kawafuru Dam construction (planned by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism), so there was a growing momentum to work together for the future of forests."

目次へ移動 The voices of many people concerned about the forest

The Akaya Project is comprised of members of the core organizations and approximately 50 to 60 volunteers in the Kanto region who are recognizable by the matching hats. In the Akaya forest, there is a work shed, which was used in the past to grow seedlings for man-made forests, and this is now called "Ikimonomura (living creature's village)" and is used as a base for the project's activities. Volunteers gather here on "Akaya day," which takes place every first weekend of the month to carry out various activities such as research on living organisms that inhabit the forest, communicating with the local people, as well as traditional charcoal making. The voices of many people concerned about the forest are helping to further enrich the project.

The illustration by Ms. Hirata depicts how the children of the local elementary school, Sarugakyo Elementary School, learn about nature while playing in the area near the "Ikimonomura."

"The processes of coming up with ideas for a new system, attitudes for getting involved, how to get a consensus, or knowing what we should think about when a problem occurs so that we really do end up thinking about the core issue; these processes themselves serve as a model case" says Mr. Chino.

Mr. Chino of NACS-J

Because removal of an erosion control dam is unprecedented, there is no established evaluation technology. In addition, there are no decision criteria for biodiversity either, so they will continue to carefully monitor and collect data of endangered species, conditions of the forest and sediment along the river as well as insects and fishes. Everyone involved in the project share the hope that one day they will be able to say, "That was a significant step" in 5 to 10 years from now. The members aspire to establish the Akaya Project as a model case for management of the erosion control/check dams around Japan that have become decrepit over time and require renovation.

目次へ移動 Taking hints from the relationship between man and forest

Ms. Yasuko Mochitani , the okami (female maitre d'hotel of ryokans ) of the Sarugakyo Hotel and a leading storiologist from the village formerly known as Niiharu (currently the town of Minakami), shared a story she heard from a local elderly woman born in the Meiji Era.

A golden eagle flying over the forest Photographed by: Jyo Takano

One day in May during rice-planting season, a young mother made lunch and headed towards the rice fields. She left her baby by the edge of the rice field and began to plant. She kept checking on the baby while she planted the rice seedlings, but she became engrossed in her work and took her eyes off her baby. Just at that instance, a huge eagle swooped down and swept the baby away.
"Oragakakko (My baby)!!" The young mother hurried after the eagle with her muddy feet but she couldn't find her baby. The young mother continued to cry out "Oragakakko" as she looked for her baby, and at last she turned into a cuckoo (in Japanese "kakko" means a cuckoo).

Ms. Mochitani says, "Cuckoos actually come to the rice fields in May even today. They fly very low over the fields as if they are looking for something." The muddy feet of the mother searching for her lost child come from cuckoos' marbled colored feet. Though it is not explicitly stated whether the eagle that took the baby away was a golden eagle or not, the story depicts how people perceived the big eagle in their daily lives and you can even picture what life must have been like back then.

For example, Mr. Chino says,"Thinking about what golden eagles mean for the people in the region ultimately leads to power that will help protect the region." I was impressed by how carefully they study and respect the relationship between the local people and the forest.

The task in the future is to realize the hope of the local people to "restore the forest to its original state." The local council thinks that they "only represent a small group of people in the region" since the town is not proactively involved in the project yet. This is just the beginning.

目次へ移動 Instead of a conclusion - timeline for disaster prevention

Taking part in the inspection, I came to realize how difficult it is to "communicate" what it means to remove a dam. It takes time before we can see tangible effects of restoring biodiversity, and such "effects" are not necessarily beneficial for us humans in a way that we can easily understand. I felt that it is difficult to give a clear overview of the project with immediacy, for example, such as publishing it in tomorrow's paper.

Dams were constructed in places from where the forest has disappeared
→ Then, the forest was restored over a long period of time
→ Dams have become no longer necessary.

The removal of the dam was determined based on such a long timeline, but I thought this sequence is very important. It made me realize how we don't normally look at "disaster prevention" measures with such a long time-span in mind. In other words, we don't usually come up with sustainable "disaster prevention" measures after carefully thinking about the relationship between man and forest.

No.2 dam after removal is completed. Photographed by: Tsunehide Chino

Mr. Chino told us that "it's impossible to set a goal for the Akaya Project." Everyone involved in the project estimates that it would take a longer time than their own lifetime to restore the forests and biodiversity to the original state. I thought that understanding and sharing such timeline is the first step. I also began to think that we should listen to what nature is trying to tell us over and over again, and build consensus carefully based on what we learn from nature, and although it may be frustrating at times, making such on-going efforts is what lies at the heart of the mission of the pilot program, Akaya Project.

Photographed by: Seiichi Dejima

Links
NACS-J - THE NATURE CONSERVATION SOCIETY OF JAPAN
Akaya Project

Mitsuko Iwai Biography
She has worked for a local museum/news paper publisher before she became a freelance writer. In 2002, she became involved in publishing a book of record of government's cultural programs and became intrigued with the ideas and lifestyles in the various regions that are passed down from one generation to the next. In 2004, she published the first issue of "Satomi Tsushin" which focuses on the theme, fixed-point observation of farms and farmers. She is also an as an editorial staff for the Earth News for the Think the Earth Project. She currently lives in Takasaki.

Currently, the "Bento Day" initiative is spreading to elementary and junior high schools across Japan. Although there have been schools that had implemented their own "Bento Day," it was usually the parents who made the lunch boxes. What we will be introducing in this report is "Bento Day" where children take the initiative. This means that children do everything from planning the menu, shopping for ingredients, cooking, cleaning up, to packing the food into a lunch box on their own.
The idea originated from Takinomiya Elementary School in the town of Ayagawa in Kagawa Prefecture in 2001. The very first year, a total of 126 students from 5-6 grades who had learned the fundamentals of cooking in domestic science class wanted to challenge themselves by making their own lunch boxes 5 times a year; everyone enjoyed eating their original lunch boxes.
Children prepare their lunch boxes in the kitchen from early morning. It may seem like an easy task, but it is actually quite "hard work" for families nowadays. Mr. Kazuo Takeshita, then principal of Takinomiya Elementary School, says that the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) members immediately rejected the "Bento Day" idea when he proposed it saying, "I've never let my children touch the gas valve or kitchen knives because it could be dangerous." or "I don't think they can wake up that early." It seems that there were also parents who thought there is no way they can let their children occupy the kitchen at such a hectic time of the day.
However, this year, 9 years after Takinomiya Elementary School first started the movement, the "Bento Day" has begun to spread nationwide. As of the end of November 2009, there are 557 schools including universities in 37 prefectures that are taking part. In Utsunomiya City, the local government has implemented the "Bento Day" at all 93 elementary and junior high schools under its jurisdiction last year; the "Bento Day" takes place a few times a year and approximately 40,000 students take part.

Mr. Kazuo Takeshita, an advocate of "Bento Day".

Back to Table of Contents Stories behind the movement

So, why are more and more schools starting to adopt "Bento Day," even though it was thought at first to be "hard work"? We had a chance to learn about the various reasons in detail at the first national exchange program organized by Mr. Takeshita, which took place in Kagawa in late October 2009. 140 people who support the idea including 61 locals such as teachers and the town mayor who provided support in carrying out the initiative, PTA members, alumni, and Women's Club members, and 79 people from various educational organizations, governments, and agricultural organizations as well as midwives from all over Japan attended the event. I also took part, too.

At the beginning of the event, Mr. Takeshita shared a great story with us. The theme for the first "Bento Day" conducted by a school in Saga Prefecture was "thank-you lunch box." A girl in 6th grade woke up at 5:00 am and prepared 3 lunch boxes. One for her father who was going back to Osaka where he works during the weekday away from his family; one for her grandmother who was staying in the hospital; and one for herself to bring to school. Her parents, who were told not to help, sat at the dining table and watched her prepare these lunch boxes on her own. After eating the lunch box made by his beloved daughter on the bullet train, the father called his wife during his lunch break from work and said, "Please tell our daughter I said thank you. It was so delicious and made me so happy that I cried while I ate." When her grandmother received the lunch box, she told the mother in a tearful voice, "I have made so many lunch boxes in my life, but this is the first time someone made one for me. It was delicious."
The girl, Michiko Honda, is now a second-year junior high school student. She also took part in the event. She told us with a smile, "Because my family was so happy that I made them lunch, I really enjoy cooking in the kitchen now." Her mother, Emiko, recalls how important it was to trust children and be there for them if they ask for help. "The children are willing to do it on their own and actually they are very capable if we leave them to it. It made me realize that we, adults, were not aware of that fact."
Stories about "Bento Day" such as this one continue to emerge from other schools and homes.The movement has spread because parents, who came to realize that children exhibited the potential for "growth" in the kitchen, changed sides and began to support and encourage "Bento Day."

Back to Table of Contents "Bento Day" changes how we spend time at home

Implementation of "Bento Day" will change how we spend time at home.For example, the family may eat leftovers such as fried eggs or fried chickens made by children for breakfast and there may be more conversation during meals, i.e. talking about how the children cooked the meals. Children may begin to hang around in the kitchen before they get called to the dining table or the children may prepare the meal when their parents are busy or sick.
Ms. Michiko Uchida, a midwife in Fukuoka Prefecture, learned about the movement 3 years ago and has been supporting it ever since to get more children across Japan involved. She shared with us her thoughts about the significance of "Bento Day". "What is common among youths that repeatedly face sexual issues such as STDs, teenage pregnancy, and abortion is lack of communication within the family. Because they feel that they have no place in their home, they seek relationships with others, even with men who only want to get close to them for sex. I believe that "Bento Day" has the power to completely uproot and change such situations." Currently, Ms. Uchida gives lectures on "life" rather than sex education. She always talks about how important the time you spend with your family at home is, as well as about the "Bento Day" initiatives.
Although many have talked about how important family time is for children's growth, it is very difficult to make sure that such "valuable time" is once again part of our lives. "Bento Day" is a tangible measure that helps us get such times back.

Back to Table of Contents It all started from "appreciation for school lunches"

There are some people who ask if this movement is a statement against school lunches. But it is actually completely the opposite.Mr. Takeshita thought of letting children cook their own lunch boxes, so that they will begin to develop a sense of appreciation for school lunches.
When Mr. Takeshita attended a conference held by the school lunch association as the principal of his school, he learned that delivering lunches to schools involved a great number of staff and tremendous effort on their part throughout the process - from food control, menu planning, cooking, to delivery. But he felt that the children lacked appreciation for these people behind the scenes. That is when he thought "Then, let's make the children do everything from choosing the ingredients to cooking on their own" to help raise their awareness.
Children who have experienced "Bento Day" have become aware of "how much work it takes to prepare meals every day." Many of the students began to eat even their least favorite dishes and significant decrease was noted in the amount of school lunch leftovers at Takinomiya Elementary School. Also, at the Kokubunji Junior High School in Takamatsu City, where Mr. Takeshita was transferred to afterwards, and the Ayagami Junior High School in the town of Ayagawa, where he currently works as the school principal, there have been "almost no leftovers" ever since they implemented "Bento Day."

Back to Table of Contents Various different approaches are being taken

At Takinomiya Elementary School, the school principal made a top-down decision with respect to the implementation of "Bento Day," but I learned that each school that participated in the exchange program has implemented their own unique approach that suits their needs.
When Mr. Yoshihiro Imanasu, an elementary school teacher in Fukuoka City, first learned about "Bento Day," he had second thoughts about implementing it at his school. He thought, "I can't make the decision to stop school lunches because I'm not the school principal." When he was considering the possibility of putting "Bento Day" into practice, an idea occurred to him - "Let's use the days students go on excursions or field trips since there won't be regular school lunches anyway."。
Since he taught third grade, which didn't include domestic science class in the curriculum, he proposed a "course-based Bento Day." It let children select a course from the following 4 options (it was named "Imanasu style"): A "perfect course (children prepare lunch boxes alone)," "recommended course (children prepare lunch boxes with help from their parents)," "basic course (children make onigiri [rice balls] and help pack ingredients into the box)" and "entertainment course (children express their appreciation for the person who made the lunch box as much as they can).
On the first excursion day, 95% of his students decided to have a go at either the "perfect course" or the "recommended course." But with each excursion, more and more students began to prepare lunch boxes on their own. Mr. Imanasu said he was impressed when he found students who brought lunch boxes prepared by themselves even on sports day.

(Upper left) Exchange program attended by people from all over Japan, (upper right) Michiko Honda and her mother; (lower left) Ms. Michiko Uchida, a midwife; (lower right) Mr. Yoshihiro Imanasu, the proponent of the "Imanasu style."

Utsunomiya City, which adopted the "Bento Day" initiative for all students in its elementary and junior high schools, set a goal for every student, which was "to be able to prepare your lunch box all by yourself by the time you graduate from junior high." In other words, the city introduced "Bento Day" as a "9-year plan" to be carried out from elementary to junior high school years.
The "Bento Day" movement, which is gaining popularity among university students, begun from the "potluck lunch box system" proposed by students of the Kyushu University (Fukuoka City). They decide on a theme each time such as "dishes made of ingredient that starts with the same alphabet as your name" or "foods under 100 yen," and students eat each other's lunch boxes on campus. Assistant Professor Goshi Sato who has been supporting the students' "Bento Day" initiative says, "When students start making food for others, they will begin to focus more on the quality of the ingredients rather than low costs. They will also start to look more for local foods and safe foods as much as possible. A country's food self-sufficiency is not something that you raise. It is something that 'rises.'"
The "Bento Day" initiative continues to produce meaningful results because it can be implemented in various different ways depending on the situation.Mr. Takeshita comments, "I'm often asked for advice on how to implement "Bento Day," but only they can find the answer to their question. I believe that the process of finding a way to overcome difficulties is the most important part, so it would be a shame to simply rely on others."

Back to Table of Contents Dealing with a "pitiful situation"

"At some homes, parents don't cook. Wouldn't "Bento Day" be cruel to those children?" Such concern may be an obstacle to implementing the idea. But Mr. Takeshita says,"It would be much worse to leave them in such a pitiful situation. If the parents can't cook, why not help teach the children how to cook on their own? It will be something they can cherish over a lifetime and parents would appreciate it, too."
At the exchange program, I had the opportunity to hear about personal experiences that well paint what we can expect to see in the future. Ms. Kayoko Mizusawa, a school clerk at Ayagami Junior High School, was brought up by her mother who imposed very strict rules when it came to chores. She and her 2 siblings shared the responsibility of preparing breakfast for the family and they were not allowed to eat if they neglected their chores. One day, the day before the high school entrance exam, she asked her mother, "Can I get a break from cooking at least today?" Ms. Mizusawa can still remember how her mother scolded her saying, "You can't take life for granted. You have to do what is necessary to live your life." Her mother passed away during Ms. Mizusawa's last year in high school. Since then, she and her siblings have been running the house smoothly by themselves and she came to appreciate how her mother hand taught them how to cook by themselves. "I feel very fortunate to have learned how to cook. I appreciate what my mother has done for us and, now that I have become a mother myself, I am teaching my children the same lesson."
At the meeting participants earnestly discussed what adults should really do in order to protect children.

