Kawasaki City, Kanagawa and Denmark have one thing in common: their endeavors to be more environmentally friendly. While Kawasaki is active in answeri

Kawasaki City, Kanagawa and Denmark have one thing in common: their endeavors to be more environmentally friendly. While Kawasaki is active in answering to the Green New Deal, Denmark with its top-level wind-powered electric generators is holding the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP15 at the end of this year. The forum stresses only on the cooperation between Kawasaki and Denmark but also among the eco-friendly firms of both parties.

It will includes a speeches on A More Environmentally Friendly Japan by the ambassador of Denmark to Japan Franz-Michael S. Mellbin and The Environmental Problems and the Japanese Industry by Urano Mitsuhito of Nichirei, a company involves in transportation of fresh food products. There will also be panel discussion on the environment from individuals of various industries.

The event is free and scheduled on August, 25 from 2 pm to 5 pm at the first floor of Kawasaki Institution of Industrial Promotion Hall. Those interested can also participate in the banquet afterwards for 2000 yen.

Applications are accepted via fax to ０４４－２００－３９２０ with the following information: your name, address, telephone number, workplace, whether you are participating in banquet. You can also apply online via this application form available in Japanese.

Kawasaki and Africa?

Ambassadors and embassy staff from 23 African countries visited Kawasaki for an Eco-town Tour on July 29, 2009. The event was held by Kawasaki City and UNIDO.

They visited local companies with unique environmental technologies such as;
petbottle recycling, water cleaning using bycicle power and paper recycling.


Many Japanese will associate Kawasaki with one of the four major industrial pollutions. The city has overcome the painful days through legal and technical effort, which they are willing to share with the rest of the world.
They will be holding a public exhibition on February 4th and 5th of 2010, introducing environmental technologies and products from Kawasaki.

Event on Aug 5th: Let's Wear Re-used KIMONO and Learn about Japanese Sustainable Ideas!

Surprise! 100 Eco Ideas Opening Ceremony
~Let's Wear Re-used KIMONO and Learn about Japanese Sustainable Ideas!~

You will be able to wear a KIMONO by yourself with the help of professional kimono teachers. We have reused kimonos of various size and colors ready, so everyone is welcome, not to mention small children! Kimonos are often passed on from mother to daughter to granddaugter, and also commonly re-used in Japan.
After getting dressed, we will move on to the main hall and dance a Japanese festival dance together. The Minister of Environment will be there as guest.

Time August 5th, 8:50am-11:30am
Place Takashimaya Department Store, Shinjuku
Please meet in front of the police station at 5-27-1 Sendagaya Shibuya-ku Tokyo
This is how it looks like:
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/3/harajuku/pb/pb.htm#gyoenura
Map (sorry only in Japanese)↓
http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?hl=ja&q=%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E6%B8%8B%E8%B0%B7%E5%8C%BA%E5%8D%83%E9%A7%84%E3%83%B6%E8%B0%B75-27-1&lr=&rlz=1R2GFRC_jaJP336&um=1&ie=UTF-8&split=0&gl=jp&ei=TQlrSsuDJI6IkQXRtvCfCw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1

It is in front of Takashimaya Department Store Meiji-street entrance, about 10 minutes walk from both Shinjuku Station South Exit or from Yoyogi Station.
Fee: Free
With Japanese to English Interpretation.
If you can't find your way or in case of cancelation, please call 080-1008-1283 (valid only on Aug 5).

How to apply
Please send the following information by email to: office@eco100.jp
*Name
*Email address
*Contact number

WASHI, not just a paper 1

“Foreign papers are made　to last for 100 years while traditional Japanese papers are for 1,000 years.” Most Japanese people these days don’t consider “foreign paper” as “foreign” any more, rather call it just “paper,” while differentiating Japanese traditional paper as WASHI (meaning "Japanese Paper") . WASHI seems to be something luxurious, special or not for daily use. At least this is how I felt about “WASHI” before.

“IRASHAIMASE!”

As soon as we went through the entrance of the headquarter building of OZU-SAN GYO Co., Ltd., located in Nihonbashi, bending down a bit under the NOREN, a lady stopped her hands and smiled at us, saying “Welcome.”

OZU SANGYO has been doing wholesale business of WASHI for over 350 years at the exact same place with the same technique and spirit. They not only keep the old spirit but also adapt to the new, reading and responding to the time when it lives. OZU SANGYO has been located in one of the most striving commercial areas in Tokyo since the EDO period (1603-1867). Some of our blog readers may have seen scenes of UKIYOE, Japanese woodblock print, that can easily bring us to feel daily moments of merchants’ towns back in time. There is a piece of UKIYOE left where you can spot the first shop of building of OZU-SANGYO!

Back in EDO period, given its strength, WASHI was used to manufacture a wide range of products, such as umbrellas, lanterns, cloths (kimono), dishes and so on. What surprised us the most was, while Mr. Kaneko showed us around in the museum of OZU SANGYO, the WASHI’s amazing characteristics to perpetuate SUMI (carbon) ink. Once it gets penetrated and dried thoroughly, it can hardly be blurred even when soaked with water.

In EDO town, there were fires frequently. Merchants could not lose their important business documents. What did they do? They threw those documents into wells. Once the fires were gone, they would pick up their documents from wells and dry them thoroughly. Magic! All the information was back.

