K I ZU NA
Linking Japan and the World

Spring2021

KIZUNA

KANAZAWA SHOKO
Calligraphy Artist
Born in Tokyo in 1985, she started learning
calligraphy from her mother when she wasfive years old. One of the notable young
calligraphers of today, her solo exhibitions
have been held throughout the world,in cities such as New York, Singapore,and Prague. She was selected as one of theofficial poster artists for Tokyo 2020.

Welcome to KIZUNA, the official
magazine of the Government of Japan.
This bold work of calligraphy is
絆(kizuna) written in Japanese. Kizuna
means the enduring bonds between
people—close relationships forgedthrough mutual trust and support.
Originally describing the rope used
to tether domestic animals such as
horses and dogs, the meaning of
kizuna has evolved over the years. A
passage in The Tale of the Heike,compiled in the 13th century, uses theterm to refer to the bonds of love
between a father and his children.
More recently, kizuna has gone
beyond bonds tying together family
and close acquaintances; it is now
used in a broader sense of human ties
and connections. Of particular note is
the kizuna born among people during
natural calamities, which fosters
feelings of solidarity and serves as theunderlying strength to overcome
hardships.
Similarly, the kizuna cultivatedamong the countries of the world has
the power to deepen cooperation for abetter future. By reporting on a wide
variety of topics concerning Japan, we
hope that this magazine will provide
opportunities for Japan and the rest of
the world to connect and build
strong kizuna.

CONTENTS
PORTRAITS OF JAPAN04

Sakura Celebrate the Rejuvenated Tohoku
RESILIENCE

06“Arigato” from Japan for Supporting Reconstruction
SUSTAINABILITY

08

Plant-Derived Material Will Change the Futureof Automobiles
HEALTH & WELFARE

10

Reforming the Social Security System
to Create Fairness Among Generations
LIFE & CULTURE

12Bringing Happiness to Women with Disabilities in LaosSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

14

Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa2 Reveals
the Origin of the Solar System
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

16

Digital Transformation Propels Tourism
Toward the Future
LIFE & CULTURE

18

Robots Carry Sushi Artisanship to the Future
LIFE & CULTURE

20

Sake for the World: The Challenge ofan American Sake Brewer
POLICY & DIPLOMACY22

The Role of Criminal Justice in Achieving the SDGs
RESILIENCE

24

Self-Reliant Energy Enhances Local Resilience
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

26

New ID Card System Creates Solutions
for Regional City
RESILIENCE

28

Utilizing the City’s Underground Spaces to Prevent
Flood Damage
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

30

Young Minds Apply Tradition to Support
Global Food Production
LIFE & CULTURE

32

Drawing Natural Beauty with
Traditional Japanese Pigments

Spring 2021

COVER
Children run gleefully under a schoolof blue carp swimming in the skies
above Higashimatsushima City in
Miyagi Prefecture. In celebration ofChildren’s Day on May 5, it is a
traditional custom in Japan to put up
these carp-shaped streamers, calledkoinobori, to wish for the healthy
growth and development of children.
In Higashimatsushima, which wasdevastated by the 2011 Great East
Japan Earthquake, these blue koinobori
are displayed every year tocommemorate the children who losttheir lives in this tragedy. The
streamers have now become a symbolof the city’s recovery from the disaster.

03

PORTRAITS OF JAPANSAKURA

CELEBRATE THE REJUVENATEDTOHOKU

Iwate
Miyagi

Fukushima

As news of blooming sakura (cherry blossoms) in different regions
reaches across the country, spring comes to the hearts of Japanese people.
Cities in the Tohoku region, devastated by a major catastrophe
on a spring day ten years ago, are once again graced by sakura this year.

FUKUSHIMA福島

The Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of March 11, 2011, followed by the nuclear power plant
accident, overwhelmed Fukushima. Aizuwakamatsu City, in the inland western part of the prefecture, is thesite of a castle—Tsurugajo—famous for having been impregnable. Every spring, 1,000 cherry trees blossom
gloriously, symbolizing the indomitable spirit of Fukushima’s citizens.

04

IWATE岩手

As an icon of spring in Japan, sakura is joined by koinobori (carp streamers). Carp is a traditional symbol of social
success for Japanese people, and koinobori are displayed on May 5, Children’s Day, as prayers for the health andgrowth of children. Flowing through Iwate Prefecture, the Kitakami River is festooned with about 300 carp
swimming through the air, lifting up prayers for a peaceful world.

MIYAGI
宮城Long famous as one of the most scenic spots in Japan, Matsushima comprises a unique seascape of about
260 interlacing islets on the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. Although damaged by the massive tsunami
caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake, its beautiful scenery has miraculously endured. Among thevarious affected areas in Tohoku, tourism first recovered here, driving the revitalization of the region.