Back to Table of Contents Cultivating the sense of value that "it's cool to try hard"

On the next day of the meeting, I went to sit in on "Bento Day" held at Ayagami Junior High School (a total of 135 students) where Mr. Takeshita currently works as the school principal. The teachers brought their own lunch boxes, too. In one classroom a teacher was taking photos of each lunch box made by the students of the class, while in another classroom, a teacher was taking a group photo of all her students' lunch boxes together. The entire school seemed to be filled with excitement. Some students were peering into the box before opening the cover while some answered with a shy smile when a friend asked if they could exchange some food.The children seemed to be more excited and filled with anticipation than at regular school lunch time.
None of the teachers asks if the children actually prepared the lunch boxes on their own. Some parents help their children even if the children want to cook on their own, but the school doesn't think that it's important to know the truth. The classmates would know whether other students have actually made the lunches by themselves or not when they talk to them or when they watch their reactions. If there are any students who didn't cook their lunch on their own, they would think that the classmates who made theirs alone are cool and would regret not having done so themselves. Then, they would secretly promise to prepare their lunch alone next time. "It's cool to try hard." "It's cool to stand on one's own feet." I felt that such values were being nurtured at the school.

The moment students open their lunch boxes is really exciting. (Ayagami Junior High School)

The teachers also bring lunch boxes. Both teachers and students have big smiles on their faces! (Ayagami Junior High School)

The theme this time was "colorful lunch box." A wide variety of unique and colorful lunch boxes were brought in. (Ayagami Junior High School)

Back to Table of Contents Older students help encourage the "power to grow"

I had a great time at Ayagami Junior High School's "Bento Day". Since I was only there for one day, it is hard to say how the students have grown. But I thought that I caught a glimpse of the students' growth at the student choir contest held in the school gym after lunch.
The annual school festival was being held. Parents, families, and local residents gathered to watch the students perform. The first thing that impressed me was that the students who had gathered in the gym were not whispering to each other. All the students were sitting straight in their seats looking forward. So there weren't any teachers going around disciplining the students. Although it may be the proper way to behave, we rarely see such behavior at elementary and junior high schools nowadays.
I was also amazed by their performance. The second year students sang better than first year students, and third year students better than second year students. All students stood up on stage holding their heads up high. None of them seemed shy or embarrassed; they stood tall. The younger students added energy to the mood by cheering and applauding the third year students while they performed on stage, but everyone quickly went back to their seats and listened quietly once someone started speaking. I was surprised to hear that some of the students couldn't even sit still when they first came to the school.
I thought the "key" to success was included in the closing speech given by Mr. Takeshita. "I was amazed by the third year students' chorus. And the first year and second year students watching the third year students had such beautiful eyes. They may have thought this is what they needed to be like by the time they start their third year." Next year, the first year and second year students will be playing a key role in school activities. I believe that third year students proved themselves great role models for second year students by stimulating their "power to grow."

Students in Ayagami Junior High School put on a superb performance with their amazing voices.

Back to Table of Contents "Bento Day" as a "rite of passage"

Actually, a similar measure has been adopted at the Takinomiya Elementary School in order to stimulate the children's "power to grow". That is, the "Bento Day - Show and Tell", which was started by Ms. Keiko Suezawa who became the school principal after Mr. Takeshita left. Children in lower elementary grades who still don't make their own lunches look around at the lunch boxes of students in upper grades, right before lunchtime so their stomachs start to growl!
This had a great impact on the younger students. Inspired by the older students, they thought, "I would also like to become a cool fifth grader who can make a delicious lunch box," and began to hang around their parents in the kitchen so they can learn how to cook. After 9 years since its initiation, "Bento Day" has taken root as a "rite of passage" into adulthood and children in the Takinomiya Elementary School are improving their cooking skills year after year.

Currently, children in Takinomiya Elementary School present their lunch boxes using large screen TVs.

Children write comments on friends' lunch boxes. Teaching styles differ depending on the classroom. (Takinomiya Elementary School)

Mr. Takeshita talk to children eating their lunch boxes. (Takinomiya Elementary School)

Back to Table of Contents Six dreams encompassed in "Bento Day"

"I believe that if we can pass down the 'DNA' of a 'good fun family meal' to children, it may continue to be passed down to children 100 years from now." Mr. Takeshita hopes to transform the environment in which Japanese children are raised in through the "Bento Day" initiative.Lastly, I'd like to share the "6 dreams encompassed in Bento Day" that also touches upon this "DNA" that Mr. Takeshita would like to pass down to the next century.

1. "Family meals" becomes commonplace
2. Children will be able to recognize "life" that is present in food
3. Refine children's sensitivity
4. Children will learn to enjoy being appreciated
5. Children will see things with a sense of appreciation
6. Children will see the future with more clarity

If we recognize that there are difficulties and uncertainties present in the society we live in today, it is the adults' obligation to help nurture the next generation, so that they will not have to experience the same issues. Mr. Takeshita would like to change the future of Japan by getting kids into the kitchen, and he would like to get more and more adults that will help the children who are right in front of them to join this movement. By doing so, I believe that the "DNA" will continue to be relayed from people to people and, eventually, become the power that will open up a new future for many around the world.

Author profile
Miho Watanabe
Joined The Nishinippon Shimbun in 1997. Member of the "Shokutaku no mukougawa (Beyond the dining table)" team since 2003. Her work as a reporter made her reexamine her own dietary habits and improved her physical condition. She left the company in June 2006 to live with her husband who often gets transferred to different regions. Currently, she resides in Tokyo and works as a contributing writer for the Nishinippon Shimbun as well as a freelance writer.

I was able to write this report by taking part in the Tohoku University Ecosystem Adaptability Global COE Program consortium led by Professor Tohru Nakashizuka, who kindly supervised the publication of our book, "Ikimonogatari." The key objective of this program is to provide doctoral students with opportunities to visit forestry ecosystem so that they can conduct research onsite as part of their graduate education. The destination was Borneo, the 3rd largest island in the world. The program was comprised of various content including the inspection of an FSC certified forest, which is still rare in Southeast Asia, as well as lectures on forest policies of the Sabah and Sarawak states, but in this report, I would like to mainly focus on the current situation in the lower reach of the Kinabatangan River located in the state of Sabah in northeastern Borneo. As one of the writers of the "Ikimonogatari," I introduced conservation activities being undertaken in the area, but this was my first trip to Borneo. I was astounded by what I saw and learned there.

Back to Table of Contents Oil palms stretch all the way to the horizon

When I arrived in Malaysia, I was truly stunned by the vast oil palm plantations that stretched out to the horizon. When you look out of the airplane window, at a glance it looked as though the land is endowed with rich, green nature, but it is actually covered with a single type of plant. When you get closer to the plantation, you will see that there are hardly any insects or birds near the oil palm trees. I was told that there are rats that come to feed on the fruit and cobras that prey on these rats, which seemed like quite a savage food chain.

The oil palm plantation stretches as far as the horizon.

The plantation looks like a very rich, green environment at first glance but

Why has the palm oil industry expanded? There are several reasons. Its yield per unit area is far higher than any other vegetable oil, it can be harvested year round, it is inexpensive, and unlike petroleum it can be reproduced and does not become depleted. As you can see, its advantages as a resource are the main reason why the industry has expanded exponentially. There was even a time when people believed that palm oil plantations were "environmentally friendly" because although the tropical rainforests may be cut down to make room for plantations, you are still planting vegetation that absorbs CO2. Today, it has taken the lead with respect to global vegetable oil production, only second to soy oil. As a result, the total surface area dedicated to plantations in Malaysia was only 1 million hectares in 1980, but by 2008 it had increased to 4.8 million hectares (according to the MPOA). This is more than 20 times the area of Tokyo prefecture. Japan imports 550,000 tons of the 15.4 million tons of palm oil Malaysia exports annually. Globally, 38 million tons of palm oil is produced, so it has now become a mega industry and a significant part of the world economy.

Fruit cluster (bunch) of an oil palm tree.

The oil palm fruit and its cross section.

Oil palm trees grow to a height of approximately 20 meters and produce about 10-12 clusters. A few hundred fruit can be collected from each cluster that can weigh more than 30kg and both the fruit and seeds contain high volume of oil. 　 Since the quality of oil palm fruits deteriorates immediately after harvest, they have to be processed within 24 hours. That is why oil mill factories must be located near plantations. In addition, you need at least 4,000 hectares of land to have an economically viable factory. And this is why much of the land has been transformed into plantations.

A palm oil factory in Sarawak. Trucks transporting fruit clusters of oil palm trees arrive at the factory one after another.

A row of massive tanks.

Palm oil has become an intricate part of our lives. More than 80% of food products such as snacks, chocolate, ice cream, frozen food, instant noodles, and margarine contain palm oil. Soaps, detergents, cosmetics, and candles are examples of non-food products containing palm oil. There is probably not a single day that we don't come across or eat anything containing palm oil. Although Japan's consumption of palm oil is lower than that of Western countries, the annual average per capita palm oil consumption is said to be 37 liters.

Back to Table of Contents Orangutans in danger - a tragic wildlife sanctuary

Expansion of the palm oil industry is driving wild animals in the tropical rainforest to extinction. For example, in the lower reach of the Kinabatangan River in the state of Sabah in northeastern Borneo, wild animals including orangutans are on the verge of extinction. This region was once covered by lush tropical rainforests, but the forests have been divided into fragments due to the expansion of oil palm plantations. As a result, wild animals in the rainforests have been confined to a much smaller habitat. Animals need a certain amount of space in order to survive. Living in a small forest makes it more difficult for them to find enough food and mating partners. Orangutans are one of the endangered species. It is said that wild orangutans require more than 70,000 hectares of forest to survive. According to the survey conducted in 2003, there are currently 1,125 orangutans living in the 27,000 hectares of protected land. The Cardiff University researchers estimate that if forests continue to become fragmented, 95% of the orangutan population will become extinct in 50 years time.

The Kinabatangan River.

We took a ride in a boat to observe the wild animals that live along the river. There, we encountered the original inhabitants of the forest. We saw many animals such as orangutans, crab-eating macaques, Asian house martins, kingfishers, red leaf monkeys, crocodiles, Borneo elephants, gibbons, and proboscis monkeys. We were told that we were particularly lucky to have run into so many animals, but relatively speaking, you can observe many wild animals in this area and so eco tours of the region are quite popular, and there are numerous cozy lodges or camping sites being built along the river.

Animals we encountered: a male orangutan (upper left), proboscis monkey (upper right), kingfisher (lower left), and hornbill (lower right)

But why can we see such a wide variety of wildlife here? There is a sad story behind it. If you look carefully, although some woodland remains along the river, you can see that the plantation is closing in. The animals have fled to this narrow strip of forest to find a place to live and that is why you can find a wide range of animals along the river. Some oil palms are also being planted illegally in the protected areas. If you visit this place without knowing the circumstances, it may seem like a sanctuary for animals surrounded by a rich waterfront and forests, but it is actually a tragic sanctuary to which we, humans, have forcefully confined the animals to. The orangutan in the photo is the last male left in this area.

Plantations closing in on the river.

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A satellite image of the Segama River basin located south of the Kinabatangan River; wildlife extinction is also a concern in this region. You can see from the image how the forests are concentrated in a narrow area along the river and how the fragmented forests have become isolated, surrounded on all sides by the vast plantation, like small islands in the sea.

A male gibbon calling wistfully for a female on the other side of the river. Because forests have become fragmented, they cannot meet in person (or rather, gibbon). Drainage from plantations or rivers becomes natural barriers for gibbons, a species of primates, like orangutans, that cannot swim. So the inability to find a mate on the same side of the river leads directly to extinction.

Back to Table of Contents Reinforcing the green relationship - activities of the Borneo Conservation Trust

Borneo Conservation Trust (BCT) is an NGO engaged in conservation activities of wildlife in the lower reach of the Kinabatangan River. Dr. Toshinori Tsubouchi, a representative of Borneo Conservation Trust Japan (BCTJ) and associate professor of Seisa University, says, "What we (people in developed countries) think is convenient and useful in our daily lives is actually causing the rainforests to become fragmented and isolating the animals. I want people to be aware of this fact because I believe that not being aware of the truth is, in a way, a sin."

Dr. Toshinori Tsubouchi, Chief Operating Officer of BCTJ.

BCT undertakes a wide range of activities. Dr. Tsubouchi, who was a veterinarian, wants to establish a wildlife rescue center. Having run out of food in the narrow strip of forest, wild animals such as Borneo elephants sometimes wander into the plantations looking for food. These animals get caught in traps set by workers who attempt to supplement their low income by obtaining wild animal meat. Dr. Tsubouchi would like to rescue such animals rather than stand by doing nothing and watch them die. BCT is also calling for the creation of "Green Corridors" by re-connecting fragmented forests thereby helping prevent the extinction of wildlife. This plan aims to purchase back plantation land, restore the forest back to its original state, and to create pathways for animals by connecting fragmented forests together. It is said that we can help avoid wildlife extinction by purchasing 20,000 hectares of land along the Kinabatangan River and the Segama River in the south and creating these corridors. According to the research conducted by the Cardiff University, we can reduce the risk of orangutans becoming extinct in 50 years time to 5% by building green corridors. The land costs approximately 1.2 million yen per hectare (as of September 2009). There is still a long way to go to, but the number of sponsors is increasing thanks to the efforts of Dr. Tsubouchi and other members, and so they have been able to buy back plantation land little by little (currently, they are raising funds for Lot 3 and Lot 4). In addition to purchasing lands, as part of its efforts to connect fragmented forests, BCT is also undertaking the "bridge of life" project, which builds suspension bridges for orangutan in places where the river is narrower with the help from zoos and bridge architects in Japan.

A suspension bridge constructed in April 2008 using fire hoses. Unfortunately, there has been no report of an orangutan crossing the bridge so far.

I saw a Proboscis monkey crossing the bridge during our visit. So this fire hose bridge is successfully fulfilling its role to connect the forests. If we could only get an orangutan to cross it!