WASHI was and still is made one by one with the hands of skilled craftsmen. According to Mr. Noguchi, in order for those small WASHI craftsmen to keep creating beautiful papers and not to lose their skills, OZU SANGYO is facing the challenge to have more and more people in and outside of Japan know about WASHI and its wonderful characteristics and potentials for our time.

In the next update, I would like to write how OZU SANGYO has evolved with WASHI, creating different products such as non-weaved fabrics, and where they are heading.

Shinryoku

Shinryoku means "new green", a noun that expresses the color or phenomena of the trees of this season. From the end of spring to early summer, tree leaves turn into light and juicy green color. A polite way of saying hi will be:
"It is now the season of Shinryoku..."
(Shinryoku no kisetsu ni narimashita)

Share a Ride

If you are one of the people who hesitate to take a cab in Tokyo because you are afraid of the incredible amount of money you might have to pay, you are not alone. The other 10,000 users on www.takutomo.com are letting Sky-Mint find a solution to their dilemma as well.

Young female entrepreneur Kaoru Iwasaki initiated this Internet portal, accessible through cell phones, for office workers who finish too late for the last scheduled trains to search for partners sharing a taxi. At present, it serves as a matching service for taxi drivers and passengers, possibly strangers to one another beforehand. Here is how it works. Registered users, that is the passengers, post their destination, time and place of departure on the website. Other users with similar plans seeing the post could seek to share the same cab. The information will also be e-mailed to all the taxi drivers registered on the same website.

This way, the drivers efficaciously gain their customers, while the passengers obtain their best bargains. The service is totally free as many as four times a month, whereas it costs 1,050 yen (tax included) for further usage.

So next time when you are about to take a late-night taxi home, would it not be terrific to save your money while at the same time save the earth from excessive carbon emission by using TAKUTOMO.com?

TAKUTOMO.com (only in Japanese)
http://www.takutomo.com

written by Charin

Ecology as Manner

I came across another interesting designing company FunFam.
They are creating table ware for childrens' table manner education. All sets of dishes and utensils are made of bamboo, soft to skin and nice to the eyes. Children can enjoy while learning manner because of the cute icons indicating where to put your fork and knife.
They are now selling in France and some other countries.

After all, ecology is a matter of manner.
Start from when your children are small!

Check out their website
http://www.funfam.jp/

What is Ecology?

What is ecology?
Literally, it is an academic field, developing into a way of thinking in harmony with nature. Green, ecology, sustainability are frequently mixed up concepts, which I think are too easily used these days.

From an Ecotwaza point of view, ecology (or "eco" in Japanese) is:
Actions stemming from the perception that humans are living within the natural cycle.

It is based on "perception", or philosophy of how to position yourself in this world, resulting in specific "action". However great dream you have about an eco-friendly way of living, it will not move on unless you take action. On the other hand, even if you are using eco-friendly goods for your everyday life, it means so less unless you have ever thought about the reasons, effects, philosophy.

There seems to be no concrete definition to the word ecology, but I hope our idea can be a base to your understanding of this vocab.

Sakura

Spring has come again.
The cherry blossom trees in Kunitachi are blooming, creating a long archade of white-pink flowers. The weather was cold this March, resulting in late bloom, and luckily lasting flowers. Sakura trees are planted all around Japan. Hope you got to enjoy the beautiful Sakura in your neigbor!

A Month Back in Bangkok

A Month Back in Bangkok, and What I learnt from the Past Lessons: Part III
Written by Charin Polpanumas

Back in Tokyo were fresh air, consumable tap water, clean streets, and state-of-the-art train system. Pick the most crowded (aka ‘polluted’) street in Tokyo, walk it and you would feel as if you were strolling down the park in Bangkok. Japanese corporations, public and private alike, whether accidentally or otherwise, have flexed their muscles in the way that benefits the environment. Here in Kunitachi, a supermarket retailer, SEIYU, offers a 2-yen discount to each customer with his or her own shopping bags. Even Japan’s world-renowned automobile industry is producing its new lines of hybrid cars. I tried to rationalize this development with Japan’s advanced economy, but I realize it runs way deeper than that. Especially from working with Ecotwaza, I have not seen big corporations but rather very small ones, even family businesses, who hold pride in making their products eco-friendly and socially responsible. Corporate social responsibility—despite how saintly they might appear—could not function as a marketing strategy unless the people embrace it. Whether because of their experience with environmental pollution during the 1960s or the cultural background, it has made the people think more than twice before littering, and when they do, they meticulously separate among PET bottles, cans, combustible and incombustible garbage. It could be said that Japanese have a very conscious mindset when it comes to dealing with the environmental issues.