05

RESILIENCE“ARIGATO”
FROM JAPANFOR SUPPORTING RECONSTRUCTION
After the disastrous Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, which triggered a tsunami along the coast,
many countries across the globe responded by donating generous amounts of aid. Now, one decade later,
the time has come once again for Japan to give thanks to the world.

CANADA
Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture

Natori City was hit hard by the huge tsunami,
which caused unprecedented damage mainly along
the Pacific coastline where Sendai International
Airport is situated. Canada—no stranger tointernational exchange with the city—launched theCanada-Tohoku Reconstruction Project, providing
aid for the reconstruction of community facilities
in Natori in partnership with the provincial
governments of British Columbia and Alberta, andthe timber group Canada Wood.
In 2013, the project finished building the Donguri
Anne Public Library, followed by the Maple-kan

KUWAIT

JAPAN

CANADA

AUSTRALIA

morning market facility. Serving as a symbol for
post-disaster recovery, the Maple-kan pavilion
was constructed with Canadian timber on thesite of the Yuriage Harbor Morning Market—afamous attraction in pre-disaster days—which wascompletely obliterated by the tsunami and sincerebuilt. Local residents continually give thanks
for Canada’s support, making such comments as,“Having lost everything, we treat it as a giftfrom heaven,” and “Now that this Maplekan has been built we feel inspired to givelife another go.”At present, Natori’s fishing port has
succeeded in building back up the local
population of blood clams, reputed to be
the finest in Japan. In addition, the Natori
Cycle Sports Center—which had operated
a roughly 4 km cycling route along thecoast before it was completely destroyed—
has also been rebuilt, giving cycling
Left: The Maple-kan, which has given so much hope and energy to residents.
enthusiasts and families a renewed chance
Right: The Donguri Anne Public Library offers a place of peace and tranquility
to the people of Natori.
to enjoy the coastline.

06

KUWAIT

AUSTRALIA

Sanriku Railway, Iwate Prefecture
Nihonmatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture

Kamaishi City,
Iwate Prefecture

To honor the country, eight railcars bought with the aid have been
inscribed in Arabic with the words “We greatly appreciate the support
from the State of Kuwait” and decorated with Kuwait’s national emblem.

Following the giant earthquake, Kuwait gave
five million barrels of crude oil (equivalent to $500
million) to Japan free of charge, with the monetaryproceeds donated to Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima
prefectures. A portion of the aid was used for the
restoration of the Sanriku Railway, an important
lifeline connecting heavily damaged areas along thewhole 107.6 km length of the Iwate coastline. When
service was finally restored after more than three yearsof reconstruction work, local residents flocked to thestations waving Kuwaiti flags.
Aid from Kuwait was also being used to support
the reconstruction of affected businesses and schools.
Nihonmatsu City, which received the aid, wanted
to repay this kindness. Knowing that Kuwait had
previously won several Olympic shooting medals, thecity announced that it would host Kuwait’s Olympic
and Paralympic shooting teams for Tokyo 2020,
utilizing the city’s clay and rifle shooting ranges.
The city, along with students from the local Adachi
Higashi High School, has prepared a special menu
for the team based on Kuwait’s national dish, biryani,using ingredients cultivated by the students throughthe application of GAP.* Local residents are looking
forward to welcoming the Kuwaiti team.
The students havecreated avegetable-packed
biryani-style curry
and a consommé
julienne with onions
grown at the school“to help the Kuwaiti
team relax in Japan.”

Tsunami waves as tall as 9.3 m devastated Kamaishi
City, the birthplace of modern steelmaking thatdrove the Japanese economy,
which is also famous as a fishingand rugby town. Ten years
ago, when the disaster struck,
the Australian Scott Fardy,
then-member of the Kamaishi
Seawaves rugby club (and later,
member of the Australiannational team), refused to beairlifted out of Japan against
the advice from his country’s At the “Welcome Back Fardy!” meeting,
Scott Fardy had fun mingling with the local
embassy in Tokyo, and instead residents.
remained in Kamaishi with his
teammates to continue assisting with heavy work suchas moving vital relief supplies.
In 2018, the city invited Fardy and his teammatesback to show them how the recovery efforts had
progressed in what was dubbed a “Welcome Back
Fardy!” meeting. The players from Australia toured
the construction site of a rugby stadium destined
to be a symbol of post-disaster recovery in the mostheavily damaged area of Unosumai, and had somerugby fun with local residents. The following year saw
Kamaishi successfully become one of the host venues
for the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, during
which time the city became a bustling hub of activity.
“We live in appreciation of the support we havereceived, and want to say that we are working hardeach and every day to rebuild the area,” say the local
residents. Even now, a full decade after the earthquake
struck, memories of the generous aid received still
support the people of Kamaishi.
The Kamaishi
Unosumai Memorial
Stadium hosted amatch during the
Rugby World Cup
2019. It was the
Sanriku Railway,
rebuilt with aid from
Kuwait, thatbrought spectators
to watch rugby here.

*GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) are a set of principles, regulations, and technical recommendations applicable to production, processing, and food transport, addressing
human health care, environment protection, and improvement of worker conditions. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2007, “the guidelinesof Good Agricultural Practices for family agriculture”)

07

PLANT-DERIVED
MATERIAL

WILL CHANGE THE FUTURE OF AUTOMOBILESLightweight and super-strong, cellulose nanofiber is an innovative
material based on cellulose—a renewable resource from trees and plants—
promising a wide spectrum of potential applications in various fields,
including the automobile industry.
To achieve carbon neutrality by
the year 2050—a goal declaredby the Suga administration
last
October—technologicalinnovation is imperative. One
case illustrative of that effort isthe development of cellulose
nanofiber (CNF), a new ultrafine material derived from thecellulose found in trees and otherplants. Disentangled on the nanolevel from natural cellulose, each
CNF strand ranges from just four
to 20 nanometers thick (1 nm
equaling one-billionth of a meter).
Compared to steel of the same
volume, CNF weighs one-fifth
and is eight times stronger. Dueto these properties, resin can be
reinforced with CNF to produce

Wood chips

a high-performance compoundmaterial.
Japan has developed various
technologies to render CNFresin production processes more
efficient. Research is underway
on a multitude of applications
for the material, with thoseforautomobiles
appearingparticularly
promising.
In
2016, Japan’s Ministry of theEnvironment launched the Nano
Cellulose Vehicle (NCV) project,attracting the involvement of 22
research institutes and companies.
In autumn 2019, the projectgenerated buzz by exhibiting awooden concept car at the Tokyo
Motor Show. Thirteen parts ofthe car (including the hood) were

Wood pulp fiber

made from CNF resin, reducing
the vehicle’s total weight by 16%,
while a simulation showed asignificant 11% improvement infuel economy.
Leading the NCV project
is Kyoto University Professor
USUKI Arimitsu, who has
devoted more than three decadesof his career to researching anddeveloping compound materials
at Toyota Central R&D Labs.,
Inc. He says, “A great advantage of
CNF is that it is recyclable. Using
the material should contribute tovastly reducing the environmental
impact of a vehicle over its
life cycle, from raw-material
procurement to manufacture anddisposal.”
Toyota Boshoku Corporation,
which has been using plantderived kenaf fibers in auto partsfor many years, was in charge ofdeveloping the outer panels anddoor trim of the NCV concept

Cellulose nanofiber

To produce CNF,
pulp fibers are
extracted fromwood and are thenmicro-refined to thenano-level.

08

SUSTAINABILITY

Professor Usuki, who led the NCV project, says,“As there is little activity by researchers overseas
to mix CNF with resin to make new compounds,
Japan could lead in this field.”car. Speaking about the potentialof CNF, TSUGE Motokiof the company’s New Value
Creation Center says, “You can
produce CNF resin with existing
manufacturing
equipment,
avoiding the need to develop new
machinery, which is a key benefitof the resin. A wider recognitionof CNF’s contribution to cutting
CO2 emissions, as well as toreducing costs of production,
ought to lead to its morewidespread adoption.”
Products employing CNF are
already being marketed in othersectors, including such products
as sports shoes and home
appliances, where light weightand durability are musts. Owing
to its excellent thermal resistance,
moreover, CNF is highly suited
to use in housing, such as in the
production of window sashes andglass. Applying the knowledge
gained in the NCV project, theMinistry of the Environmentis endeavoring to introduce thetechnology to a wide variety offirms through its Nano Cellulose
Matching project.
In order to introduce CNF
into automobile manufacturing,further tests are needed to verify
its long-term durability andperformance in related areas.
Nevertheless, the material holds

great promise toward achieving
a carbon-free society. Professor
Usuki says, “The performanceof resin can be substantially
improved simply by mixing thesubstance with a small amount of
CNF. Moreover, its primary basematerial—trees—grows all overJapan. Although the realizationof lower vehicle weights and low
carbonization are perennial issues
for automobile manufacturers,
I think that CNF is an amazing
material that has the potential toachieve both.”

CNF has been utilized invarious products already on themarket, such as for cushioningin running-shoe soles and thebodies of stick vacuum cleaners.
Resin for housing materials is
also in development.

The NCV project concept car exhibited at theTokyo Motor Show. Thirteen parts, including thedoor trim and floor parts, were made with CNF.

09

REFORMING THE SOCIAL SECURITY
SYSTEM TO CREATEFAIRNESS AMONG
GENERATIONS“Social Security Reform for All Generations” to contain the increased burden of an aging society
and address the declining birthrate.