Back to Table of Contents Developing a sustainable palm oil industry

There are companies that have become aware of the environmental problems caused by palm oil and have begun to take action. Saraya Co., LTD., a soap and detergent manufacturer, took part in the establishment of BCT and has been supporting its activities ever since. Saraya has promised its consumers to donate 1% of the proceeds of "Yashinomi," the company's representative botanical detergent, to BCT's "Green Corridor" project and is implementing various initiatives including the "bridge of life" project for orangutans and activities to save injured Borneo elephants. You can see how serious Saraya is about its commitment through other initiatives such as the "Borneo Investigation" activities where selected consumers report about what they saw onsite during the inspection and share that information on the website. According to Mr. Hirotsugu Daishima, director of BCTJ and General Manager of Marketing, Advertising and Publicity Department of Saraya, who has guided us in Borneo together with Dr. Tsubouchi, the company is striving to strike a balance between its business and biodiversity conservation by reexamining the way palm oil business should be conducted through these activities.

An example of a more international commitment is RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil), which was formed in 2004 backed by the WWF. It brings together companies that are part of the palm oil industry, NGOs, and governments to brainstorm about making the palm oil industry sustainable for both humans and wildlife. Although discussions just started, if certification platforms and other measures come into place, it may give consumers the option to choose products made with environmental-conscious oil. As of 2009, 6 companies including Saraya from Japan have joined RSPO.

It is not realistic to stop oil palm production right this minute. As the world population grows and people's lives become richer, consumption continues to increase. How do we strike a balance between meeting the needs of the world economy and conservation of biodiversity, which is absolutely essential? We must also take into consideration the local economy that supports the lives of the local people. Dr. Tsubouchi emphasizes that in the field you can't just think and theorize in your head when taking action. There are people who attempt to inhibit forest preservation using force and there have been cases where people have been wounded or killed. Standing there at the actual site, I was blown away by the complexity of the problem. I very much admire Dr. Tsubouchi and other members' passion and dedication; they refuse to give up and continue to make headway despite the circumstances.

If we just sit here and do nothing while wild animals become extinct just for short-term, immediate benefits, it will be our turn next to go extinct. We cannot survive without nature's blessings. The problems regarding oil palm reminds me of the problems associated with bio-ethanol production using corn and soybeans. Rapid and excessive expansion of production ultimately leads to irreversible destruction of nature. The 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) is scheduled to take place in Nagoya in 2010. We need to face these issues and come up with ingenuous ways that help strike a balance between the economy and ecosystem conservation as soon as possible. Dr. Tsubouchi says, "What we need are green relationships that bind mankind and the ecosystems together." His words have stayed in my head. I sincerely hope this report will help people get a better idea about what is really going on.

An orangutan we found near the Gomantong Caves. The future of these orangutans is our future.

www.demos.co.uk

DEMOS upholds the slogan, "building everyday democracy." This think-tank, which focuses on policies and politics, aspires to realize a liberal and powerful civil society. DEMOS undertakes various activities to empower people, to enable them to build a better society with their own hands. It was Mr. Jonathan Birdwell, a researcher, and research director, Ms. Julia Margo who described DEMOS to us in detailed.

About 20 people and 8 to 9 interns currently work in the DEMOS London office. Each member has a different background, i.e. consultant, academic researcher, advertising creative. The business scope extends from media, public relations, project planning to consultation. Although each member has a unique set of skills, because they have developed training programs to hone their skills, all of the members also has expert knowledge of research, analysis, and media. That is why they can respond to all kinds of tasks.

DEMOS undertakes several types of projects, but they are all conducted in partnership with companies and governments.

The first type of project is undertaken as a think tank. DEMOS conducts research and analysis for decision and policy-making for their clients (companies/governments). However, because DEMOS aspires to "create a better society," it conducts research that benefits people and society based on partnerships rather than pursuing the interests of a specific client. Clients utilize the findings from such research for decision-making, formulating and improving policies, publicity activities, and for strengthening the network. These types of projects only account for a fraction of DEMOS' entire business.

The second type of projects is the "partnership program." This involves companies and organizations coming together and forming partnerships for specific projects. For example, with the "Let's Think About Civil Rights" program, participants including citizen panelists exchanged their opinions about the issue. By participating in these programs, companies and organizations may deepen their understanding, allowing them to utilize their findings for decision-making or policymaking.

The third type involves projects launched by DEMOS. DEMOS then recruits companies that will help support the project. DEMOS is a think tank with a mission to "change society," so this is the key area it focuses on. Each project is carried out over an 8 to 12-month span with the cooperation of investment banks and large distributors. It is difficult to obtain on-going support for these projects because sometimes participating companies and organizations find it hard to realize what the direct benefits are. But DEMOS is working hard to help create an ideal society by conducting promotional activities and by augmenting awareness.

All of DEMOS' projects, which aim to create a sound society, have one or many of the following 4 themes:

1. independence
   Examining the relationship between individuals and governments to promote.
2. security
   Exploring the role of individuals in society to promote domestic and international.
3. capabilities
   Promoting the betterment of society and environment to uplift personal and material capacity.
4. citizenship
   Promoting active participation of individuals who are part of society and decision-making.

As an example of their work on "security," let us introduce a program presented to the government last year that examines security under potential threats such as terrorism and disaster. Hearings, researches, and reviews were conducted for the entire process of the existing security system in order to draft scenarios for each crisis, and plans for a security system capable of promptly responding to a state of emergency such as terrorism. The findings were reported to the government at seminars and conferences, and DEMOS also submitted recommendations for ways in which the system may be improved.

DEMOS also conducts research on corporate social activities and provide relevant feedback, studies on various social issues (e.g. crime and alcohol abuse) in the UK to make recommendations to each company about how they could help deal with such issues and what they must do to fulfill their social responsibilities. As you can see, DEMOS forms partnerships with various companies and organizations to think of ways in which a better society may be created.

DEMOS has developed strong ties with a great number of companies and foundations throughout its 20-year history, and it is these long lasting relationships that have brought these projects to fruition.

Back to Table of Contents Clownfish

www.clownfishmarketing.com

The first thing that caught our attention when we visited the Clownfish office was the shopping bags made in collaboration with Cath Kidston, an interior and accessories brand also quite popular in Japan, and TESCO (UK-based large supermarket chain). You may already know about these bags since they have received major media exposure in Japan and other parts of the world. Ms. Diana Verde Nieto, the CEO of Clownfish, gave us a description of Clownfish and its activities.

These much talked about bags were not created just so that they would look cool. In addition to the environmental benefit they offer by helping reduce the use of single-use plastic bags, with these bags, Clownfish also aims to realize people's well being or a state in which one is healthy and filled with happiness. Reducing environmental impact has been taken into consideration at every stage of their lifecycle, from procurement of raw materials to distribution and marketing communication. Six plastic bottles are recycled as raw materials, and the production process requires less sewing. Also, soy ink is used for printing, and the supply chain has been shortened as much as possible. Clownfish proposed the best method available in all areas including finding an appropriate company that handles recycle plastic bottles, appropriate sewing plants, as well as a distribution methods that minimizes waste. When you no longer need the bag, you can return it to TESCO, so that it can be recycled as new fabric. With regard to social contribution, 100% of the proceeds from the sales of these bags are donated to a breast cancer charity with the help of Marie Claire magazine. By purchasing these bags, users naturally help support the charity. Clownfish believes that helping people feel that they are "doing some good" is important because that is also part of one's "well being." On the practical side, these bags are designed to be durable, yet lightweight and also washable. What's more, they are also very economical ? they only cost 3.50 pounds. In sum, these bags have been produced by carefully taking every aspect into consideration.

"As you can see, Clownfish considers social, environmental, and economical aspects because sustainability cannot be realized if one of these is lacking. Sustainability is not achieved by simply making donations," says Ms. Nieto.

Approximately 30 people with varying backgrounds such as in environmental technology, environmental design, and marketing communication are working at the Clownfish London office. Currently, it is expanding its reach to other parts of the world including NY and Shanghai.

As the example of the shopping bag indicates, Clownfish offers a wide range of recommendations to its clients as a sustainability communications consultancy. With the shopping bag project, Clownfish succeeded in bringing together TESCO, Marie Claire magazine, Cath Kidston, factories, society, and people. Clownfish also works with other clients such as Unilever, Nike, and Coca-cola providing expertise on developing sustainability.

Clownfish places importance on 3 key words - People, Planet, and Profit. They recommend values for bringing sustainability to life on all levels, from strategy through to communication; i.e. meeting consumer needs, motivating employees, enhancing brand value and the bottom line to cost reduction.

Back to Table of Contents CURB

www.mindthecurb.com

We spoke with Mr. Anthony Ganjou, the founder of CURB, and learned about their activities. CURB is a "natural media company" that uses earth's natural elements (sun's rays, sand, soil, water, etc.) to develop effective advertising with the lowest environmental impact. CURB aspires to offer clients with outstanding "natural" marketing that leaves a great impression without causing damage to the environment. The company was established in September 2008, so it has been up and running for less than a year, but CURB's high-quality work has a great international reputation. Their activities have been published in magazines in Korea and Japan and has also been reported on by the BBC.

CURB offers various natural media solutions. Please go to their website and have a look at some of the work they have worked on.

Clean Advertising
They place stencils on the wall and remove the dirt from parts of the wall to create a design that uses the contrast between the dirty surface and the newly cleaned original color. The dirt is removed using stored rainwater.

Logrow (grass)
Creating a brand logo using grass.

Sand Sculpture (sand)
Buckingham Palace built and carved out of sand was so intricately finished that the human sand statues inside the palace seemed as though they would start moving. It seems this also impressed Queen Elizabeth.

Snow Tagging (snow)
The method used was quite simple, yet innovative. Imprints were made using a stamp. The snow tagging campaign for an extreme sports channel was held during the snowstorm in February. This generated publicity worth over 50 million yen in advertising value.

Solar Art (sunlight)
The artists burned an image into a piece of wood using magnifying glasses and the rays of the sun to create an incredibly intricate visual image.

H2 Show (water)
A computer controls the amount of waterfall to depict text and imagery with water.

Crop Ad
CURB created a mystery circle like advertising in a large field. Some of these ads measured 120m in diameter (e.g. enormous Hello Kitty). "In the future, we would like to make a really big one, so that you can only see the whole image from a satellite." says Mr. Ganjou.

All the work has been created in collaboration with top artists. But, why have they chosen and stuck with earth's natural elements? According to Mr. Ganjou, their work is based on a simple idea - with green marketing and environmental communication, the media, which conveys the messages, should also be natural. If plants are used as a medium, you can preserve it, and with snow or water, they will just return to nature. Moreover, the use of natural elements leaves a great impact - people take photos of the work and send them to their friends and it becomes well known quite quickly by word of mouth. The sheer quality of their work often leads to great exposure in magazines. The team at CURB believes that what they do is great for both the environment and for the clients.

Back to Table of Contents BASH

www.bashcreations.com

BASH is located in the Shaw Ridge area in London. This area is home to young artists, museums, and creative boutiques. BASH is a creative agency and event production company. They advocate ethical creativity and ecological entertainment and introduce ecological methods to the British entertainment industry. The interview was conducted in the garden created as part of the "roof project" developed on the roof of the BASH office building.

The team at BASH goes up to the roof to take a break from their work and enjoy a relaxing time. Occasionally they have a beer or two on the roof surrounded by greenery. They throw small parties and sometimes live events. We learned about BASH from Mr. Daniel Silver, Creative Director, and Ms. Erica Sara Probst, Director of Operations, in a very relaxing atmosphere.

BASH was formed 3 years ago by Mr. Joseph Oliver. Mr. Oliver, who has been selected as one of the leaders of the "London Leaders" program, has been integrating sustainability in London by persuading the media in cooperation with cultural, political, and governmental leaders. BASH is the first organization in the UK that undertakes activities in partnership with the cultural sector (libraries, museums and archives). Clients, participants, and members of BASH include artists, fashion designers, musicians, and students and they also work with companies, NGOs, and government institutions. BASH boasts both artistic and environmental expertise and attempts to form a bridge between the world of art and environment.

BASH is also known for the sustainability network it has created in London. BASH helps create an environment in which people can think about sustainability, and they also brings artists and companies together to realize sustainability.

For example, BASH runs events and campaigns particularly targeting the younger generation (between 16 to early 30s) to help sustainable culture take root.

BASH recommends and implements effective projects in the following 3 areas, or by combining these 3 elements.

1. Events
   BASH holds eco-conscious events with a various focus and scale. They may be a very accessible, casual events or quite serious, and may range from small-scale conferences to international corporate conferences.
2. Marketing
   BASH offers its clients various sustainable and eco-conscious solutions, from product design to more traditional advertising such as newspapers and TV ads.
3. Consulting
   As a sustainability consultancy, BASH offers advice and assistance for implementing green communications and eco-conscious business practices.

In addition, BASH is in charge of the operations of the building in which its office is located. So they also run and produce the club on the first floor (called Black Lotus Karate Club) that offers organic food and drinks.

They described one of the projects to us in detail. "We are in charge of the operation and management of the 'Radical Nature' exhibition, which is currently being held at the Barbican Center (Europe's largest multi-arts and conference venue located in London).
First, to promote the exhibition, we asked 50 dancers and pantomime artists to wear tree costumes designed by a young artist. These 50 "trees" paraded through central London. They stood alone as trees at times, or together forming forest. Since we started at 8:30am in the world's largest financial center, this parade created quite a commotion among the commuters. We carefully planned the best route (which included populous locations such as St Paul's and Piccadilly Circus) and times. Photos and videos of the parade were uploaded onto the website in real time. This created quite a stir and gave way to debate about trees and nature in London on online discussion forums. Around 6:00pm, when the exhibition was coming to an end, renowned curators of the Barbican gave a presentation on the environment and the project. Although this project was held to promote the exhibition, it also provided an opportunity for people to think about environmental issues.

Rather than simply offering eco-conscious advertising methods and encouraging the use of eco products, we also strive to raise awareness for the environment so that people will start thinking about environmental issues as an individual. To this end, we also effectively use SNS (social networking service) as a way to create social momentum."

By the way, the "roof project" launched by BASH had another mission. It serves as a test bed for a green roof that is being contemplated for the media center for the London 2012 Olympics Games. This test bed will help with scientific observation of the interaction between compost (PAS100) and materials as well as the impact such interaction may have on plants.

Back to Table of Contents Appendix

Social communication in other parts of the world @Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival http://www.canneslions.com/

The 56th Cannes Lions International Advertising Festivals was held from June 21 to 27, 2009. We would like to introduce some high profile, social and environmental campaigns we discovered at the festival.