A Month Back in Bangkok

A Month Back in Bangkok, and What I learnt from the Past Lessons: Part II
Written by Charin Polpanumas

My friends were not the only Thai who left me a reluctant impression on environmental issues; in fact, compared to the Japanese, or even to Americans, almost anyone did. Despite all the hypes going on here in a developing country about reusable shopping bags and water bottles, I suspect most Thai could not careless about taking plastic bags and dumping plastic bottles, into the same bin with newspapers and wet garbage. The only people who participated in the eco-friendly campaign seemed to be either those highly educated, or those following as if into a fashionable trend. If that is what you are thinking, ‘No, we are not simply a simple-minded, selfish race.’ Think about how many people are blessed enough to get a copy of ‘The Inconvenient Truth,’ let alone reading it, while they have to work 10 hours a day in a 35-degree-Celcius environment at the same time—no weekends. True, environmental breakdowns are hurting us as stingy as they do the rest of the world; however, poverty and down-to-earth standard of living are also at our throats. As far as my experience and common sense go, the government is definitely trying, albeit at its pace, and a large portion of the country are willing to trade in their rights in clean air, water and a healthy lifestyle for 150 yen an hour. This has opened for such corporate exploitations as the allegedly intentional toxic leakage from Mae Moh electricity-generating facility. On the big scale, it will be unlikely for Thailand, and I doubt any developing countries, to change. But on the small scale, the slowly and gradually increasing number of people participating in the eco-friendly hypes could contribute to a more vivid renovation in our ways of thinking and doing. And for once in my life, I appreciate Thai people’s being overly susceptible to fashion.

A Month Back in Bangkok

A Month Back in Bangkok, and What I learnt from the Past Lessons: Part I
Article by Charin Polpanumas

I was rushing down the stairs from BTS Sky Train, Bangkok’s only above-the-ground mass transit railway, to ironically enough, a Japanese restaurant, where my high school mates were waiting. I was late. Since the meal could be considered done for, we decided to go to the movie. That was when I was utterly awestruck. We traveled a mere five-block distance, through the city usual 15-minute-at-a-time-traffic-jam, by cars—cars, almost one for each of my friends! I kept the surprise to myself yet could not help wondering why these people, who in their high school years took the buses and Chao Phraya express boats as I did, were not able to do the same thing once they are in universities. I suspected they were not the only college kids doing so. On the other hand, it is quite understandable; it almost literally suffocates you to walk five blocks in Bangkok, and the open-air buses do very little to help you with that. Most of the Thai I met said the distance the Japanese cover on foot every day always surprised them. The vicious cycle began from Thailand’s undeniably poor public transportation. Tokyo has more than 100 train lines serving its metropolitan area; Bangkok has two. Of course, the government has promised more to come, but none has yet to make it as far as reality.
*Picture 1—BTS Sky Train
*Picture 2—Hopewell Train Project, initiated in 1990, never finished

【biz-seed】FUROSHIKI

YAMATO NADESHIKO Co., Ltd.
Wrapping Wonders-Wisdom of a Beautiful Square-



Presents are nice to give and be given. However, don’t you sometimes feel stressed about left over wrapping paper?
Here is good news to lessen your stress. Great Japanese ancestors have left marvelous ideas to “wrap your present with a present”! You should learn how to utilize FUROSHIKI, a square piece of magic that can wrap anything from chocolate boxes to wine bottles to teddy bears, and be used again and again. Nowadays it comes in different shapes and types of fabric to make it casual or chique, depending on who you are surprising. FUROSHIKI can be used by the person you gave it to, or you can always take it home with you..


YAMATO NADESHIKO will provide you beautiful and tender FUROSHIKI. The owner, Keiko Kikuta was previously a food coordinator. Fascinated by this square cloth while using them for professional wine wrapping and table coordination, Keiko decided to open her own shop in Kagurazaka with the mission to spread FUROSHIKI as something nearer to daily life. Her experience in France while studying food coordination let her reevaluate traditional Japanese culture, which now gives Keiko the ability and passion to choose for you the best FUROSHIKI from the various assortment - all with different meanings in behind.

【biz-seed】UMEZUMI Crepe Paper

Sanyo Paper Co., Ltd.
Paper That Deodorize, Absorb Humidity, and Reduce Waste?



A large amount of apricot seeds would have been disposed as industrial waste through the UMEBOSHI production process had Sanyo Paper not seen an opportunity to turn them into their unique paper product. The company has a history of 80 years with abundant experience and technology accumulation for creating recycled industrial wrapping paper. Since founded by Rakuichi Harada, its positive corporate culture has been descended for three generations, now led by Rokujiro Harada with 51 loving corporate members.


In 2003, in search for a new and original product, Sanyo engineered a prototype of UMEZUMI by mixing standard pulp material with charcoaled apricot seeds. After the success, today Sanyo regularly obtains disposed Japanese apricot seeds from Minabe City (Wakayama Pref.) which distributes approximately 60 percent of apricots in Japan. UMEZUMI crepe paper is essentially recycled pulp, apricot seed charcoal and water, making it an entirely recycled and natural product. The included charcoal will absorb humidity and harmful substances and also deodorize. It will be a partner of your shoe box, refrigerator and curtain, while helping to decrease the amount of industrial waste.

【biz-seed】Spectacles between Art and Craft

RYO YAMASHITA
Spectacles that Open Up a Dialogue



RYO YAMASHITA is the last heir of an old EDO KINWAKU* artisan family. Pride and philosophy of ancestors and his established technique gave birth to his simple yet fashionable spectacles. The whole process is handiwork from molding to casting. The radical form will surely inspire the wearer with a crisp tension.
　Following an old saying –“listen to the voice of the material,” YAMASHITA will search for the most suitable function that materials could play, thus coming out in each different shape. “I want to create a tool that keeps dialogue with its user.” Spectacles that increase value the more you use, not like other usual consumer goods. His spectacles are not merely a reappearance of retro eye glasses of Edo era but are an outcome of a seeking for his own new form. The result was this unique pair of glasses, a craft closer to artwork, or vice versa


　 So this is the best harmony of function and form. The all handmade spectacles will naturally induce you to elegant carriage. This work born from 350 years history, never to be found in the West, will surely inspire your excitement.