10

HEALTH & WELFARE

The combination of a declining birthrate andan aging population is a major issue in developed
countries. In Japan, where the two trends arose sooner
than elsewhere, social security is an area urgently
in need of reform. While Japan boasts a worldacclaimed system that includes universal healthcare,by which all citizens gain reliable access to medicalcare, the number of the system’s beneficiaries hasgrown in recent years due to the graying of society.
By contrast, the number of contributors to the system
has decreased, thus steadily increasing the burden on
younger generations.
In response to the issue, in December 2020, threemonths after the Suga administration’s inauguration,
the government released its final report on “Social
Security Reform for All Generations,” spelling out
reforms that show its determination to address
challenging issues that have thus far proven too
difficult to overcome. By reforming the current
social security structure, under which the benefits
are provided mainly to the elderly, with the working
generation taking on the burden, the government
aims to create a system where people of all generations
support each other equally.
Gakushuin University Professor of Economics
ENDO Hisao, an expert involved in formulating thereform policy, says, “It’s very significant that the final
report clearly demonstrates that the government—
while asking people with the financial wherewithal tobear the burden—is responsible for offering security
to those people who are truly struggling, regardlessof their generation.” The healthcare reforms willraise the patient’s copayment ratio for medical careexpenses borne by seniors of 75 or older, and whoearn above a certain level of income, from the current
10% of the total to 20%, in the aim of reducing theProfessor ENDO Hisao in the facultyof economics at Gakushuin University(Tokyo), and a specialist in social
security and health economics. He has
held various key public positions,
including president of the Japan Health
Economics Association, president of
the National Institute of Populationand Social Security Research, andchairman of the Social Security
Council. Since 2019, he has served asa member of the Council on Social
Security Reform for All Generations.

national medical care expenditures devoted to theelderly.
The reforms will also involve reducing theconcentration of patients at large hospitals, and suchmeasures will help create a system that optimizes
medical resources. As for measures dealing withthe declining birthrate and childcare assistance,
the reforms incorporate a number of actions, suchas expanding insurance coverage include fertility
treatment, establishing more day nurseries andchildcare facilities, and encouraging men to takepaternity leave.
Above all, measures to deal with the declining
birthrate are of great importance, since they form
the basis for not only maintaining the social security
system but also keeping the economy growing.
Professor Endo says, “We absolutely must avoid
producing an atmosphere that may coerce people tohave children. We should continue with policies thatcreate an environment where young people who want
children can fulfill their hopes.” The government’s
assistance in funding fertility treatment has gradually
led to an increase in the number of children born
thereby. According to the Japan Society of Obstetrics
and Gynecology, approximately 6% of all births
nationwide were assisted by in-vitro fertilization in
2018.
With the treatment to be covered by insurance, notonly will the financial burden be further reduced, butmore medical institutions will offer fertility treatment,
thus making it more accessible. The resulting benefits
will be numerous, including progress in developing
more effective and safer technology. The policy of
insurance coverage for fertility treatment symbolizes
the Japanese government’s commitment to fully
supporting young people who want to have and raisechildren.
Professor Endo says, “Two decades from now, thechildren who were born today will be supporting oursociety. Though we need to be patient enough to wait
until we see the outcome of those policies, we must
implement them now.” Having worked out forwardlooking reforms, Japan will continue to review andenhance them while moving ahead to guide thecountry into becoming a truly affluent society in the
future. 

11LIFE & CULTURE

BRINGING
HAPPINESSTO WOMEN WITHDISABILITIES IN LAOS

JAPANEnabling aid to reach those who are often overlooked:
A Japanese woman creates a workplace for Laotian people
with disabilities to help them on their way to self-reliance.
It began with a simple questionin her mind: why weren’t there
any children with disabilities in
Laotian schools? ISHIHARA
Yurina had been an active
volunteer from her student years,
participating in programs to help
people in developing countries.
After graduation, she helped tobuild schools in Nepal and Laos.
She noticed, however, that it wasrare to see people with disabilities
in Laotian society. There werechildren with disabilities, but they
were tucked away in their homes.
“No matter how many facilities
we built, with the country’s
welfare system still in progress,
some children remained out ofreach. It was disheartening,” sighs
Ishihara.
Turning her eyes to theexistence of people withdisabilities, Ishihara began tothink not just about disabledchildren, but disabled adults,
too. There were people who had
grown up without ever having
gone to school, and it troubled
her particularly that women withdisabilities were especially likely
to remain hidden away in theirhomes. There were other groups
providing support for children,
so Ishihara decided to extend
support to disabled adults, as
they were less likely to receive
aid. Helping them to find work
ISHIHARA YURINA
She leads the nonprofit organization
Support for Woman’s Happiness. After
helping to build schools in Nepal andLaos, she co-established XonPhao, aworkshop in Laos that employs disabled
women—a group of people previously
kept away from the eyes of society.
Workshop members produce handicraft
items, and Ishihara hopes to see thewomen gain confidence and happiness at
XonPhao and win a way to self-reliance.