TRILLION DOLLAR CAMPAIGN (Zimbabwe)
http://work.canneslions.com/outdoor/
http://work.canneslions.com/titanium/?award=2
http://work.canneslions.com/media/?award=2

"Trillion Dollar Campaign" - the name of the campaign is really intriguing and stirs your curiosity. But then, when you look at the campaign poster, you are blown away by the hundreds and thousands of Zimbabwean currency that make up the poster. The advertiser of this campaign was The Zimbabwean newspaper. The journalists of The Zimbabwean were exiled for reporting on how the Mugabe regime had rigged the elections, crushed the opposition, and was responsible for poverty, disease, and the total collapse of the economy. In addition, the Mugabe regime imposed a 55% luxury import duty on this newspaper (as though implying that freedom of speech can only be bought at a very high price). Financial funding was necessary in order to get the paper into the hands of the Zimbabwean people, so the newspaper needed to raise its awareness outside of the country. That is why this campaign was implemented.
The campaign received media coverage only a few hours after its launch, was introduced nationwide via TV and radio after only 2 days, and became widely known around the world via the Internet. It was introduced in hundreds of websites and blogs including the website for the New York Times, Yahoo News, and the Huffington Post.
The 1 trillion Zimbabwe dollar bills, which came about as a result of the world's highest rate of inflation, is a symbol of the country's collapse. A trillion dollars bill isn't even enough to pay for a loaf of bread, let alone advertising. So, why not use those trillion dollars bills as a medium? This is the concept underlying this campaign.
We had a chance to talk to the creative director at the awards ceremony. We asked him if it didn't occur to him that he could get arrested. He said, "Of course, we were aware of such risks. That is why we only did these guerilla campaigns for 4 days. But we successfully gained public support, and this kept the government at bay."

SELLING HOPE (Portugal)
http://work.canneslions.com/promo/?award=2
http://work.canneslions.com/pr/?award=27

The Red Cross campaign held during the Christmas season in 2008 saw the development of a completely new structure of donation giving. A shop was opened in the most popular shopping mall in Lisbon. But in this store, you couldn't touch or see the products, try them on, or even listen to them. The only thing you could do there is to "feel." The product that this retail store was selling was "HOPE." Just like any other store, this shop had hangers, windows, fitting rooms, and bags; the only difference was that people walked out empty handed. Rather than buying something, people who came to the store donated their money, and this filled their hearts with hope.
The timing at which the campaign was conducted was quite miraculous. It was just when the world craved for hope stronger than ever. Store sales on the opening day reached top 10 amongst other stores in the shopping mall. This campaign also saw an increase in the number of volunteers, people who donated for the first time, and potential Red Cross partners.

YUBARI (Japan)
http://work.canneslions.com/promo/
http://work.canneslions.com/pr/?award=27

Many of you in Japan may have heard about the promotional campaign for Yubari City in the news. Burdened with heavy debt, the city declared bankruptcy in 2007. But this campaign zoomed in on the fact that Yubari boasted the lowest divorce rate in Japan. So the campaign, "Yubari, no money but love," was developed based on the idea that Yubari may not have money, but it had a lot of love. They developed the characters featuring Yubari melons called "Yubari Fusai" (the word "fusai" may refer to "debt" or "married couple" depending on the Japanese characters used). A "happy couple zone" was created within the city hall, and married couples that visited this zone received an "official happily married couple certificate." In addition, an original song for the characters, and many branded merchandise and souvenirs were sold, and they were also featured on various magazines. The campaign got a great deal of exposure - mention in 100 newspapers, 100 online media, 30 TV programs, and 53,100 blog entries. Since this project was launched, the annual number of visitors to Yubari increased by 10% year on year. But most importantly, through this campaign the citizens of Yubari got back a sense of pride in their city.

KHEDE KASRA (Lebanon)
http://work.canneslions.com/pr/?award=27

This campaign aimed to raise public awareness for the gender inequality suffered by women in Lebanon. In Arabic, the words address either men or women depending on how you pronounce the words or where you place the accent. "Kasra" refers to the accent, which is used for words when addressing a woman.
The campaign attempts to demonstrate "how people in the Lebanese society (regardless of gender) automatically address men when speaking Arabic." Posters and billboards demonstrated how the meaning changed when the words were spoken using the kasra accent (marked with a red line). The campaign also became widespread through the digital media - YouTube, Facebook, and email. On March 8, 2009, on International Women's Day, TV personalities in various programs wore the kasra badge. This campaign, which encouraged women to "wear your mark" and demonstrated that "a small step can change the world," enjoyed substantial newspaper and magazine coverage, while sparking debate about the Lebanese judicial system, which is currently disadvantageous for women (for example, Lebanese women lose custody of their children who are older than 9 in any divorce case, and domestic violence against women is still quite commonplace).

LET IT RING... (Belgium)
http://work.canneslions.com/promo/?award=2
http://work.canneslions.com/direct/?award=2

In Belgium, more and more accidents occur as a result of people talking on the mobile phone while driving. The danger of driving while talking on the phone would best ring home if people could virtually experience the danger. This campaign made this happen. First of all, you enter the email address and mobile phone number of a friend you wish to give the experience to on the campaign's website. Then, your friend receives an email of a link from you. When your friend clicks on the link, what looks like an ordinary Internet video created from the driver's viewpoint starts to play. As the friend watches the video, his/her mobile phone suddenly starts ringing. If your friend, who doesn't know what's going on, picks up the phone, he/she causes an accident in the virtual movie (the accident won't occur if he/she doesn't answer the phone). The image they will see when they cause an accident is quite shocking. The main purpose of this campaign is to make people remember one key message - "Let the phone ring."

There were a great many more excellent nominations that zoomed in on social communication (like last year, organizations such as Amnesty International, Greenpeace, and UNICEF won several awards). An exhibition featuring social graphic advertising was held at the foyer of the venue and the hall next-door while the poster of "Hopenhagen," a campaign created by the International Advertising Association (IAA) and a coalition of the world's leading agencies for the COP15 scheduled to be held in Copenhagen in December this year, was exhibited on the billboard in front of the venue. We definitely felt as though the tides of time are changing the direction in which the advertising industry is heading towards.

Koji Kagoshima Biography
Born in Niigata in 1968. Graduated with a degree in Master's Program in Education, from University of Tsukuba. Working as a copywriter and creative director at an advertising company and the NGO, 2025 PROJECT. Coauthor of "Missing Peace", "Love, Peace & Green; Missing Peace 2", "ecotoba," and "It will be fine."

Yoko Okazaki Biography
Born in Hiroshima in 1980. Graduated with a degree in Law, from the Faculty of Law, Sophia University after studying abroad in Finland and Hawaii. Currently, working as a copywriter and planner in an advertising company and the NGO, 2025 PROJECT. Coauthor of "It will be fine."

Outline of 2025PROJECT
2025 PROJECT is an NGO engaged in activities that attempt to help create a sustainable society by 2025. 2025 PROJECT continues to create content with an aim to change the world and the future. Its "Tigers Save Tigers!" campaign was nominated for the PR category this year at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival. http://www.2025.jp/

Many of you may have heard of Ecovillage. Ecovillage encompasses a great range of activities, from communes that cultivate new communities to establish self-sufficiency within the region, building communities around eco housing that reduces environmental impact as much as possible, to building collective houses. What all these activities have in common is that they attempt to establish a completely new community from ground zero. Although this provides an opportunity to develop an idealistic community, you have to build houses, farms, and the structure for collectives from scratch, so it requires a vast amount of energy and time.

In a nutshell, Transition Town is a movement that transforms existing regions (towns and cities) into an Ecovillage. The word, transition, evokes a sense of "change," a "shift." But what are we transitioning from and to? In this respect, the transition is from "a vulnerable society that is completely and heavily dependent on cheap fossil fuels" to "a resilient, robust society that is regionally based." Having said that, it is not as though Transition Town and its initiatives advocate a special social organization or ideology. As expected, the shape of the society that lies beyond the transition will differ from region to region, and you can "think about what it will be like as you take action." This is the thinking that underlies the Transition Initiative. If we describe Ecovillage as being initiatives that are objective-oriented, that plunges forward in pursuit of an ideal society, perhaps we can describe Transition Town as initiatives that are process-oriented, that value the processes.

Needless to say, we aspire to create a low carbon society. But what do we need to bring this into fruition? Believe it or not, we already have many of the necessary solutions and technologies. Local production for local consumption employing organic farming, permaculture, and natural farming methods; energy self-sufficiency using biomass energy, solar and wind power generation; streamlining transportation with community transportation, car sharing, rental cycles, etc.; eco construction that is health friendly and has little environmental impact; developing eating habits that incorporate a greater proportion of fresh vegetables; the importance of moving our hands and bodies, such as by farming - as you can see, we already have more than enough vocabulary to carry on a discussion about low carbon societies. What were lacking, and thus precluded us from combining and using the means described above well, were the consent of and the cooperation amongst the people in the community. This is where the Transition Initiative comes in; they serve as a catalyst that bridges together the various individual initiatives.

Back to Table of Contents How the Transition Town Totnes began

The transition activities began in the autumn of 2005 in Totnes, a small town located in the country of Devon in South West England. Although Transition Initiative began in this small town with a population of 8,000 people, in just about 3 and half years, it spread across United Kingdom, and on to numerous other regions such as Europe, United States, and Asia. Currently, it is said that there are 170 towns that have been officially designated as Transition Towns and 1,000 cities are said to be making preparations to join the ranks. But why has the Transition Initiative caught fire, resonating with a great number of people across the world in such a short time?

It is not as though Totnes, the first Transition Town, which has produced great results in 3 years, went under a great visible transformation. In other words, people didn't follow in its footsteps because they thought that Transition Town Totnes was an interesting and appealing case example. So why have the activities resonated with so many people and why are so many towns ready to make this transition? One of the reasons may be that the "process" of making the transition is "fun." The process defined states that we must remain tuned in to the circumstances of the town, while effectively utilizing its unique resources. This process involves 12 steps, but let us first take a look at the key characteristics of the Transition Initiative.

• Aspire to develop fundamental and comprehensive countermeasures that address both Peak oil and climate change issues
• Focus on the region
• Bring out the creativity, adaptability, and solidarity of the people of the region
• Maximize resources that are present in the region and organically combine such resources
• Strike a balance between the "3Hs" - the head, heart, and hands
• Envision a better future, believe that it is attainable, and have fun in the process

Every element is important, but the most attractive aspect of the Transition Initiative may be the last point - "Envision a better future, believe that it is attainable, and have fun in the process." Although we may want to help society make the shift towards the better, we may become burned out in the process. Rather than clenching our teeth and running the risk of becoming burned out, we should all cooperate and have fun. Let us not act from "the fear of what our futures may become," but act to "bring the future we have envisioned to life." This positive thinking is what is great about the Transition Initiative.

What is also important is "striking a balance between the '3Hs' - the head, heart, and hands." We should not merely just think about it in our heads. We should move our bodies, acquire the skills necessary to live, and also pay attention to our hearts. Indeed, the Transition Initiative provides measures to ensure that the core members of the initiative do not become burned out.

Mr. Rob Hopkins is the founder of the Transition Initiative. As he has pledged that he would not use airplanes, he participated in the Ecovillage Conference held in Tokyo at the end of April by video.

Back to Table of Contents 12 steps to make the transition

12 steps
Step 1: Set up a steering group and design its demise from the outset
Step 2: Awareness raising
Step 3: Lay the foundations
Step 4: Organize a great unleashing
Step 5: Form sub groups
Step 6: Use open space
Step 7: Develop visible practical manifestations of the project
Step 8: Facilitate the great reskilling
Step 9: Build a bridge to local government
Step 10: Honor the elders
Step 11: Let it go where it wants to go
Step 12: Create an energy descent plan

Steps 1 through 5 comprise the initial stage, and steps 6 through 10 comprise the growth stage. And step 11 helps get you in the right frame of mind, while step 12 is the final destination. Mr. Rob Hopkins may not have developed all these individual steps, but his philosophy is very much reflected in every one of them. This also reminds us that he is a lecturer on permaculture and a specialist on natural architecture. As each element has a wide range of functions and is supported by various other elements, it seems as though the principle, which values diversity and makes the most of natural patterns, have been applied to a social movement.

Of course these 12 steps need not be undertaken in order. They only serve as guidelines, so you can proceed as you best see fit. (Currently there is a move to do away with these 12 steps, but I included them in this report because I thought it would be helpful in understanding what the Transition Initiative was about).

A flyer, which introduces numerous events held in Totnes in December 2006. The main event is the unveiling of the Transition Initiative. Many other lectures and seminars were also held.

Back to Table of Contents Peak oil

The Transition Initiative attempts to address both climate change and peak oil issues. Peak oil refers to the point in time when the amount of petroleum extraction from the oilfields currently known reaches peak production. This may give you the impression that we still have half way to go, but once the oilfields reach their peak production, extraction becomes more laborious, and the quality of the crude oil worsens. In other words, it will be more and more difficult to obtain crude oil at prices that are cheaper than water as we do now.

Needless to say, civilization in the 20th century has been founded upon mass consumption of crude oil, but this was because crude oil was cheap. The movie, "The End of Suburbia," which zooms in on the peak oil issue, well captures the subtleties associated with this issue. Taxes are not levied on gasoline in the United States, so you can buy gas there for about 50 yen a liter. That is why fuel intensive American cars could be sold and people could commute by car to their work place, which may be more than 100km away from home. But what would happen if the gas prices rose to 100 yen or 200 yen?

Of course this will not only affect commutes. Gasoline is essential in transporting farm goods and processed foods, and materials such as timber and steel. If we take a look back how it was like when the oil prices soared, we can easily imagine how badly the distribution system would be affected by a sharp rise in crude oil prices. In addition, oil can be "transformed" into various other items, from food, clothing, PET bottles, plastic, to electricity. Its application is extensive; it is used for personal computers, video game consoles, packages of software such as DVDs, and food trays used by supermarkets. Crude oil is used either as a raw material, in manufacturing, for transportation, or in all such processes. Nearly everything is oil-derived or uses oil-derived substances.

If the price of oil doubles or even quadruples, we would suddenly be facing a crisis. It would be such an earth-shaking event. The Transition Initiative attempts to mitigate our dependency on oil and to build a regional-based society, which would not be affected even when we reach our peak oil supply. Needless to say, this would overlap with the movement that focuses on minimizing, as much as possible, the impact of climate change. If each region forges a path towards a low carbon society, enhances its self-sufficiency with respect to food, agriculture, and energy through the Transition Initiative, it is clear as day that CO2 emissions would be also decrease.

Back to Table of Contents Transition Fujino

Fujino, a town blessed with rich forests and lakes, is home to great many artists, who have moved to Fujino seeking nature.

Currently, Fujino is implementing activities as an official Transition Town in Japan and regions such as Hayama, Sagamiko, Kamakura, Zushi, and Takao are making preparations to join the initiative. We spoke with Mr. Hidetake Enomoto, who launched the Transition Initiative in Japan and the initiator of Transition Fujino.

Mr. Enomoto introduced the Transition Initiative at the Ecovillage Conference as the representative of Transition Japan.

"I first heard about Transition Town in November 2007 while I was living in Findhorn, an Ecovillage in Scotland. I was very intrigued by the speech made by Mr. Rob Hopkins, who had been invited to speak at the 'Be the Change Conference' held in London. It was also the first time I learned about the peak oil issue and I was shocked by the gravity of the situation. I learned, however, that Transition was one way to help resolve such issue.