*EDO KINWAKU was a profession of craftsmen making unique gold eye glasses during the EDO era.

【biz-seed】Plaster Wall Material SUISHI

PAPER WORKS Inc.
Milk Cartons Turned into a Soft-colored Wall Material


Mr. Matsuzaki, executive director of PAPER WORKS Inc., is originally a ceramicist. When he was teaching ceramic at an institution for the disabled, he came across with postcards made from pulps taken out of used milk cartons by the disabled. Handmade WASHI-like texture drew his attention. Making postcards did not pay enough due to limited demand. Mr. Matsuzaki thought of an idea to make a wall material from used milk cartons, and by adding his own clay-used coloring technique as value, he believed it could pay for independent life of the disabled persons suffering from low-income.


　After repeated tests for improvement, SUISHI (wall material) was finally born. It contains nothing else but vegetal glue, recycled pulp, food preservatives, colorant clay and water. It is safe because the pulp is from milk cartons-- originally a food container--, carefully taken out by the hands of the disabled without using chemicals.
　It is a firm policy of PAPERWORKS to make workplace with no discrimination between disabled and non-disabled, all working freshly together.
SUISHI is sending a message ”to make a new sustainable society where people can devote themselves in most human-like work through resource recycling.”

【biz-seed】KEISOU-KUN－Breathing Wall

One Will Co., Ltd.
Breathing Wall with Commitment to the Health of Residents



One Will started off as a supplier of imported houses with a vision to “provide houses that are cool in summer, warm in winter, and healthy”. The trigger to start develop this original natural wall material was an incident back in 1993. They noticed the unnatural smell emitted from the plastic walls of constructed houses, and with faith to their vision, baked out the harmful substances and built in extra ventilation to prevent health problems of customers. Sick-house syndrome is a set of symptoms such as headaches, throat ache and eventually weakened immune systems, resulted from exposure to indoor pollutants – an issue not yet acknowledged at the time.

Since then One Will started to seek a 100% natural, healthy wall material and comes across diatomaceous earth. This natural material consists of numerous sponge-like holes that “breathes” – absorbs and exhales large amount of moisture, keeping the indoor air at a moderate humidity. Noticing its ability to breathe in harmful substances, One Will succeeded to create a wall material that neutralize and literally absorb the acid substances by using alkaline lime paste to solidify the earth materials. The company has done further R&D in partnership with Kanagawa Pref. to improve the effect dramatically.

【biz-seed】NAMBU TEKKI

OIGEN Foundry Co., Ltd.
NAKED PAN A Ferrous Casting Pan Perfect for Baking and Sauté.



Nambu Tekki (ferrous pan) was born in Iwate Prefecture dating back about 900 years in Heian era. Since known to public in Meiji era, it gained high appreciation as traditional Japanese handiwork. Production process of mold casting method makes stale or damaged products reusable by simply melting it down again. NakedPan is 75% made of such recycled ferrous materials.
　　


OIGEN Foundry CO.,LTD, established in 1852 during Edo period, is a cast iron manufacturer of Nambu Tekki since its foundation until present time. OIGEN develops multiple new products and striving for ever fresh iron-product in order to keep up with lifestyle variations. Recently OIGEN obtained a patent for “JOTOYAKI*”; a technique to raise oxide film steadily on iron surface, and developed an eco-friendly and most organic pan. Compared to standard Nambu Tekki the color is lighter gray. The pan, domestically called “Joto Fry pan”, or overseas “NakedPan”, conveys heart of traditional eco-friendly culture of Japan to the world.

*The anti-rust technique by oxide film was established 300 years ago in Nambu iron kettle.

【biz-seed】NANO PURE (nano silver)

Japan Ion Corp.
Antibacterial & Deodorizing Effect by Nano-sized Silver Powder

Silver is recently in the spotlight for its high antibacterial effect while harmless to human. Many of you may have seen silver ion* treated goods. Japan Ion is a pioneer in this area, using the power of silver for public facility hygiene management over 50 years. There are 28,000 hot spring sources, and the technology to install and maintain silver ion sterilization systems to cope with various spring qualities is something no other company can match.
The NANO PURE series is a new product line of nano silver** developed out of their long research on the key technology of silver ion. They prepare silver nano particles in the shape of powder or liquid, for easier utilization in new daily-goods development. It is usable as an alternative to ordinary antimicrobial / deodorizer in cosmetics, soap or textile goods like underwear or socks, also suitable for sterilizer-spray for kitchen items and pet products, safe and effective for a long time. Why not benefiting from Japan Ion and their silver power for your new product development replacing chemical antibacterial or deodorants?

*Silver Ion (Ag+). Charged Ag dissolved within a solvent.
**Nano Silver (Ag). Silver atomic assembled at nano level.