LAOS

These embroidered-ball earrings are the fruit ofa cross-border collaboration between workshops fordisabled persons in Laos and Japan.

and learn to speak out would also
lead to the creation of a better
future for disabled children, shereasoned.
Ishihara began by visiting
welfare facilities in Laos andcalling on disabled people intheir homes, offering daily life
support. In 2017, she launched
an organization in Japan called
Support for Women’s Happiness,and opened a workshop in the
Laotian capital of Vientianewith the collaboration of local
participants. The workshop
provides employment for women

ISHIHARA Yurina (right) and two women of the workshop.

12

Members of XonPhao. Some had suffered leg amputations as a result of polio at a young age; others struggle with paralysis in
their fingers. Whatever their disabilities are, they do what they can and share the work in a spirit of helpfulness.

with disabilities so that they canwork toward greater self-reliance.
During a home visit, a woman
with disabilities told Ishihara, “I
want you to make a workplace
where disabled people and poor
women can work—where we canbe assured of a minimum wage.”Those words motivated her tobegin the project.
The name of the workshop
is XonPhao Disabled People
Working Group. Xonphao means“people or ethnic group” inthe Laotian language, and theworkshop also accepts disabledmen, including some of thewomen’s brothers and husbands.
About 30 people work there
today, many of them in their 20s.

The work at XonPhao centerson the manufacture of handicraft
products. The workshop develops
gift items that draw on traditional
Laotian weaving techniques, andit also collaborates across borders
by co-producing items withJapanese workshops. One productthat has proved to be popular isan embroidered ball that is first
sewn at the XonPhao workshop,
then sent to another workshop
for disabled people in Gotemba
City in Japan, where a metal clasp
is attached to the ball so that it canbe worn as an item of jewelry.
Ishihara recalls that, in the
beginning, no profit was madein certain months, and how
concerned she was about thedifficulties in teaching the workers
the intricacies of these crafts.
She was encouraged, however,by the strong determination of
the workers themselves to turntheir lives around. Those women
had been dependent on theirfamilies to support them, but theworkshop now made it possible
for them to earn money on theirown and send some of it home.
The joy of helping others wasenormous, allowing them to feel aburgeoning sense of responsibility
and motivation. In the future, thewomen may well become fully
self-reliant and capable of leaving
the workshop altogether.
“I look forward to that morethan anything,” says Ishihara. “I’llmiss them, but leaving means thatthey have made true progress.”
The self-reliance and selfrespect instilled in people at
XonPhao will reach beyond theworkshop and pave the way forother disabled adults and children
to help them realize their fullpotential and live happy lives.

Left: The woman who is cutting fabric lost her fingers when she was quite young, but practice has enabled her touse both scissors and sewing machines with great dexterity. Right: Women working at sewing machines.

13

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Hayabusa2 navigated for three and a half years
through outer space before approaching theasteroid Ryugu, where it successfully touched
down. (Image is computer-generated)©IKESHITA Akihiro

ASTEROID EXPLORER

HAYABUSA2REVEALS THE ORIGIN
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
A Japanese probe succeeded in bringing to Earthasteroid samples that scientists hope will provide a key
to unlock the secrets behind the origin of life.
14

In December 2020, Hayabusa2, a probe launchedby the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA),
after a journey of six years, brought back to Earthsamples collected from the asteroid Ryugu. The probe
was also the first ever to achieve the feat of extracting
a substance from below the surface of an asteroid by

Left: The project would never have takenplace without international cooperation.
The capsule carrying the samples landed
in Australia, which had pledged anagreement to participate in the project.
© JAXA
Right: A container taken from the retrieved
capsule was weighed, confirming that it had
returned with a sample of 5.4 grams,
or 54 times the original goal of 0.1 grams.
Tsuda said jovially, “The analysis will be a
tough job because we collected so much.”© JAXA

creating an artificial crater.
The mission’s success demonstrated that Japan
both possesses advanced asteroid exploration
technology and can be expected to contribute to
greater understanding of the origin of the universe.
Analyses of the material from Ryugu, which scientists
believe contains evidence from the time of the solar
system’s formation some 4.6 billion years ago, could
yield hints about how our planetary system cameto be. In addition, as Ryugu is thought to containa copious amount of organic material and water,such analysis could validate the hypothesis thatthe organic material essential to life was carried to
Earth by similar asteroids crashing into our planet.
TSUDA Yuichi, project manager at the JAXA Space
Science Laboratory and the mission’s leader, said,“The Hayabusa2 mission sought to find the secrets
behind how the Earth and life were created.”
The probe’s predecessor, Hayabusa, completed thefirst-ever successful sample return mission in 2010by bringing material back to Earth from the asteroid
Itokawa. Despite facing several difficulties, including