I was particularly intrigued when I heard that the Transition Initiative encompasses region-based activities and utilizes the strengths of the local community. It was based on the idea that by bringing out the power of each citizen in the community, we may enable to tackle systematic problems the human civilization faces. Another point I found interesting was that the Transition Initiative lets you work with a positive image about the future. It is important to face up to the problems, but we should not act from "fear" for the bleak future that could descend upon us. A future without crude oil could be a richer, more resplendent era. So the idea is to not fear the onset of peak oil, rather consider it a great opportunity to make the shift towards a "richer, better world."

Another fact that made the concept more associable to us was that Mr. Rob Hopkins was a lecturer on permaculture and natural architecture. The Transition Initiative is also based on permaculture in some ways. The key word here is "ties." Although ties cannot be seen, they certainly do exist. The idea here is to use such ties to build cities. I thought that the Transition Initiative serves as a catalyst for bringing together diverse people and carious resources of the town."

Fujino is a town in Kanagawa prefecture with a population of approximately 10,000. It became part of Sagamihara city in 2007 but the autonomous region will be present until March 2011. It is well known for its rich forests, lakes, and for its art, and numerous artists have migrated there. Also, the Permaculture Center Japan is located in the area, thus it is considered the home of the permaculture movement. Moreover, the Steiner School was opened about 3 years ago. It can be said that Fujino is a region where people with an alternative cultural background reside.

"The Transition Initiative in Fujino began with 3 core members, who are relatively new residents who have only lived in the region for less than 10 years. They visited old residents as well as organizations and individuals involved in regional activities to gain their understanding and support. The core members also asked former executives of the town hall to get influential people together and made presentations. Being new residents, we were worried that the old residents may reject our new proposal. However, they listened to us with an open mind and even began telling us how they would like to change their region. I was very pleased, and felt glad to have moved to this region." (Mr. Hidetake Enomoto)

A scene from the "heart and soul" workshop held jointly with Transition Sagamiko. Transition Initiative not only places emphasis on visible activities necessary in realizing a low carbon society. It also focuses on "inner transition," in other words, changes in the meaning of life and sense of values. In Transition Fujino there are also workshops on renewable energy and preserved foods, and planning or operational meetings on such activities are held at the beginning of March and April. This is representative of the spirits of the people of Fujino who value a lifestyle in which they can remain tuned in to nature and the changes in the seasons.

Back to Table of Contents Transition Hayama

Hayama is also known as a region where many artists live. Moreover, there are many people who have moved to Hayama from other regions because they fell in love with Hayama's environment. You could say that Hayama is a region that leads the way in eco consciousness. It is here in Hayama that a proposal was made to carve out recreation trails. Mr. Shunro Yoshida from Transition Hayama is one of the people who spoke out against the construction of such trails.

Mr. Shunro Yoshida from Transition Hayama. Realizing that it wasn't his true calling, he left the company he had been working for in 2008. He is trying to hack out a "way of living" in Hayama he could feel satisfied with.

"The mayoral elections had just ended, and I was just thinking that it would be great if I could turn Hayama into an Ecovillage. Shortly after, in March, I was invited to go to Findhorn by Mr. Enomoto. That is when I listened to Mr. Rob Hopkins' lecture and learned about Transition Town. I knew that I just had to try it in Hayama. Hayama has great seafood and because it is blessed with mountains covered in dense forests, it can also count on food from the mountains. Artists have been moving to Hayama since 30 years ago. There are also a great many number of people who love the region and its environment. As soon as I returned to Hayama in May, I conducted three orientation meetings. Many people from Hayama, Zushi, Kamakura, etc. came to the meetings. And I have been actively taking part in environmental events, rice reaping, harvest festivals, and river clean up activities among other events to establish a great relationship with other entities. Moreover, we also created a market where farmers can sell their produce directly to promote local production for local consumption. Although at the moment we only offer a limited range of products, someday soon we hope to also offer fishes caught by local fishermen." (Mr. Shunro Yoshida)

A photograph of a Transition Hayama event, "A look back at the good old days of Hayama." This event offered an opportunity to learn about how people lived and what they ate from the elders of the community.

"Shiro-san," a famous fisherman in Hayama. Although he is quite jovial usually, he spoke to the people gathered in a very compelling voice. "Because the catch in Hayama is quite small, the Tsukiji fish market won't take us seriously. I want the people in Hayama to enjoy the fishes in Hayama. As a fisherman, this would give me greater joy." Perhaps the Transition Initiative has the power to make this wish come true.

A photograph from the Transition Hayama's event, "Bun Bun Tsushin (Communication) Vol. 1." In response to the movement against nuclear power plant in Iwashima, the event called on people to think about the energy issue.

A global cafe style meeting. Transition Town places importance on holding creative meetings and drawing out "collective wisdom" by also incorporating methods used in the business environment such as open space technology.

The meetings become more fun and enjoyable with coffee and homemade foods.

A local market where farmers can sell direct to local consumers built by Transition Hayama with the cooperation of the local people.

The Transition Hayama team's farm. Employing permaculture and natural farming methods, they grow a great variety of crops.

Back to Table of Contents Huge movement that makes use of diversity

I hope I was able to give you an idea of how the Transition Initiative instantaneously draws many people in. Social and environmental movements in the past have begun when people shared the same vision and sense of purpose, however, with the Transition Initiative all you need is a shared awareness about peak oil, and to realize a low carbon society to overcome this issue. Other than that you are free to uphold any ideology or philosophy.

Another key feature is that it is a regional initiative. Issues such as food and energy had been national level issues addressed by the government. However, it is true that this thinking has lead to superfluous centralization of power. The farther we transport food and energy, the more petroleum we consume. It would be ideal if we could produce and consume both food and energy locally. Creating such a mechanism before the national and local governments get into gear. This is also true for education and social welfare. And even the way businesses are run may be localized. Everything rests on each and every citizens' self-motivation and creativity.

Casting off the roles imposed upon us by a great wave of "labor" and "consumption," and thinking as an individual citizen, and acting in cooperation with the local people. And resolve big issues not with the wisdom of a single individual, but with creativity using collective wisdom. An individual, Mr. Rob Hopkins, began the Transition Initiative, but he only built the scheme. It is each citizen in the region who puts it into action. You can simply start by talking to people who live in the region, who you get along with "about how you want to change the region you live in." Why not begin Transition Town activities in your town?

Meeting among the members of Transition Town Takao, which has just begun its activities. It brings people who live in the same region great joy to be able to get together and talk about the future of the region.

For more information about Transition Town please see:

Transition Towns WIKI
http://transitiontowns.org/

Kato Hisato Biography
Born in Tokyo in 1957. Graduated with a degree in French Literature, from the College of Arts, Rikkyo University. President of Basho House. Publishes books on the environment, energy, climate change, recycling, localization, etc. Member of the board of NPO Natsukashii Mirai (Nostalgic Future). Author of "ecoyomi 3."

We often learn that technologies of Japanese companies we may have never heard of before are actually supporting super futuristic space development, or that a Japanese coach is directing a national team that may have suddenly made their mark. Without our knowing, there are people and mechanisms that bring on valuable change.
The stage for this Earth Report may be quite similar to this kind of situation.

Myanmar is a part of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), sharing a border with China, India, Thailand, Laos, and Bangladesh. It is often associated with Japan's invasion during World War II, devout Buddhism, military government, and multi ethnicity, and is often referred to as the world's poorest nation. And for Japanese people who are a bit older, this country evokes a certain air of "nostalgia." It seems like this country has retained what Japan has lost during its development.

The streets of Yangon. The gold pagoda of the largest temple in Myanmar, Shwe Dagon, sparkles in the sunlight.
©HIROSHI ITO

Back to Table of Contents The ultimate goal is to help this country become independent
- The Japanese project manager of UNICEF

Myanmar, described as the world's poorest nation, is said to have a per capita GNP of 220 dollars, so approximately 20,000 yen. Nevertheless, due to political reasons, it is hard for the international aid from Western nations to reach the country. In Rwanda, for example, the per capita international aid is around 6,000 yen, while on the other hand Myanmar's is 300 yen.

Here in Myanmar, vaccinations for children, who are essential to the future development of the nation, are conducted in collaboration with the local government, UNICEF, and organizations that have donated funds. There are 3 key parties taking part in the polio NID that was conducted this year. There is UNICEF, which offers advice and training on the planning and operation using their know-how on supplying vaccines in developing countries; the Myanmar government and public administration that act as the main constituent of the project, secures the staffing, and runs the vaccinations in large cities as well as in small villages; and finally, there is the authorized NPO, Japan Committee "Vaccines for the World's Children" (JCV) which provides donations from, for example, individuals such as the baseball player who donates based on his own "rules" to supply the funds to purchase vaccines. NID is successfully conducted with the collaboration of these 3 parties.

Dr. Osamu Kunii from the UNICEF Myanmar office used to work in Somalia when he was younger. He used to treat many infected patients back then. But they would come back with a different illness, requiring more treatment, and this cycle went on and on, ending with the patient's eventual death. Many children and women died this way even though these diseases were all preventable. He remembers feeling extremely powerless. He became keenly aware of the importance of preventive medical care, and hence changed his career from a clinician to a specialist in public health. We asked him to give us an overview of the NID, a day on which polio vaccines are given to all children under the age of 5 in Myanmar.

Dr. Kunii from UNICEF Myanmar during the NID site inspection (center photograph). ©HIROSHI ITO

"Vaccination may be divided into 2 broad programs. Regular vaccinations (5 types - polio, paralysis, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT), Bacille de Clamette et Guerin (BCG), and hepatitis B) are given each month to children under the age of 1. In addition to this, the NID gives vaccinations in high risk areas that are not covered by these regular vaccinations, or nationwide. Although polio had nearly disappeared for 6 years since 2000, there was an outbreak of vaccine-derived poliovirus*1 in 2006 and a wild strain of the poliovirus*2 in 2007. So in 2006 the vaccinations targeted specific regions, and in 2007 they were given nationwide once a year on NID. So, with approximately 7.4 million children around the country in mind, the project aims for a 95% vaccination rate."

*1　Vaccine-derived poliovirus: The given vaccine mutates, becoming toxic and turning into a virus.
*2　Wide poliovirus: Poliovirus that exist in the natural world.

The vaccinations required for polio, measles, and BCG are vulnerable to heat and light. And because depending on the type of the vaccination, they need to be either frozen or cooled (without being frozen), appropriate management facilities and personnel training are essential. If they are not stored under the proper conditions, there is a risk of giving children vaccinations that are ineffective. In order to make sure that the vaccinations work effectively, it is key to have a mechanism in place that lets you deliver vaccines under the right cold conditions without any hiccups. This system is referred to as the cold chain.

What does the cold chain in Myanmar look like?
First, donations from supporters in Japan are amassed by the JCV. After receiving requests based on the vaccination plans drafted by the local WHO and UNICEF offices as well as the Myanmar government, JCV decides on the amount of assistance to provide. Then it sends the necessary funds to UNICEF. Using the assistance, the UNICEF Supply Division in Copenhagen, Denmark starts to source vaccines. Vaccine companies all over the world take part in the bid each time, so the Supply Division is able to purchase quality assured vaccines for the lowest price possible. The system also assures on-time delivery of vaccines to the designated location. The conditions vary slightly depending on the type of vaccine and the time and location, but these vaccines sourced from factories all over the world are flown to Myanmar.

"The vaccines that arrive from different parts of the world first go to a central cold room in Yangon. This facility was built using funds from UNICEF and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Then the vaccines are delivered to central hospitals in 325 townships via 19 storage facilities around the country. But beyond these points, there are no power generation facilities that can supply electricity to refrigerators and freezers. The Rural Health Clinics (RHC) and the Sub-Health Centers (SHC), which are in even more remote areas and do not have sufficient facilities, so figuring out how to keep the vaccines at an adequate temperature is a very big issue. There are even some midwives who pay for ice out of their own pockets to keep the vaccines cold."

According to Dr. Kunii, although there are still issues that need to be resolved, the vaccination program in Myanmar is progressing steadily.

"In the beginning, we had to provide technical and financial support for the preparation, planning, through to implementation and evaluation of the program. But now everyone - from people in central to rural areas and even people working on the ground - recognizes the importance of the NIDs, and they have acquired the necessary skills to conduct them on their own. Nevertheless, our ultimate objective is not just conducting NIDs for polio; we would like to empower the Myanmar government, both technologically and financially, to conduct all vaccinations on their own. The final goal for providing assistance to a nation, is to help them become independent, so that they will no longer require aid."

After the NID this year, a smaller scale, sub-NID will be conducted in key areas around the nation that will give vaccinations to everyone in the region all at once. And if we can achieve an immunization rate of 95%, Myanmar will be able to declare that it is polio-free in the near future. UNICEF has already drawn up such plans.

(Left) If you are infected by the polio virus and become pathogenic, you will be affected by very serious residual effects such as numbness in the hands and feet. A photograph of promotional posters placed in various areas. ©HIROSHI ITO
(Right) Dr. Kyaw Myint Aung, a young, excellent doctor who is a member of the staff from UNICEF Myanmar works on the project with Dr. Kunii. He says, " I want to help as many people in my country as possible." ©HIROSHI ITO

Back to Table of Contents Roles

We took a closer look at the people who work on this program, by actually following the path of the cold chain that safely delivers vaccines to people all over Myanmar.

Back to Table of Contents Managing vaccines across Myanmar
- Staff working in the Ministry of Health

The vaccines sent to Myanmar from different parts of the world are delivered to the central cold room in Yangon. Dr. Kyaw Kan Kaung from the Ministry of Health is in charge of the management of the facility.

The central cold room in Yangon.

Dr. Kyaw Kan Kaung , from the Ministry of Health in charge of the management of the central cold room (right) and his boss, Dr. Than Thein Win.

"Because the old cold room had become decrepit, and it didn't have the sufficient capacity, we renovated an old warehouse and built a new one 2 years ago. It started operation last year, after the cyclone hit. It has 7 "walk-in cold rooms" big enough for people to freely walk around in. There are enough vaccines for 400,000 people stored in these rooms at all times, and depending on the type of vaccine, they are stored at specific temperatures in refrigerators and freezers" says Dr. Kyaw Kan Kaung.

The modern and hygienic cold room is located only 10 minutes from central Yangon, but it seems that there are still some unresolved issues.

"Because the power supply in Myanmar tends to be still unstable, power failures aren't quite frequent. That is why temperatures are maintained 24-7 using an independent power generation system. The vaccines are delivered to places across the nation from this cold room, but you can hardly say that there are sufficient transportation vehicles. But as we are in charge of vaccines for the entire nation, 10 members of the staff work in tandem to stringently manage the temperatures, so that the vaccines don't go to waste."