【biz-seed】Towels Weaved by Wind Power Only

Ikeuchi Towel Co., Ltd.
Towels weaved by Wind Power Only with Utmost Safety and Reliability

“Imabari” is a town known for textile production since EDO era. Ikeuchi Towel Co., ltd. is a towel producer with 25 employees based in Imabari since foundation 56 years ago. Starting off in towel-for-export business, they withdrew from overseas due to 1980’s depression. When the Japanese towel industry was suffering from cheap products pouring in from other Asian countries, they decided to pursue “quality” as their competitive advantage.
Aiming first priority “safety” and “quality”, they switched to organic materials, got ISO9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, and were accredited the strictest class-1 of ECOTEX STANDARD in 2001. They also started to purchase green electricity certificates from 2002, which explains why the towels are called “Weaved by wind power only”.

In 2002, they appeared at the Home Textile Show in New York with the sensational display saying “Cotton should be Herbicides Free”. Won the Best New Product Award, distribution in USA at high-end interior shops was realized. Their success abroad came through to Japan, and since after Prime Minister Koizumi (then) mentioned about Ikeuchi Towel in his administrative policy speech, they enjoy a burst of popularity.
Good quality and durability is the most important for the environment. Accumulated trust under a motto “Utmost Reliability and Minimum Environmental Load” gained strong customers’ confidence!　　

【biz-seed】NOBORI Shopping Bag

Additional
Fashionably Re-use


ADditional is a brand managed by an eco-designer, Kayoko Yonaga, with the concept of “fashionably re-use.” She is creating eco-bags by reusing NOBORI, advertisement banners often seen waiving outside of stores in Japan. NOBORI is unique to Japan, with a shape different from orthodox flags-- a vertically long colorful cloth attached to a rod. Its origin is said to date back to the YAYOI period (BC10-AD3 century). Throughout the history of Japan, many types of NOBORI were made as marks to differentiate allies from enemies, with patterns or KANJI characters or family emblems printed.

Ms. Yonaga focused attention on the fact that NOBORI are disposed after a short advertising period, and started to gather pieces from shops to remake them into eco-bags by handiwork. She is integrating “Additional” value as a bag on the NOBORI “AD,” which is the origin of her brand name. The virtue of ADditional eco bags are that they use otherwise disposed NOBORI textile, resulting in waste reduction. Another aspect is the way of production. Since they are hand made, you can even ask for your own original made-to-order bag from the unique patterns.　Start a Stylish Eco-life with This Only One Eco-bag.

Don't Lose your Earrings

Do you have the experience of losing your pierce earrings because the post came off? Well, I do, and it is quite disappointing when there is only one side left and you can't use it anymore. Posts tend to get looser as time goes by, and it is difficult to find just the post that fits your earring.
Ms. Kikunaga, a 28 years old lady in Tokyo, came up with earrings posts that don't come off AND fits whatever kind of earring. She came up with the idea of "a post that doesn't come off" a few years ago, when her boyfriend became angry at her because she lost an earring that he gave her as a present. She drew the design of a post that can fit any diameter and strong, gaining a hint from mechanical pencils. After three years of development, finally she launched a earrings post in cooperation with 8 small companies from Nagano Pref. They all provide tiny tiny parts of the post, crystalizing in this 3mm piece of idea.

If you don't want to waste your earrings anymore by losing the post or one side, try out the Chrysmela post!

Chrysmela Catch
Sold within Japan
http://chrysmela-catch.com/

We are on TV :)

I was on "Business Entrepreneurs", an internet TV program hosted by itv-japan.com, as a guest of Mr. Dave Mori.
First time on TV, and it was a great experience. I actually enjoyed talking with Dave that I forgot about the camera...
The story was mainly about how / why we started this business, but you will also be able to get a glimpse of our magazine and some products that are on it.
Please take a look!

http://www.itv-japan.com/Business-Entrepreneurs.asp

KOMAWARI

KOMAWARI means:
1. ability to turn in a small turns (radius)
2. can adapt quickly to new circumstances because of small organization

The first meaning will apply for compact cars or bicycles. I'm not a driver with technique myself, so I always rent compact cars on vacations...
The second meaning is applied for companies or any kind of organization. KOMAWARI is realized because the organization is small, or has a smooth decision making process, or because everyone is looking in the same direction (or vision).
In the modern world, when things change so rapidly, KOMAWARI is the keyword to success. If you are an owner of a small company, keep it small... and enjoy its ability to turn in small turns.

Small is beautiful!

Lunch with Elaine Young

Elaine, the founder and designer of LABrynth, will be leaving Tokyo in the end of March. We've known eachother since last June, when she arrived in Japan.
She will be in our next issue of Ecotwaza Times, and we really want you to read the full article, of what she is trying to achieve. We had a small fare-well lunch on Friday.
She calls herself an "INITIATOR" rather than a fashion designer, because she is trying to initiate dialogues using her DNA jewelry as a tool (see the previous post to find out what it is). It is not coincidence that Elaine and I randomly started talking at a cafe in Omotesando because I was sitting next to her table and became interested in her artistic bag and jewelry catalogue. That was what her designe work is all about!

So a comment from Elaine about Tokyo...
“I’ve always been very comfortable and attracted to Tokyo ever since I first came here when I was 13. I think that the role aesthetics play in the rituals of Japanese culture historically and in modern lifestyle naturally attracts curious personalities – specifically those in the arts. And, as a result of this, I think I’ve gained a new appreciation for the role that aesthetics can play politically and socially. I’ve met numerous of inspiring people from all over the world during my stay – and am happy to say that I’m sure many of them will be life-long friends.”

