Day 2 Trash and Recycling
- #1 Becoming a Waste Management Specialist
- Aiko and her dad tackle sorting for recycling. In Japan, that is no small thing.
- #2 How this Town Produces No Trash (Komakatsu)
- This town recycles! Look for the social values that help this effort work. Note the role of older adults.
#3 [Japanology Plus] Waste and Recycling Season 1- At the end of this video we see a way of reducing the bulk going to landfills. Older men using their skills to fix up articles for reuse and inexpensive resale.
- #4 Waste Management and Recycling Technology of Japan – Toward a Sustainable Society (The Spirit of Mottainai)
- A history of the problem of trash in period of rapid economic growth. Current incineration technology has reduced the volume of trash going to landfills by 90%, while also generating electricity. Ash can be used for road beds. Technology keeps dioxin out of the air, and recycling captures heavy metals from electronics to keep them from contaminating landfills.
Day 3 Water Use
- #5 What a Japanese Apartment is Like
- Eight year-old Aiko’s family has moved from Canada to Japan. She shows us around their new apartment in Tokyo.
- #6 12 Reasons Why Japanese Bathrooms are the Best
- Aiko shows the features of a Japanese bathroom…or rooms. Spot the water-saving and energy-saving features.
- Note use of electronic controls and use of space, too.
- #7 Washing Dishes in Japan (5:04 min)
- Aiko does the dishes and talks about differences between this everyday chore in Japan compared to in homes in the U.S. and Canada.
- #8 Doing Laundry in Japan
- Aiko does the laundry with her dad. Look for another example of water conservation, the use of gray water. Energy savings in the customary way they dry their clothes.
Day 4 Home Energy Use
- #9 The best part of winters in Japan! The kotatsu culture!
- #10 Japan: Smart Green Homes on the Horizon
Day 5 Cultural Values
- #11 [Japan Spirit Vol.4] Mottainai Spirit _もったいない精神 [桜H28/5/6]
- A full explanation of the meaning “mottainai”. The Japanese value that encompasses frugality, respect for nature, consideration for the needs of the community, and striving to make the best result possible with what is available. If one is wasteful, one takes away from others. It is more than a personal choice.