(Left) Walk-in cold room. (Right) In Japan, BCGs are given through a 9-needle injection. This vaccine prevents tuberculosis. ©HIROSHI ITO

(Upper left) This bottle contains enough polio vaccines for 20 people.
(Upper right) Ice bags and refrigerants used for transportation are also stored here. ©TAKASHI MORIOKA
(Lower left) Power generator used during the cyclone.
(Lower right) The vaccines are placed into these boxes, and delivered to areas across the country by air and land.

For them, the mission is very clear.
When we asked Dr. Than Thein Win, the supervising manager of the vaccination program from the Ministry of Health, about the goal for Myanmar, he replied clearly, without hesitation.

"Our 3 big goals are: eradicating polio, decreasing cases of pneumonia, and preventing measles. That is why we study up on new information about vaccines and implement new methods. Negotiating and developing relationships with JCV is also an important part of our job."

The vaccines are delivered by land and air to RHCs in 21 areas around the country, and then on to 325 townships following the path of a well planned cold chain.

A lime tree (tree of Buddha) found within the premises of the facility.

Back to Table of Contents Overcoming the cyclone and keeping an eye on NID
- A feminine force in regional medical treatment

Myanmar has a population of approximately 50 million people, has a total land area measuring 1.8 times the size of Japan, and is comprised of 325 townships. And doctors who are in charge of the general hospitals in each township and of the regional medical treatment are referred to as TMOs or Township Medical Officers.

We learned about a township called Bogale in the Ayeyarwaddy Division, which was severely affected by the cyclone that hit Myanmar in May 2008. The TMO here is Dr. Hle Hle Kgi. She has been involved in NIDs each year since 1997. She was placed in charge of the region right before the cyclone hit.

Dr. Hle Hle Kgi, the TMO of the Bogale township (right). "I inspected 3 areas traveling by boat yesterday." She went with a nurse, her right hand woman.

"There are 320,000 people living in this city. The cyclone took 34,000 lives. 31,000 children under 5 will be receiving polio vaccinations this time around. This amounts to approximately 1% of the population. The NID takes place over 2 days, but on the first day, which was yesterday, we vaccinated 99% of these children at 531 locations region wide. Today, we will vaccinate children who live in remote areas, who can't make it to the vaccination centers. With our list in hand, we visit every single home to vaccinate these children."

The Ayeyarwaddy Division refers to the area around the Ayeyarwaddy River, which is a delta area where tributaries big and small crisscross through like veins. The major means of transportation here are boats. Having said that, there are high waves in the southern areas near the sea, and there are places you can't get to within a day. So it's difficult to get to each and every settlement. Many people are astonished when they see a female TMO who come on a boat with her nursing staff through such conditions.

Boats are necessary to get around. During the rainy season, the water level rises, and the landscape changes drastically.

The cyclone completely or partially destroyed 70~80% of buildings in the region, and the cold chain was also severely affected (i.e. the vaccines became immersed in water). At one time, they could not even conduct regular vaccinations, but they managed to start back up again 2 months after the disaster. This was made possible with the fine assistance they received from UNICEF right after the disaster, but also with the rich experience and the great awareness of the TMO.

"This hospital has a solar power generation facility, so the temperature management of vaccines is in top shape here. There are also many fishermen in the area, so it's not hard to get ice making it relatively easy to deliver vaccines to villages and settlements. We are beginning to see that there are less and less people who are becoming infected with polio or the measles, so we feel that the parents are really beginning to recognize the importance of vaccinations."

(Upper left) Solar power generation system installed with the aid from UNICEF. It cost 600,000 yen to build.
(Upper right) The refrigerator in the hospital. Vaccines are delivered from here to the various vaccination centers. ©HIROSHI ITO
(Lower left) The vaccines are placed in individual vinyl bags to make sure that the labels don't come off while they are being cooled. © TAKASHI MORIOKA
(Lower right) At the vaccination centers in the region, the vaccines were kept cool with ice inside the transportation box.

The conditions in the 325 townships differ depending on their location and the region. In the northern area near the border, a limited number of staff must cover a wide region marked by steep Himalayan mountain ranges. And in another region, there are many ethnic minorities that speak different languages, so it is difficult to communicate the benefits of having vaccinations. But here in Bogale, Dr. Hle Hle Kgi over came the devastating affects of the cyclone, and pulled off the NID with great success. Her experience and confidence is sure to help other regions in the future.

Back to Table of Contents NID's Last Mile
- Midwives that provide medical care to the people in the region with the help of volunteers

Beyond the townships are the NID vaccination centers where the children are waiting. RHCs and SHCs are where the NIDs take place. We are nearing the end of the cold chain. This is what is often referred to as the "Last Mile."

We went and paid a visit to the Shan Kwin Gyi village, which is situated by the river in the Pyapon township in the Ayeyarwaddy delta. Like in many RHCs and SHCs, midwives play a key role here. Today is the first day of the NID. There are many mothers with their children under 5 from all over the village gathered in front of the SHC.

People gathered at the vaccination center. © TAKASHI MORIOKA

We asked the midwife, Ms. Than Than May, who is in charge of this SHC about what it was like to run the NID here.

Ms. Than Than May, who responds to the questions of the observers. © TAKASHI MORIOKA

"There are 307 families living in this village. That is 1,470 people, 187 children under 5, and 42 children under 1. I went to the RHC in Kyun Tar first thing in the morning to pick up vaccines that arrived yesterday from the central hospital in Pyapon. It's a 30-minute walk from here. There is also ice in the case we carry vaccines in, so we can keep it stable for 24 to 48 hours during the NID."

Boats are essential to get around this region. Ms. Than Than May also uses a boat or a motorcycle that her husband drives when paying other areas a visit

"We first check the names and ages of the children and mothers against the list. We are giving them polio vaccines and vitamin A at the same time, but we give them different tags, so that we can recognize their ages. Then we give them polio vaccines; 2 drops each. Then vitamin A. After they receive their vitamin A, we have them wait outside for about 15 minutes. We use a black marker to mark the fingernails of each child who has received the vaccine, so we can keep track."

(Left) There are children who are accompanied by their fathers. ©HIROSHI ITO
(Upper right) Polio vaccines taste sweet. Although it doesn't hurt, he has started to cry. ©HIROSHI ITO
(Middle right) Marking the fingernails of children who have received vaccinations. ©HIROSHI ITO
(Lower right) Dozens of local volunteers help out. ©TAKASHI MORIOKA

The limited space in the center is partitioned off into the reception area, polio vaccination corner, and the vitamin A corner. The children visit each corner in order. Although there are many people here, there doesn't seem to be any confusion. Usually the midwife single handedly manages this clinic, but during NIDs, she's gets great backup. Women wearing matching uniforms from a mother/child group and men who are fire fighters volunteer their services.

The NID is held with the help of all villagers not just in this village, but in every village. What was impressive about the "Last Mile" of the vaccine aid was the smiling faces of the children and their mothers and fathers, the many volunteers that help the midwives run the center, villagers that watch over the children protectively, and the people who gathered around the center.

Many villagers gathered around the center.
©TAKASHI MORIOKA

Young boys and girls that watch the vaccinations taking place. ©HIROSHI ITO

Back to Table of Contents * "I want to keep going until I retire"
- An interview with a midwife

The midwives who are in charge of the "Last Mile" of the NID are very busy. In addition to the roles the midwives in Japan play, they also serve as nurses, health advisors, and even doctors at times. Although their compensation may not be that great, they still work extremely hard. What drives them so? To get a better idea, we drove an hour from Yangon to the RHC in the village of Zaw Ti located in the Twante township on the day before the NID, to talk to the midwife who manages the center there.

(Left) It's been 15 years since she became a midwife.
(Right) The RHC she is in charge of. Although the building was completely destroyed by the cyclone, it was rebuilt with the help of an NGO in Italy. The volunteer staff that help her out.

What does your regular day at work look like?
"In the morning I run the clinic here and treat people for colds and other illnesses. In the afternoon I visit people's homes and treat them there. It's been 15 years since I began. I sleep here at the clinic during the week, and then go home over the weekend."

Do you like your work? What do you find especially difficult?
"I love my work. I am actually from a village nearby, located 30 minutes away from here. But people here treat me as if I were one of their own. Because this village doesn't have a doctor, giving birth is often difficult, but I feel very happy every time a baby is born without major complications."

What would you like to do in the future?
"Everyone in this villages is very calm and quiet, and nice. So I want to stay here and help them until I reach 60, my retirement age."

Her simple yet well-balanced response, as well as the way in which she calmly went about her work, despite having to take on so much was very impressive.

Back to Table of Contents Passion

The right system, and the people who steadfastly undertake their tasks exist in Myanmar. But what is essential to keeping this functioning sustainably is people's passion.

Back to Table of Contents How donations from "My Rules" reach the people who need them
- NPO staff

How do people from the NPO who stand between and talk to people from both Japan and Myanmar feel? We asked Ms. Reiko Ezaki, the Deputy Director-General of the authorized NPO, Japan Committee "Vaccines for the World's Children" who provided 80% of the vaccines given during the NID this year what she values the most.

Ms. Reiko Ezaki who came to the vaccination center located in a region affected by the cyclone. (The fourth person from the left)

"Since we have been working in Myanmar for over 10 years now, the name JCV has become well recognized by people in the medical industry in Myanmar. But we try to communicate that it is not the JCV that is donating the vaccines, rather it is people from all over Japan, from children to the elderly, who have donated them."

The funds gathered in Japan provide vaccines essential to the healthy growth of children in villages across Myanmar. There is a system there that has been built on the findings of the international society, and people who perform very clear roles. And it also seemed like the regional cooperative framework was in place and functioning. Nevertheless, not everyone who has donated can go to Myanmar to see what positive benefit their donations have had for themselves. So how can this be communicated to them?

"Of course providing data, such as quantitative information about aid is important, but what is most important is the reality. Numerous volunteers from JCV have gone to Myanmar to observe vaccinations taking place. There are many people who say that this experience made them think about their careers. By talking about it and sharing their experiences in various situations, i.e. in conversations and on blogs, people can communicate what the situation is really like in Myanmar. I think that it is important to widen our reach this way."

Here is a cooperative framework that transcends borders, a system that is operated on a national level, and people who unwaveringly fulfill their tasks.
People's sense of responsibility towards their work, their pride, sense of mission to contribute to the brighter future of their country, and the respect and trust placed in the people who fulfill these tasks - it may sound a bit too dramatic, but I felt as though I witnessed these things during my trip.

People wave to the observers leaving the clinic with great wide smiles.
©TAKASHI MORIOKA

When we spend money, we are also changing the world.

Minor grains - I did a little research and learned that minor grains are part of the Poaceae or Gramineae family and collectively refer to grasses that grow bran and fruit seeds. And as the name, minor grains, indicates they refers to cereal grains that are not considered major staple foods like rice and wheat are, that are not eaten as often. The term minor grains refer to oats, barley, ancient rice, and red rice, and it also encompasses buckwheat and legumes, and sesame, which aren't from the Poaceae/Gramineae family.

Tall millet/photograph provided by: Hideyo Takamura

People who lived here in Japan during the Jomon period, so some 5,000 years ago, ate minor grains such as foxtail millet, Japanese millet, and other millet as well as nuts in various creative ways. It is said that rice cultivation began in Japan about 3,500 years ago, so minor grains have had a longer history here in Japan than rice.

Iwate prefecture is one of the most renowned cultivators of minor grains in Japan. And the people there refer to the following 5 grains as Gokoku (meaning 5 grains).

[Foxtail Millet]Poaceae/Gramineae. Original strain is believed to be setaria (green foxtail). The place of origin extends from India to Afghanistan. There are 2 types - glutinous and nonglutinous.

[Millet] Poaceae/Gramineae. Place of origin is believed to be China, India, and Central Asia. There are 2 types - glutinous and nonglutinous.

[Japanese Millet]Poaceae/Gramineae. Place of origin is believe to be Japan. They are mainly nonglutinous, but some glutinous strains have been found.

[Tall Millet (Sorghum)] Poaceae/Gramineae. Place of origin is believed to be Africa. It is also called Kaoliang in China. The reddish brown and white calico pattern is its distinctive characteristic.

[Amaranths]Amaranths. Place of origin is believed to be central and southern America. It has been cultivated by indigenous people in the mountainous region of the Andes.

The national crop acreage for minor grains is quite large if you also combine buckwheat, but the acreage for the 5 grains mentioned above is only 549 hectares (as of 2004*). If you compare the yield during the peak cultivation period in 1892 (Japanese and foxtail millet) and 1914 (millet) to levels in 2004, the production has decreased to 230:1 for Japanese millet, 5,000:1 for foxtail millet, and 290:1 for millet (according to the data from the Foundation for Promoting the Farming Industry in Japan). The recent boom for minor grains has resulted in greater demand, but as grains produced in Japan are expensive, there has been a rapid increase in imports. Minor grains sold in Japan at the moment are 95% imported; domestically produced grains only amount to 5%.

*Statistical data post 2004 is not available.

Back to Table of Contents A small seed has grown to 2 meters!

Photograph provided by: Hideyo Takamura

I developed the urge to go to Ninohe in the northern region of Iwate known for minor grain farming when I saw a photograph of a bright crimson ear of Amaranths. It has an extremely small fruit in comparison to other minor grains, and the vivid color of the ear reminded me of a tropical plant.

I was also surprised when I learned that it grows to 2 meters in height. It felt as though I could sense the strong life force contained in the small grain.

My urge to want to see the farm became more pronounced as I looked at the photograph. Iwate prefecture produces about 70 percent of minor grains produced in Japan, and Ninohe is known as a major center of cultivation.

Back to Table of Contents Visiting Mr. Takamura

I visited Mr. Hideyo Takamura, an organic farmer in Ninohe, in January 2009. Mr. Takamura has been involved in the launch of the organic minor grain farming group, "Ikago Minor Grain Society," and has played a major part in bringing about the "Minor Grain Renaissance" in Ninohe.

As the representative of ancient grains in northern Iwate, Mr. Takamura conducts research on cultivation methods and the benefits offered by the minor grains with his friends and professors in Iwate, conducts seminars in other prefectures, invites local children to his farm, and holds classes on food education and environment - he is very busy every day acting as the "face" of Ninohe's minor grains.

A very loving couples, Mr. Hideyo Takamura and his wife, Tamiko-san.

Back to Table of Contents A warm welcome with traditional cuisine

His wife, Tamiko-san, welcomed me with great local Ninohe cuisine.

Everything except the seaweed is from Ninohe. Starting from the front right (and proceeding clockwise), hittsumi (a traditional soup), shredded seaweed, pickled turnip, ayu (sweetfish), and yam. "Hittsumi" is a soup made with southern flour dough stretched thin and pinched into shape.