Yes, I am pretty sure that our friendship will be life-long!
Good luck, and we will see eachother again... for sure!

How to Exchange Name Cards

Name Cards are called MEISHI in Japanese.
Have you ever had trouble exchanging name cards in Japan?
Well here's a quiz.


Q) In which manner should you exchange name cards with a Japanese businessman? Choose the correct answer from below.


A) Softly throw cards on the table in front of each other.
B) Bow three times and the person who bowed faster will get to receive the other’s card.
C) Look into each others’ eyes and exchange cards at the height of breasts.

-ANSWER-
The answer is C. Name cards are referred to “face” in Japan, and treating the counterpart’s card poorly is considered to be extremely rude. It is manner to hold out cards to each other with both hands, and the more important or elderly one should receive the other’s card first at the height of his/her breast. After exchanging, put the card on top of your card holder and place it on the table (or hold it in front of you) while talking. Delicately put it away into your card holder before ending the conversation, and be careful not to stick it into your pocket or wallet. You will be considered polite if you can readily go through this procedure.

I don't know if this article can be categorized as "sustainable custom", but at least it is a custom valued heavily in Japan, and it will be important for you to remember if you want to build a sustainable relationship with a Japanese business partner!

LAByrinth—map the future INITIATIVE

LAB + Labyrinth
LAByrinth is a fashion brand of items inspired by life sciences. The all capitalized LAB stands for ‘laboratory,’ which represents its scientific aspect; labyrinth takes the literary interpretation as an intricate structure composed of intertwined passages, intersections, and dead ends—the more artistic aspect. Elaine Young, a Canadian of Hong Kong descent, founded it in 2000 in order to facilitate innovative projects pertaining to the natural harmony of the animate and the inanimate, as well as projects that provide basic needs to those who lack. She chose Tokyo as the first place for her activities because of the city's ability to absorb various culture and the fasionable people. As an initiative, she has introduced two product lines of creative biotech accessories—HOST and AMULA DNA Jewelry.

Magnificent Magnification
The former one has its emphasis on microscopic images of honeybees, fleas or even the human retinas—all beyond the perception of naked eyes. With style, LAByrinth enlarges, optimizes and apply them to bags, laptop cases, stash pockets, pillow covers, or simply print them out as art prints.

What comes into your mind about DNA?
Of course, we think of the controversial stem cell research. Of course, it rips our nerves apart simply to imagine about ultimately where the cloning technology is going to take us. However, if one 1asks the same question to Elaine Young, it is very likely that she would say, ‘fashion.’ AMULA DNA Jewelry features artistically classy lockets, which contain whimsical scientific touch—visually amplified DNA extracted from reindeers, pandas, your personal DNA, or even your pets’.

Beauty of the Unseen
LAByrinth should remind us how minute our perceptions are. Simply with an imaginative twist and turn, Elaine Young has shown and brought us closer to the unseen beauty of nature.

Website
http://www.lab-yrinth.net/

FUROSHIKI

Today, 2/23 is the day for Wrapping (TSUTSUMI) in Japan.
Japan has a culture of wrapping instead of carrying in bags that have a still shape. FUROSHIKI is a piece of square cloth, usually made of silk, that is used to wrap and carry. It comes in various sizes and color, so you can enjoy different designs for all four seasons.

When you bring a present to your friends' house, instead of carrying it in a paper bag wrap it in a FUROSHIKI so you don't have to leave extra waste. It will be elegant, and to make it even better, you can even give the FUROSHIKI as a present too.


There is a fancy FUROSHIKI shop in Kagurazaka that you may want to visit.
YAMATONADESHIKO
http://www.yamatonadeshiko-tokyo.com/about_the_furoshiki.html
The owner, Keiko, was living in France for a while. Ask her for support in choosing which FUROSHIKI for certain occasions. The photo on this article is from YAMATONADESHIKO.

The Value of 5mm

Have you ever heard of a Japanese company named "Inotech"?
I bet you haven't. It is a small company based in Hyogo Prefecture which has the best technology to make NUTS. Yes, nuts to fasten two things together.
Led by Mr. Inoue, it is a company of 32 people with the highest technology level in creating made-to-order nuts. They are making nuts that are durable as parts of space satelites, airplanes, medical devices and other machines that demand high level quality and tolerance. If you are looking for a a partner that can create the first prototype for any kind of high-tech implement, this is the company you need to speak to!

Inotech website
http://www.inot.co.jp
Only in Japanese, so contact info(at)ecotwaza.com if you are interested.

Simplicity is Virtue

EKIKAN NO ZEN (易簡の善) will be the Japanese word for saying "the virtue of simplicity". It is originaly a concept from China based on a book of fortune telling, but there was a Japanese man in the public sector who redifined this concept based on his local position in Japan during the 17th century. Hanzan Kumazawa was in charge of public infrastructure during the Edo Period. He had his own philosophy about public welfare, that "forests and rivers are the fundamentals of a country, but it is not abundant in Japan. Hence, Japan should not apply the Chinese way nor Indian way of building temples or infrastructure. We should make it simple and use less wood".
It was a concept that came from careful comparison between traditional philosophy and natural resource between the bigger countries and small island. He was a very local person with educational background of Confucism (which was the major school in the Edo period). Instead of "applying" a global way of thinking to the local circumstance, he built a new philosophy truly stemming from the local landscape and experience.
It can be applied to modern Japanese infrastructure (instead of developing huge roads and plants, make it simple and small) and also as an example to other small countries with less natural resource. It tells us the importance of keeping local philosophy instead of just applying the so-called "global standards".