The Hayabusa2 project involved 600 experts from Japan and elsewhere.
The team’s leader, TSUDA Yuichi of the JAXA Institute of Space andAstronautical Science, said that he respects the members’ meticulous work.
© JAXA

a fuel leak and engine failure, the probe miraculously
made it back home.
The frame and engine of Hayabusa2 were upgradedfrom the original model, while the JAXA teampersonnel conducted drills to deal with various
conceivable scenarios. These preparations were
fully utilized during the eventual mission. With
touchdown being an incredibly high-risk operation,
the most difficult decision faced was whether tocollect a second sample from a different location.
A failed second landing would risk the loss of thesurface materials that had been collected on thefirst landing. “However,” Tsuda said, “in addition toproviding the opportunity to extract material frombelow the asteroid’s surface, the second touchdown
would be scientifically significant since obtaining
material from multiple locations would enable us to
conduct a comparative analysis. After reconfirming
the significance of an additional touchdown with
scientists from around the world, we chose to makethis difficult second attempt.” With the support ofscientists who believed in the technology carried by
Hayabusa2, the team was able to complete the second
landing successfully.
The enthusiasm and meticulousness of all the
project members bore fruit, enabling Hayabusa2 tobring samples back to Earth in a way that exceeded
expectations. Looking back on the mission, Tsuda said,“Every single rock has its own unique surface. When I
saw the actual samples, I was moved to tears.”
Japan continues to be at the forefront of asteroid
sample return missions. Hayabusa2, which has alreadymade a contribution to fundamental science, ispresently on its way to explore another asteroid in an
expanded mission. The probe is scheduled to arrive in
2031 and will surely lead to new discoveries.

15

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Jinya, where guests clearly sense Japan’s history and traditions, has a Japanese garden covering some 33,000 m2,
offering abundant natural surroundings that change with each season.

DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATIONPROPELS TOURISM TOWARD THE FUTURE
Opportunity in the face of adversity: a venerable inn that revived its fortunes
through digital transformation pushes Japan’s tourism business into the future.
16and streamlined troublesome
As the world reels from theoperations. The greatest benefit of
COVID-19 pandemic, Japan is
all of that, according to Miyazaki,
building a new post-coronavirus
has been that staff members now
society by implementing boldhave time to do more, allowing
regulatory reforms, especiallythem to check all sorts ofthe promotion of digital
information and act on their own
transformation. In December
initiative to provide guests with
2020, Prime Minister SUGA
even more attention. Thus, theYoshihide announced that the The Jinya’s in-house system is built on the inn’sJapanese government would create hospitality management expertise. As other inns digital transformation has raised
Japan adopt this system and offer their
the level of service, leading toa digital agency in September acrossfeedback, it has been further evolving.
more repeat guests for the inn,
2021, to serve as the control towerof digital transformation in the public and private while also considerably increasing both sales andsectors. In that way, the Suga Cabinet is accelerating profits. Miyazaki says that building such trust has
its efforts towards digital transformation, which has kept Jinya an inn at which customers feel safe staying,
been a key policy since the prime minister assumed even during the pandemic.
Jinya is also popularizing the system among similar
office in September 2020.
Jinya, a hot-spring inn that has been in business enterprises, with nearly 400 establishments acrossfor over a century, is one of the forerunners of Japan having since adopted it for their own business.
Japan’s digitalization. It is located an hour away Furthermore, Jinya has built a cooperative networkfrom Tokyo in a quiet residential area of central of inn operators and has also launched a project
Kanagawa Prefecture. While Japan’s traditional in which inns can exchange resources such as foodtourism industry—best exemplified by hot-spring ingredients, equipment, and labor on a website. Thoseinns—earned its popularity by offering a high quality are all examples of how the company has workedof service, it is heavily reliant upon human resources, to create a new tourism industry within a digitalmaking the business often more challenging to society. Miyazaki says, “All our staff want to provide
manage. This was also true of Jinya—which at omotenashi (good hospitality). If we can makeone time was 1 billion yen in debt—but digital good use of digital technology to provide a service
transformation turned its business around. Looking that is enjoyable and of high quality, our guests
back, Jinya Representative Director and President will certainly visit us constantly.” Benefiting fromMIYAZAKI Tomoko, who has been operating the its early digitalization efforts, Jinya’s management
inn with her husband for 11 years, says, “When we has been solid enough to ride out the pandemic
took over the inn, everything was managed in the while spearheading Japan’s tourism industry. The
old way: on paper. In order for the inn to survive, we enthusiasm of the venerable inn has created a wave ofneeded to be resolute and switch everything over to digital transformation throughout the country.
digital technology.”
Jinya decided to make use of cloud services, which MIYAZAKI Tomoko, who used to be an office worker, has made abundant use of thatexperience to manage Jinya. In the photo, she sits in the VIP room that was made toat the time had only recently become available, to accommodate Emperor Meiji (the 122nd Emperor of Japan, who reigned from 1867 to 1912).
manually build its own core systems. In addition tocentralizing the management of bookings and guest
information, the change allowed the staff from all the
inn’s departments, including those for cleaning andfood-preparation, to share information instantly.
Moreover, integrating all business administration,such as accounting procedures and staff
attendance management, into one system, sped up,