Mr. Takamura says that "the northern region of Iwate is a great repository of traditional cuisine." Tamiko-san calls off names of traditional cuisines. "In addition to this hittsumi, we have hina manjyu (sweet dumpling). And we also have various rice cakes such as kamasu mochi, kushi mochi, shitogi..." "There's much, much more," says Mr. Takamura. It was amazing to learn what an important part food has played in the local culture. What was especially delicious was the steamed rice cooked with minor grains. The grains cultivated by Mr. Takamura and exquisitely blended included foxtail millet, Japanese millet, millet, and amaranths. It was the most delicious rice I had ever eaten; it was very fluffy and tasted warm and kind.

Hecchoko

I also finished dinner with a famous traditional cuisine known as "hecchoko dango (dumpling)" made of tall millet. The unique name comes from the phrase "Hecchoko hakaseyasita" (meaning "thanks so much for your help") that the locals say when they get together for some food and drinks after all the major farm work for the fall has been complete. But there is another theory that the name comes from the fact that when you make this dumpling, you press the center of the dumpling down, and it ends up looking like a belly button.

"Traditional cuisines are all foods we have been offering to the gods," says Mr. Takamura. "Whether it's hecchoko dango or hittsumi. There are many gods, such as the god of the mountain, and the Oshira. Even now, we dedicate one day a month to the gods, and offer rice and traditional cuisine to the gods first before we start eating."

Coming in contact with the sincere attitude towards food that the people in Ninohe have had a great sobering effect.

Back to Table of Contents Recycling based farming that has continued for more than 1,000 years

Traditional cuisine in northern Iwate prefecture is very deeply connected with the way farming has existed in the region since a long, long time ago.

Until modernized agriculture, which implemented machinery such as combines, became widespread, the people of the region treasured horses. Because they had horses, they had manure compost, they could till the land, and transport heavy things. And the shells from the Japanese millet could be used to feed the horses. Back then people in the region mainly ate Japanese millet. A recycling based agriculture and a trinity formed by "horses, Japanese millet, and humans" were passed down to generation after generation for over 1,000 years.

Japanese millet field/photograph provided by: Hideyo Takamura.

And crop rotation, which involved cultivating 3 crops - Japanese millet, wheat, and soybeans - every 2 years, has continued on for more than 1,000 years. Such an example of how long crop rotation has continued is said to be globally rare.

Even in Towada, with its volcanic ash soil, which requires additional nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium carbonate to become suitable for farming, the soil becomes rich in nitrogen if you plant minor grains after you have harvested legumes. Moreover, if you add horse manure compost, the Japanese millet puts on more grains. The wisdom of crop rotation, which has been passed down through time, is actually a very rational and intelligent farming method.

Back to Table of Contents Modern farming and pesticides

Mr. Takamura did not start out growing minor grains. He grew vegetables for a while. "I grew up watching and experiencing the lifestyles of my parents. Our meals comprised of steamed rice with Japanese millet, soup with dried radish leaves, and a bit of salted fish. When you mix Japanese millet with rice, the rice ends up looking very black. Back in those days ancient Japanese millet was dried in the sun, so it turned black. I used to have a negative impression about their diet thinking it was a very humble."

Mr. Takamura once dreamt of becoming an artist, so he told his parents that he "wanted to go to art school." But back then first-born sons were expected to step into his father's shoes. So Mr. Takamura ended up going to the Joboji Agricultural High School in Iwate.

Mr. Takamura says he likes impressionist paintings. The landscape of farmlands employing methods that have been passed down from ancient times, such as this "Japanese millet islands," reminded me of Monet's hay stacks. /photograph provided by: Hideyo Takamura

Japanese millet islands are a natural way of drying harvested millet that has been practiced since the late Jomon Period (from the Emishi period). To keep the grains from being exposed to direct sunlight, they are interlaced into the stem. The nutrients from the stem and leaves become packed into the grain and this helps increase their nutritional value and sugar content.

Mr. Takamura learned about modern agriculture at his school; he learned about implementing machinery, using chemical fertilizer and pesticides effectively to increase harvest, and to increase sales. He developed his keen interest and devotion to farming vegetables through the agricultural methods he learned at school.

But in 1987, after continuing such a lifestyle for over 20 years, Mr. Takamura developed a symptom in his liver and fell ill. Such symptom was believed to be caused by all those years of spraying pesticide.

But in 1987, after continuing such a lifestyle for over 20 years, Mr. Takamura developed a symptom in his liver and fell ill. Such symptom was believed to be caused by all those years of spraying pesticide.

Back to Table of Contents Revisiting the relationship with minor grains

To kill insects that have developed a resistance to pesticide, you need an even greater amount of it. So Mr. Takamura, who fell ill, found himself in a vicious circle. In order to get his health back and to keep supporting his family, he had to somehow find a different way. That was when he came across minor grains produced locally.

In the autumn, you will find a type of millet known as "pearl millet" at the stands where you can buy produce direct from the farmers. In intermediate and mountainous areas, elderly women continued to grow millet employing an agricultural method using compost fertilizer that has remained unchanged for a long time. Although he had not really given millet a second thought before, he learned that it is a very powerful food that is great for one's health, and that when mixed with old rice, it helps the rice tastes as delicious as though it has just been harvested.

A field of millet./photograph provided by: Hideyo Takamura

In 1993, hearing that the government and citizens were jointly launching a program that would involve seminars on traditional cuisine using minor grains as part of their plan to boost the regional economy, Mr. Takamura encouraged Tamiko-san to take part. After 3 years, right about when the program was about to end, Mr. Takamura established the "Ikago Minor Grain Society."

In urban areas, there are children who cannot eat rice or wheat because of allergies and atopic dermatitis, and Mr. Takamura tuned into their very earnest wish to eat safe and delicious grains. "I want to offer safe and delicious minor grains to such families," he says. Having realized that the times were changing and people wanted organic minor grains, after a 3-year transformation period, Mr. Takamura rebranded himself as the first organic minor grain farmer in Japan. He began selling his grains in Tokyo when Ninohe city signed an organic produce distribution agreement with Tokyo prefecture.

Back to Table of Contents Unprecedented attempt at organic farming - takes great care and is very laborious

Although the cold climate in Iwate is well suited for organic farming, a great amount of effort is still necessary to maintain an organic certification. With help from Mr. Naoyuki Nishizawa, a research professor at the Iwate University, a compact minor grain-cropping machine is under development, but even still, a lot of the work must be done by hand.

Seeds are removed using "Madori," a forked-tool. In old times, this tool was also used for threshing (upper and lower left). Millets are sun-dried using a wooden structure called "hasekake" (upper right). /photographs provided by: Hideyo Takamura

Extremely small, foreign objects (like what you see in the photograph between the tweezers) are carefully removed. This work is a great strain on the eyes and shoulders, but it is an indispensable process for maintaining high quality

Minor grains grow several meters tall because they are close to the being wild. It is said that rice were originally as tall as these minor grains. Rice stalks in the paddy fields we see today are all about 1 meter tall; this is to make the mechanical harvest easier. This was realized as a result of ongoing efforts to improve breed. /photograph provided by: Hideyo Takamura

"If foxtail millet is planted year after year without rotation, corn borers eat up the stalks. This can be easily avoided by using pesticides, but in Ninohe, pesticides are not used even when yields decrease. Herbicides are very effective for millets but they are not used either. We remove the weeds by hand."

Such steady effort is what allows you to amass the know-how of making delicious grains and to pass that legacy down. Mr. Takamura kept saying, "Just come look at my fields." I felt Mr. Takamura's passion for his work.

Mr. Takamura's fields were covered with snow. Out of 3.5 hectares, nearly 2 hectares are organic. The orange sign indicates that his farm has received the organic certification.

Back to Table of Contents Mr. Takamura's reflections and insight

When Mr. Takamura and his peers started to sell organic minor grains, the market had little interest (according to Mr. Takamura), and the sales were so bad, he says it was "laughable."

What had kept Mr. Takamura going was the voices of the mothers of children suffering from serious atopic dermatitis and allergic symptoms. They praised Mr. Takamura saying that their children "no longer felt itchy," and their "festering pus healed."

Joint research on minor grains with Mr. Naoyuki Nishizawa, a research professor at Iwate University, also gave Mr. Takamura encouragement. Stories about "healthy foods" virally passed down from elderly women were backed by data, and their high nutritious value and functionality was proven left and right. For example, it has been proven that proteins contained in Japanese millet, foxtail millet, and millet act to increase the concentration of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol or good cholesterol within the blood stream.

And in the latest research, it has been proven that the Japanese millet native to the Ninohe region helps improve the numerical values of HDL cholesterol, adiponectin (etc.) concentration, helps prevent arteriosclerosis and metabolic symptoms, and moderates the rise of blood glucose levels. Such research results were published in the Iwate Nippo newspaper on February 20, 2009.

Planting Japanese millet, mowing grass, keeping horses, and harvesting the millet - Mr. Takamura began to realize the greatness of the farming style his parents had practiced that he had repudiated when he was younger. "The more I learned, the more I came across the way the elderly and my parents used to farm. It's just that I didn't understand the value of it back then. This is what made me look back on my life and learn from my mistakes. I told myself I would live the latter half of my life focusing on the environment, health, and safety. I learned the hard way that the old way of farming and the serious attitude with which farmers back then approached it, pave the best route to safe foods."

The fields are shrouded in autumn colors. And tall millet placed on racks. These are both breathtakingly beautiful scenes./photographs provided by: Hideyo Takamura

Mr. Takamura says, "You can't apply your own theories to nature. You have to adapt to it. You have to begin by accepting it, and we have to think very hard and rack our brains to find a way to live in harmony with it. There are a lot of contradictions in farming. But this is really a contradiction in life and death."

Back to Table of Contents Together with the children of the region

Since 1998, Mr. Takamura has invited children from the local school to his farm to let them experience farming and to educate them about food and the environment. He gets the children to go into the paddy fields barefoot to plant the millet because he wants them to feel the thick, slippery feel of organic farming with their flexible sensibility, rather than to try to teach them this by talking about theories.

Macrobiotic "margaritiferidae," which is said to have survived from the Ice Ages, live in the Mabechi River nearby and a very rare spider, Cyrtarachne inaequalis that protects its egg sacs, are also unique to this area. Children get to learn that a precious ecosystem can exist in the environment surrounding organic farms.

（Left）Organic rice grown by children in fifth grade (not available for sale). The scarecrow (handmade by the children) is a sign that they have finished their tasks.
（Right）A letter of appreciation from the children.

Back to Table of Contents Dreams of the future

In the future, Mr. Takamura would like to put his back into making "food recommendations." He would like to act now to pass on to the next generation the great log of traditional recipes the elderly ladies in Ninohe have.

On February 8, 2009 a unique event focusing on minor grains themed around food recommendations was held in an Italian restaurant, "Aqua Vino," in Hiroo, Tokyo.

A very popular chef took minor grains from Ninohe and mountain grapes from Kuji and arranged them in his own way. The event was organized by the regional development bureau of Ninohe and Kuji from the Iwate prefecture. The event was arranged by Good Tables, an organization that promotes "food wealth."

Mr. Takamura and Ms. Naomi Ando who had run a minor grains cafe called "Tsubukko Mamma" in the Ninohe station until December last year were invited to the event.

Ms. Ando came to recognize the goodness of local minor grains when she re-examined her own food lifestyle when she realized that her child had atopic dermatitis. And in order to support Mr. Takamura's efforts through cuisine, she became committed to making local dishes better known and developing new ways of arranging them.

Mr. Kenji Yamamoto (left), Ms. Naomi Ando (right). Mr. Kenji Yamamoto from Good Tables MCed the event. Nicknamed "Yama-Ken," Mr. Yamamoto is very well versed in farm produce distribution. He has known Mr. Takamura and Ms. Ando for a long time, and he has extensive knowledge about minor grains.

The chef, Mr. Yoshimi Hidaka says, "I created this menu keeping in mind how best to bring the texture of minor grains to life."

Minor grains from Ninohe were transformed into a very beautifully arranged, delicious Italian dish.

I asked Ms. Ando about what she thought.

I was amazed at Chef Hidaka's creations; even with his trial dishes everything seemed to fit into place. I realized that this was because the traditional way of "making" food and the traditional way of "cooking" food was a perfect fit. In Italy, people eat buckwheat and they also eat a lot of pasta, so minor grains have been a part of Italian people's lives from long ago. That is something people in Ninohe have in common. It would be really interesting if we can continue this kind of collaboration in the future. If young people would start eating minor grains, we will be able to pass it on as part of our food culture to the next generation.

Mr. "Yama-Ken" gave a lecture on the basic information about minor grains. You can find an excerpt below:

• * Minor grains are mostly imported - 10,000 tons are imported and only 660 tons are produced domestically (as of 2004), so domestically harvested minor grains are very rare.
• * You will find organic minor grains from Ninohe, as well as a very nationally-unique brand launched by the farmers known as "Zakkoku Seikatsu (Minor Grain Lifestyle)" (as shown in photograph). The farmers in the region are committed to making high quality minor grains by establishing 6 criteria such as pesticide-free, use of more than a certain amount of organic materials, and specifying seeds.
• * With rice, you have all types of machinery such as for sorting, but there aren't many available for minor grains. A lot of the processes have to be done by hand, so the farmers are having a hard time coping with labor-intensive processes such as sorting. So we hope that consumers will purchase high quality minor grains for the appropriate price.
• (And lastly, an advice from Ms. Ando) * If you want to mix minor grains when you are cooking rice, it would be better if you washed the grains together with the rice because you will also be able to wash away the bran at the same time. If the grains are of high quality, they will sink to the bottom after a while.

Basic information about minor grains that I thought I knew, but didn't. I learned that with a little ingenuity, minor grains become even more delicious. And the event seemed to have left a strong impression on all participants that domestically produced organic minor grains are very rare and precious.

People who took part in the event and enjoyed the delicious food said, "The texture is interesting," "I want to incorporate minor grains into my daily diet," and "I learned about the possibilities of minor grains." (Ms. Yoshiko Fujino, a food/cuisine researcher on far right said, "You have to try to preserve good food!")

Back to Table of Contents Conclusion

The Ninohe minor grain event held in Aqua Vino was so popular, 30 seats that they had prepared became full in half a day. It seemed as though more and more people are becoming interested in minor grains, not because it is a "special food" that may help you from developing the metabolic syndrome or because they may be a good food for people with allergies, but because people want to just casually enjoy them as a part of their meal.

The potential capacity for minor grains is still unknown. Amaranths have an extremely high nutritious value - in comparison to rice, they have 27 times more calcium, 19 times more iron, and 25 times more fiber. I have heard that NASA has also zoomed in on amaranths as a major staple food for the 21st century.