KIWA

KIWA is a brand led by a 30 years old young designer, Kiwa Nishiuchi.
They make dresses from CHIRIMEN, a traditional Japanese cloth originally used for KIMONOs. CHIRIMEN is usually colored with natural ingredients. You can enjoy its unique texture, durable to folding (even rolling up) and strong to washing. Today I had coffee with Kiwa-san, and fell in love with her dress collection!

KIWA website
http://kiwa-sh.sv1.catch-cms.jp/

UCHIYAMA GAMI

There are several regions in Japan famous for making unique WASHI, and UCHIYAMA GAMI(*) from Shinano, Nagano Prefecture is one of them. Its unique style is said to have started in 1661, during the EDO period.
You can get an idea of how they make this WASHI from this page. It is in Japanese but with many pictures.
http://www.uchiyama-gami.jp/kotei.html

The unique part is that they leave the still black bark of wood on the surface of snow. When the snow melt and evaporate, it gives off Ozon, bleaching the bark in a natural manner. No need for chemical bleach. After the dark colors of bark turn white, it is dried under the sun and goes onto the next step of making pulp.
Nagano is an area of harsh winter and heavy snow, and this technology is so in harmony with the local climate!

Mr. Abe, the last heir of UCHIYAMA GAMI, is an open minded man in search for the next era of WASHI. He has collaborated with designers in Tokyo to make lighting interior with UCHIYAMA GAMI, and holds a brief case made of WASHI himself. (The brief case is lasting for over 10 years. Amazing) I hope many of us can appreciate the "process" of how WASHI is made, and enjoy its texture in everyday interior.


(*)KAMI is paper, and is pronounced GAMI when put after other words.

See more about UCHIYAMA GAMI from this Japanese website.
http://www.uchiyama-gami.jp

WASHI

WASHI, written 和紙(Japanese Paper), is a traditional paper made from wood pulp of KOZO or MITSUMATA, trees original to Japan. By soothing pulp and sometimes small pieces of thinned gold or colored pulp in water repeatedly, it is made into paper with the unique rough texture. WASHI is essencial for SHOJI (the Japanese windows you can see in Tatami rooms) or expensive Japanese-styled walls and lighting interior. People of old Japan would use WASHI for writing, and recycled it repeatedly. The traditional process, which is sadly fading away, uses no chemical ingredients, and is completely sustainable. These days, more expensive and traditional WASHI companies are in trouble because of cheep mass-production WASHI-likes are imported from other Asian countries, and the wood for pulp ingredients are no longer sustainably grown in Japan. So if you are a real WASHI fan, please don't run for the cheap WASHI-likes, but choose the ones made with best ingredients and craftsmanship!

Cover Shooting at Narita Airport

This is a picture of our photographer, Takashi Kurosawa taking a picture of the artwork by Hiroko Sai for our next Ecotwaza Times. The artwork is in the center of Narita International Airport. (We had to pass through so many guards and security centers to come in!) Hiroko Sai, the "Friend of UN" has done so many exhibitions in Europe and even lived in a world heritage... her ways of conceiving space is very different from European artists, I would say it is near to old Japanese philosophy, yet she is not trying to make it "look Japanese". The pictures will be on the next magazine coming out in March!

What is Ecotwaza?

What is Ecotwaza?
Figuratively speaking, Ecotwaza is a bridge stretching from the Japanese archipelagoes towards the rest of the world, on which traverse a caravan of environmental friendly goods. ‘Eco’ is the abbreviation for ‘ecology’ and ‘waza’ is Japanese for ‘technology’ or ‘skills.’ The ‘t’, which can also be viewed as ‘+’ literally means ‘and’ in Japanese. Hence, as its namesake suggests, founded in 2006, Ecotwaza aims ‘to lower the ecological footprint of the global society.’ In order to achieve the expectation, it provides business-matching service between entrepreneurs of small eco-friendly business in Japan and international suppliers through various means of media.

How?
Ecotwaza quarterly publishes Ecotwaza Times—a bilingual magazine, on sale in Tokyo, which showcases environmental technology as well as traditional handicraft by small Japanese business. Ecotwaza could coordinate—for instance, providing translation—during the meetings that hopefully contribute to establishment of overseas partnership. In this February, it will also launch its online shopping portal for the product samples listed on Ecotwaza Times. Moreover, Ecotwaza hosts a monthly salon for personnel from different industries to exchange their thoughts on the environmental issues as well as eco-friendly business.

Why Japan? Why small business?
Japan has had its painful yet a memorable lesson on the environmental issues early; that is, the pandemic of pollution as a result of rapid economic growth in the 1960s. Having learnt from its mistakes, Japan possesses, in its small business sectors, the seeds of state-of-the-art environmental technology. However, since they are relatively small and not equipped with English proficiency, they remain invisible to and untapped by the world. Ecotwaza is, to the eyes of the globe, an electron microscope that magnifies and put into focus the massive hidden potential of the Japanese business seeds.