17

LIFE & CULTURE

ROBOTS CARRYSUSHIARTISANSHIPTO THE FUTURE

Compact robotic machines roll out rice balls in quick succession, made to perfection as if by the hands of skilledsushi chefs. These sushi robots have taken Japan’s unrivaled sushi and rice culture onto the world stage.
Japan’s reputation as a cultureof cuisine and of exquisite foods
has been on the rise around theglobe. Numerous Japanese dishes
and foods are now becoming
more popular in many parts of theworld, especially in Europe andAmerica, where people are moreconcerned about their health,Sushi is a food seen in all corners of the world, and has been
adapted to local tastes. The California Roll, dreamed up in
America, is now a hugely popular type of sushi in Japan.

18

as well as in the rapidly growing
economies of Asia and elsewhere.
As a result of this growing
popularity, Japan’s exports ofagricultural, forestry, and fisheryproducts and food have been
increasing year by year. Wherever
people go in the world today,
they can find a restaurant serving

sushi—a food synonymous withJapan. Behind sushi’s meteoric
rise to fame are the not-so-wellknown stars of the show, therobots.
Made as if by the hand of askilled sushi chef, balls of rice
pop out from a small machine inquick succession. In fact, up toSuzumo Machinery’s robots can produce perfect sushi rolls in an instant, a tricky task (right). Becoming more popular
in recent years, such rice-serving machines also dish out rice in pre-measured quantities, helping to save on food.

4,800 of these beautifully shaped
parcels of rice can be rolled out
in an hour. With the creationof a revolutionary sushi robot,
anybody can enjoy high-quality,
mouthwatering sushi at anaffordable price without the needfor a trained sushi chef. Indeed,
Suzumo Machinery Co., Ltd., amanufacturer of food-processing
machines based in Tokyo, hasdeveloped just such robots, which
are already being used in morethan 80 countries worldwide.
There was a time even in Japan
when sushi was regarded as an
expensive and extravagant food.
Having seen the demand for ricedecreasing almost half century
ago, Suzumo Machinery believedthat the popularization of sushi“I want to convey the fantastic flavors of Japan to theworld,” enthuses SUZUKI Minako, president of Suzumo
Machinery. She continues to explore new possibilities ofmore diverse ways to enjoy rice, with pride and passion forJapanese food culture.

would be the key to passing on
the joy of rice, a staple at the very
heart of Japan’s food culture.
Over the course of five years, thecompany set out to develop arobot that could automatically
produce little parcels of sushi rice,
eventually launching the world’s
very first sushi robot in 1981.
Suzumo Machinery wanted
to create sushi in the exact
same way as trained sushi chefs
would do in any high-end sushi
restaurant. After much trial anderror following advice from sushi
chefs, the company succeededin producing the perfect little
parcel of sushi rice, which does
not crumble when held in thehand, but still softly melts on the
tongue. “While I want people
to know what sushi really isand how good it tastes,” says
President SUZUKI Minako of
Suzumo Machinery, “I also enjoy
seeing sushi being adapted andamalgamated into local cuisines
across the world.” To keep up withsuch localized demands, as well asworking to improve the safety andoperability of their machines, thecompany set out to develop new
products specifically for overseas
markets where local tastes dictate
a preference for variations in thesize and firmness of the rice parcel.
Takeout sushi has become
more of a regular feature insupermarkets around the worldin recent years. As a consequence,

Suzumo Machinery’s automatic sushi machine. It is widely
used—not just in sushi restaurants, but also in many typesof restaurants and supermarkets—due to its ability topreselect the size and firmness of rice balls for local tastes.

Suzumo Machinery has been
taking more orders for its
machines. Indeed, it is just thesetypes of robots that make sushi
such a ubiquitous culinary delight.
“We are not just a manufacturerof machines, but have a mission
to pass on our culture of food—something that is very close to us
all—through the work we do inresearch and development in theculinary field,” she explains.
The Japanese government isalso striving to further boost
exports of agriculture, forestry,
and fishery products and foods,
and as a result, Japanese cuisine
will become an even more integral
part of people’s lives around theworld. As a proponent of Japanese
food, Suzumo Machinery and its
robots are paving the way for theprosperous future of rice, albeit
from behind the scenes.

19

LIFE & CULTURE

SAKE
FOR THEWORLD:THE CHALLENGE OF
AN AMERICAN SAKE BREWER
A former sports trainer from the United States has plunged into the worldof Japanese sake brewing. Genuinely focused on the production of thistraditional beverage, he proudly shares its appeal with the rest of the world.