Minor grains are coming into the spotlight all around the world. And for Ninohe, which prides in its very high-caliber Japanese millet, which aspires to pass on the legacy of the rich minor grains culture, the support of understanding consumer is key. I believe that what Mr. Takamura would like all of us to do is to "look at his farm and see the difference." But the next time you are going to buy minor grains, why not start by looking into the little details, such as where it was produced or how different they taste from one another.

Mitsuko Iwai Biography
She has worked for a local museum/news paper publisher before she became a freelance writer. In 2002, she became involved in publishing a book of record of government's cultural programs and became intrigued with the ideas and lifestyles in the various regions that are passed down from one generation to the next. In 2004, she published the first issue of "Satomi Tsushin" which focuses on the theme, fixed-point observation of farms and farmers. She is also an as an editorial staff for the Earth News for the Think the Earth Project. She currently lives in Takasaki.

Guy lives on the Big Island and works at H2 Technologies Inc.

Hawaii is located in the middle of the Pacific, and forms the northern edge of the Polynesian triangle. It is known as a tourist destination (famous for, for example, Waikiki Beach, etc.), but it is also well known as a spiritual spot with an abundance of natural energy. And on the Big Island, you will find H2 Technologies, a company conducting business that will help form a hydrogen economy. H2 Technologies is a very important business partner for biopio inc., a company that runsgreenz.jpwhere I work as a creative director. Because it shared the vision of creating a hydrogen economy, H2 Technologies is promoting a project that brings Japan and Hawaii together through "Meetings for the Future" held regularly to provide a platform for exchanging information.

Mr. Guy Toyama the Chief Operating Officer of H2 Technologies strongly asserts that "hydrogen economy is not something for the distant future. The time is ripe for making it happen." This trip to Hawaii was very invaluable as I learned about activities undertaken in and by Hawaii, which hopes to make effective use of its rich natural environment and to serve as a role model for the rest of the world. I became convinced that such an economy could indeed be realized.

Back to Table of Contents The Big Island is full of energy

The eastern side of the island, Hilo side, is covered in dense jungles.

You can drive around the Big Island in about 6 hours, but you will be quite blown away by how variegated the scenery is. It changes from molten lava, beaches, jungles, to dry mountains. Eleven out of the 13 types of climatic divisions are said to be found on the Big Island (2 that it doesn't have are desert and arctic climates). Tall mountains, whose peaks are covered in snow during the winter, divide the clouds above in half, right down the middle of the island. And as a result, Kona on the west with all the resorts is dry all the time and Hilo on the east is always rainy, so you can see rainbows almost every day.

The early morning sunlight from the peak of Mauna Kea - a 4,000m climb in a car.

The 2 mountains aren't so daunting tall. But Mauna Kea, which has an altitude of 4,205m, is a sacred place for the indigenous people. It is also known as a the best place in the northern hemisphere to look at stars; stars seen from the top the mountain are absolutely beautiful, so astronomical observatories of many countries, including Japan are located on the mountain top. Although I said it wasn't so daunting, if you measure its height from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, its altitude measures more than 10,000! Mauna Loa, on the other hand, is where carbon dioxide analyzers have been set up, and it has an altitude of 4,169m. And it is said to have the second greatest cubic volume in the solar system, next to Mount Olympus on Mars with an altitude of 25,000m.

The guide explained that "the magma underneath tried really hard to find a way out, and it finally found one here on the Big Island." The natural environment on this island, where the Kilauea volcano is still very active, is really monumental in scale. This sublime power is believed to be bound to "mana" the sacred power believed to be present in nature, and I realized that it formed the bedrock of Hawaii's environmental protection activities and energy policies.

Back to Table of Contents Energy in Hawaii and investing in the future

Although there are great things about Hawaii, it fraught with challenges. The biggest challenge is overcoming its external dependence on energy.

Back to Table of Contents Petroleum puts a squeeze on household finances

According to Guy, although Hawaii has no fossil fuels such as petroleum, natural gas or coal, 90% of the energy used in Hawaii is dependent on petroleum of which 71% is imported from outside the US. This figure is the highest among all American states.

Roads in Oahu are always crowded.

According to the state survey from 1997, Hawaii purchases 1 billion dollars (100 billion yen) worth of petroleum. 26% of the oil purchased goes into making electricity, and 55% into transportation/shipping by land/sea/air. As there are no railroads in Hawaii, there are 900,000 cars in Hawaii, and there's always traffic near Honolulu. And in general, gasoline prices are 25% higher than on the mainland, so my wallet was feeling the pain from all that driving around the island. In reality, households and the tourism industry really feel the pressures of gas prices. That is why "if we could escape from the clutches of oil or start using hydrogen or fuel cell batteries for transportation, the industries in Hawaii will once again start experiencing an upward trend" (says Guy).

Back to Table of Contents The great potential of natural energy promises 100% self-sufficiency

NELHA GATEWAY. You can see the solar panels from the highway.

This is where the power heavens above have given to Hawaii comes into play. Guy says, "Hawaii is one of the few states with the potential to become 100% dependent on renewable energy." Yes, Hawaii can make the shift to renewal energy such as geothermal, wind, and water generation. The Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), where Guy works, has taken on a central role in the research of foundation forming technologies and the bid for green businesses.

In October 2008, the state of Hawaii and its electric companies agreed to "move Hawaii toward having 70% of its energy use come from clean energy sources by 2030." And the energy strategy to reexamine the potential of each island and to make use of their unique characteristics - for example, using geothermal power generation on the Big Island and wind power generation on Maui - is finally underway. And in the future, there is a plan to connect the islands with an underwater cable to supply power.

Back to Table of Contents Hawaii's competitive advantage and investment in the future

In addition, there is an excellent system in place to lure venture capital for green businesses in Hawaii. For example, the tax incentive package, ACT221, provides investors providing capital to green businesses recognized by the state tax credit for the entire amount invested and also refunds the same amount after 5 years. So it provides a very alluring incentive for investors. This simply means that you can expect ROI without losing any capital you've invested. You can see how committed and enthusiastic Hawaii is from the great incentives they have put in place on to lure new businesses.

Guy talks about renewable energy.

There are also state-of-the-art natural energy resource facilities, such as the one found at the University of Hawaii, and there's plenty of land to incubate venture companies. Hawaii is also situated between the US and Japan, so it can serve as center of business for the Pacific-rim. This geographical advantage give Hawaii great potential to become a "role model for the world" if it succeeds in resolving the problem it faces as an island state that lacks fossil fuels but has renewal energy sourced from a combination of natural forces and hydrogen.

Back to Table of Contents What is hydrogen anyway?

Now let us talk about hydrogen in detail.

Jeremy Rifkin, is a renowned American cultural critic. He is also the author of "The Hydrogen Economy: The Creation of the Worldwide Energy Web and the Redistribution of Power on Earth," which is a book I strongly recommend everyone to read. The book contains a brilliant description about possibilities a hydrogen society holds. What has really got us excited is the bi-directional sharing of energy made possible by the "dispersed power system and the regional and worldwide energy web."

It sounds a bit complicated but it may be easier to understand if you relate it to the sharing of information via Internet and the two-way communication that has developed in the past few decades. Perhaps we can sum it up in these words: "How can we democratize energy and how can our minds evolve from there?" Some say that "if the society becomes hydrogen based, man will no longer go to war over petroleum," but there is no doubt that hydrogen will be a future key player in a world where the social structure is shifting towards a glocal, decentralized network.

Back to Table of Contents Is hydrogen the energy of the future?

Hydrogen is the most abundant and the lightest element in the universe. If you burn it you get electricity, water and a very small quantity of nitrogen, so it is a sustainable source of energy that doesn't produce any greenhouse gases. Honda has developed the FCX series that runs on fuel cell batteries, set up its own hydrogen stations, and are testing their vehicles on public roads. FedEX and UPS are moving forward with the adoption of fuel cell battery powered cars as a means of transportation. As you can see research and development of automobiles is quite advanced. And hydrogen powered wheelchairs were featured in a recent article published on greenz.

The problem is that hydrogen rarely exists in its pure form in nature, so to get H2, you have to put water through electrolysis or put natural gas through a chemical reaction such as steam reforming. The popular method of obtaining H2 - from natural gas - results in CO2 emissions so electrolysis of water is preferable, however, in order to make this happen, a great deal of primary energy is required. Moreover, the world is still going head to head to develop the best technology for the various phases (i.e. the efficiency of fuel cell battery, a portable generator), so at present there is no definitive technology.

Back to Table of Contents Skepticism about hydrogen

Environmental opinion leaders such as Lester Brown are a bit skeptical about hydrogen, however. Of course it is always healthier to have critique, but I personally don't think there is a need to be overly pessimistic. People who are skeptical about hydrogen as a source of fuel often bring up the following 3 points, but I found a great rebuttal in the book "FREEDOM FROM MID-EAST OIL" edited by Madeline Austin, who is involved in the formulation of energy policies in Hawaii, who I had the opportunity to speak to this trip.

• Rumor 1: Because of its explosive nature, hydrogen is dangerous.
  → Because hydrogen is light, it travels up into the air without discharging heat. So the flammable fuel used today is much more dangerous than hydrogen.
• Rumor 2: It is not very efficient and very costly.
  → If you think of this in terms of wellhead-to-wheels hydrogen is 3 times more efficient than gasoline.
• Rumor 3: You have to start from zero and so it will take time to put the infrastructure in place.
  → You can easily use the pipelines that currently exist. Since there is infrastructure that you can convert immediately, you're not necessarily starting from scratch.

This book, too, states that changes visible at the consumer level may take place post 2015, but I personally think that without hydrogen, we will not be able to bring about fundamental change to resolve the social issues we face today, if you think about environmental sustainability, the ability to realize this in the near future, and above all the change in the society's awareness a fair distribution of energy could bring about.

Back to Table of Contents How hydrogen should be made

President Bush promoted a daring project named Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC), but it is often said the hydrogen has no enemies. What we need to examine closely, however, is "how hydrogen should be made."

HTAC presumes the use of nuclear energy as primary energy. On the other hand, Hawaii ultimately aims to use renewable energy to create hydrogen through the electrolysis of water. You can argue whether nuclear power described as being "clean" (as it produces zero CO2) is really sustainable or not. But the difference between nuclear power and hydrogen is perhaps the difference in the concept of the future society. In other words, it depends whether you highly concentrate or disperse energy.

Various proposals will probably be made before the infrastructure for a hydrogen society is put into place, but I think it is important to discern, by deliberating at length, what is an alternative that is necessary for the transitional period, and what ideas will lead us our ultimate goal.

Back to Table of Contents On the move - Hawaii's plans for a hydrogen highway

Lastly I want to tell you about some exciting, futuristic businesses H2 Technologies is undertaking.

Back to Table of Contents H2 Technologies' various undertakings et al.

Hydrogen generation device and the engineer, Mr. Chester Lawery.

H2 Technologies has 2 businesses that are hydrogen related. The first involves engineering - creating hydrogen from electrolysis and converting gasoline and diesel cars to hydrogen cars. Second involves creating the infrastructure necessary for a hydrogen economy.

Recent development we were quite surprised by is the ratification of a legislation that authorized H2 Technologies to issue special purpose revenue bonds. What this means is that if H2 Technologies issues a special purpose revenue bond for one of its projects, the investor who has purchased the bond would then receive tax-free interest. If an organization is authorized to issue such bonds, that organization becomes government approved, giving it great credibility in the eyes of the investors. Moreover, the same legislation regards the shift to a hydrogen economy as an "historical opportunity," and from their support for "moving the deadline for creating a hydrogen highway forward," you can see how enthusiastic Hawaii is to make the transition towards a hydrogen economy. H2 Technologies is also applying for the aforementioned ACT221 at the moment, and if everything goes smoothly, its scope of business will continue to expand in the future.

A laser device that makes noise that Chester made for Halloween.

The mock up of the hydrogen generation device using electrolysis developed under the direction of Tak Wada, CEO and inventor, is already finished, and research at the workshop located in Chester's home is already underway. "We don't get electricity all the way up here, so we use a small hydroelectric power generator set up on the Umauma River that flows behind the house to create power for the house. And we use the leftover power to create hydrogen. This house can boast 100% energy self-sufficiency. Next time, I want to make one the size of a suit case so I can show it around to various investors" said Chester with great enthusiasm.

A hydrogen gas fueled motor scooter displayed in NELHA.

With respect to converting cars to hydrogen cars, they've made the first step towards that by converting a scooter to run on a hydrogen engine. Unfortunately, converted cars would be treated under Japanese car as an altered car, but taking into account the number of cars there already is and if you think about this from the perspective of environmental impact, it may be more realistic to spend a few thousand dollars converting your car into a hydrogen vehicle than to purchase a new fuel-cell car for a tens of thousands of dollars. We've also discovered that we can mix up to 15% hydrogen with cars that run on natural gas, without making any alterations, and have no problems with efficiency or safety. Since most of the taxis run on natural gas in Japan, they may gradually be swapped for hydrogen cars in the near future.

Various experiments are taking place in on NELHA's vast property.

Developing infrastructure under Guy's direction actually involves liaising between the power and gas companies in Hawaii as well as the Hawaiian government to create a framework for realizing a hydrogen highway. And as a initial step, an alternative fuel station where gasoline, bio-ethanol, natural gas and hydrogen will be available may be established within NELHA premises. "Purchasing surplus electricity from electric companies at a competitive price and creating hydrogen for fuel with hydrogen generation devices. I would like to make this package widespread" says Guy. He has already started to have tangible discussions with a few Japanese corporations, so there may be ways in which people in Japan can contribute to such efforts, too.

Back to Table of Contents From "Island of Adventure" to "Island of Innovation"

The shift towards a hydrogen economy, which may become the new foundation for a sustainable society, will not happen smoothly unless there are clear benefits for consumers, governments, and companies. Of course Hawaii is a special case since it has a great abundance of renewable energy, and in places like Japan, which is heavily dependent on electric companies, such an endeavor may not be so easily accepted. Nevertheless, I returned from Hawaii with a strong feeling that the realization of a hydrogen economy is not a mere vagary.

Hydrogen research in the US didn't really begin until the Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen, Research, Development and Demonstration Program Act of 1990. This was enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives right before Spark Matsunaga, a democratic senator of the state of Hawaii of Japanese descent passed away. Nearly 20 years later, Hawaii will take steps towards creating a model, hydrogen based society.

People have great expectations that numerous innovations stemming from a hydrogen economy such as nano materials, biotechnologies, as well as Internet technologies that support the energy web may be developed along the way. Hawaii will step up from being an "Island of Adventure" supported by tourism to an "Island of Innovation" that will serve as a role model of a sustainable society. I hope to keep a close eye on its progress towards this shift.

Yoshihiro Kanematsu's background
Creative director of greenz.jp and executive director of biopio inc. Born 1979 in Akita Prefecture, Japan. Currently he designs, writes, and produces events under the theme, "design and business, and sustainability."
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