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An Idea for Your Wedding

In Japan, wedding party is a big thing just like many other parts of the world. Couples usually throw a large party, and after the party give out presents to the attendants. This is a bag of coffee grounds given out as a present at a wedding party. Using fair trade coffee beens, it was especially blended by the married couple. By explaining what fair trade is on the bag design, this present was effective to spread the concept of "fair trade" to indifferent friends in a natural manner. Other presents frequently picked are URUSHI or other traditional plates and hand made products. How about using such nice and enlighting presents for your wedding too?

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Some More about GOTO...

Another thing I loved about GOTO was the number of cats. Possibly because there are many ports, cats were cuddled everywhere, usually half-pets.
And about food... GOTO milk was so sweet and dense, just delicious. GOTO beef, GOTO UDON and HAKOFUGU baked with Miso were great too!!!

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GOTO ISLE Church

This is one of the oldest wooden church architectures in Japan I visited in GOTO. Nagasaki was the place where the first Portuguese Christian missionaries arrived in the Edo period. Goto was a place where they engaged in their first missionary works, and also was the place for banishment when Christianity was banned by the Edo Government. There are many wooden chapels in the area. I attended a Christmas mass, and it was interesting since you had to take off shoes at the entrance, and there was a Tatami space. After the mass we were served GOTO UDON (yummy!) outside. It is nice to see a religion localized.

Goto Isle

GOTO, written "Five Islands" in Kanji characters, is an Isle part of Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu Island. It is consisted of over 100 small islands, with five main islands.
GOTO is a peaceful area with less development, which leaves abundant nature. You can even sight small primary forests. With a beautiful seashore, the best season to visit is said to be summer, but the fish cuisine is best in winter. Many people visit just to enjoy fishing too. There is an island with only one traffic light, and this was built to educate the children traffic law so they don't get into trouble when they go out of their island. If you want to see a "good-old" Japan, GOTO is the place.

Small is Beautiful

Small Is Beautiful: Economics As If People Mattered
Written by E. F. Schumacher

Another fabulous book. Written in the 70s, this book gives us a deep insight about economics and development. Economics is indeed a great set of theories, however when it is used to "forecast" the future, there are so many uncertain conditions that it suddenly becomes a castle built on sand. This book points out the likely pitfalls that we tend to fall in, which was proven at the time of the oil shock and proved again last year. It also stresses many things opposite to what is thought best. For example, the importance of transferring "Intermediate Technology" (rather old fashioned technology) to developing countries instead of bringing cutting edge techs. Or as the title says, the importance of keeping it "small" instead of making everything as large as possible. This book will be a guide to the next economic era.

HANETSUKI

HANETSUKI is a traditional game in Japan. The rule is simple, two people hit back and forth a HANE (ball with a feather) with HAGOITA (wooden racket). The one that hit back more wins. Everytime you win, you get to scribble on the other's face with charcoal. The picture above was sent to us from the president of Econoix. As we wrote on their article, the ball was traditionally made with soap nut seeds. We see less children playing HANETSUKI withi KIMONO these days, but try it out while you are in Japan! There are many beautiful HAGOITA sold around traditional areas.

HASHI (Chopsticks)

HASHI means chopsticks.
Although there are many theories that explain the roots of this word, an interesting explanation is the one that relates to "bridge". Bridge in Japanese is "HASHI", the same pronounciation but different intonation. The Kanji character differs as well, but the sound came first from ancient Japanese, and the Kanji was applied later on.

Chopsticks is a tool to carry food to your mouth.

Food is life. It used to be life of an animal or plant.
We eat to maintain our life.
So HASHI (chopsticks) is a HASHI (bridge) that connects a life to our life.

When you think about HASHI like this, it makes us think twice about eating too much, or leaving leftovers, or even about throwing away disposable chopsticks. People of the old days burned and placed their chopsticks in shrines after using it out.

Another interesting custom for SHOGATSU related to HASHI is the picture below.

Instead of normal HASHI with one side thinner than the other to make it easier to grip, HASHI for New Years are symmetry on both sides. This is said to be because one side is for ourselves, and the other side is for the God (or Gods, since Japanese tradition is a vague paganism).

SHOGATSU Rules?

SHOGATSU is New Years day.
It is a big holiday in Japan, and we usually spend time with our family at home, or visit shrines for HATSUMODE.
There are many unspoken rules, or traditions related to SHOGATSU.

The ones I like are the OTOSO and OSECHI.

OTOSO is Sake spiced with herbs that we only drink for New Years day.

There are three cups with different size, and we pass it around the family members. Usually, Japanese customs tell us to respect the elders, but in case of OTOSO, the younger one gets to drink first. This is so that the older people can regain youth by drinking after the young ones.

OSECHI is a Bento prepared especially for New Years.

We usually have a similar set of menu each with a meaning, like shrimp (for a long life) and sweet black beans (to be diligent). Of course details vary according to region and family. We are supposed to eat OSECHI for three days. This is to let housewives rest after the busy cleaning and preparing for New Years.

The URUSHI dishes and bento boxes are beautiful, and many families pass it on for generations. These customs reminds us of how we are "kept alive" by many other species and nature. Partying is nice too, but try out this Japanese-style New Years too!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu.
(Meaning "Happy new year" in Japanese)

Wishing that 2009 will be a fabulous year for all of us.