Brailsford says that a prime attraction of Japanese sake is its abundant flavor. His dream is
to brew a batch of sake that will one day be sipped by the president of the United States.

20

JAPAN

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

An old-fashioned city in Japan’s
landlocked Gifu Prefecture, Hida
is surrounded by steep mountains
and covered in deep snow during
the winter. Working there as asake brewer for the Watanabe
Sake Brewery, a traditional
brewery of long standing, is an
American man: Darryl Cody
Brailsford, a former sports trainer
originally from the state of Utah.
Fifteen years ago, upon moving to
Hida—his wife’s hometown—a
sip of sake from the Watanabe

Left: The label of the “Cody’s Sake” series, brewed by Brailsford himself, is designed around kanji andninja, which are popular in America.
Right: With many streets lined with historical houses, the Hida area is a celebrated tourist attraction.
The dignified brewing house of the Watanabe Sake Brewery is one chapter in that area’s history.

Sake Brewery utterly astounded
him. Lo and behold, he fell in lovewith the taste of the beverage.
Then, mustering his courage, he
asked to become an apprenticebrewer at the company, and whenthat request was accepted in goodfaith, his life was changed forever.
Prepared from a mixtureof rice, koji (malted rice), andexceptionally pure water, Japanesesake is characterized by a unique
brewing process involving a highly
refined approach to fermentation
not seen elsewhere in the breweriesof the world. Brailsford, having
entered into a demanding worldof craftsmanship, with plenty ofstrenuous labor and much specificinstruction, proceeded to learn
the art of brewing one step at atime. “Perfecting a marvelous
batch of sake isn’t just the fruitof one person’s efforts, but thatof a team of dedicated individuals
who combine their skills. I havelearned that brewing sake goes tothat depth.” Currently, he has been
entrusted with the importantrole of assistant head brewer
overseeing the temperature andprocess of fermentation.
Brailsford’s passion for Japanesesake having spread through thecompany, everyone at Watanabe
Sake Brewery now burns withthe ambition to propagate sakeculture to the rest of the world.
Even though awareness in his
homeland of the United Stateshas been gradually increasing,most people remain unfamiliar
with sake. “Many people overseas
have the misunderstanding thatsake is only appropriate forJapanese cuisine,” says Brailsford.
“But that’s not true. Sake can beenjoyed at ordinary times too—itgoes equally well with pizza andbarbecue.” True to his word, heholds exhibits at events in othercountries to spread knowledge ofthe brewery’s products. In 2016,
he began selling the “Cody’s Sake”

Sake, brewed from rice, is truly asymbol of Japanese culture.
Brailsford avidly reports, however,that people are free to enjoy it in awide variety of ways.

DARRYL CODY BRAILSFORD
Originally a sports trainer from Utah in the
United States, he came to Japan in 2006.
He became the first American sake brewerin Japan, at the Watanabe Sake BreweryCo., Ltd., an established traditional brewery
founded 150 years ago. He currently serves
as assistant to the head brewer, and is also
kept busy developing overseas markets forthe brewery’s sake products.

series of Japanese sake designed forAmerican tastes. The series, brewed
by Brailsford himself, features a
fruitiness that many Americans
love. The label that he designed forit also received favorable reviews,
having already garnered more than
50 prizes in Japan, Europe, andthe United States.
With
Japanesecuisinesteadily increasing in popularity
worldwide, sake has come to beappreciated in all corners of the
globe. More and more brewers inJapan have started to aggressively
pursue the export market, andthat momentum will only increase
further in the future. Meanwhile,
still motivated by the culture
shock of his first encounter,but now a qualified brewer andfervent evangelist for Japanesesake, Brailsford is set to continue,
every day, his earnest promotionof the beverage.

21

POLICY & DIPLOMACYTHE ROLE OFCRIMINALJUSTICEIN ACHIEVINGTHE SDGSThe United Nations Crime Congress, the largest UN conference in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice,held in March in Kyoto, will build momentum for the world to focus on the importance of public-private partnerships
in achieving the SDGs.
The 14th United Nations Congress on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice (the Kyoto
Congress) will be held in Kyoto, Japan, from March
7 to 12 this year. The congress, which is the largest
conference in the field, has been held every five
years under the auspices of the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Kyoto
Congress—the first congress held since the UN
Sustainable Development Summit of 2015, at which
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
was adopted—will discuss initiatives and efforts inthe field of crime prevention and criminal justice

towards achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Among the 17 goals, discussions at the congressare expected to refer not only to Goal 16, for“peace, justice, and strong institutions,” but also
Goal 17, concerning “partnerships for the goals,”
which is essential to achieving the previous goal. In
preventing criminals from becoming recidivists (i.e.,
repeat offenders), which is one of the topics Japan
will place particular emphasis on at this congress,
public-private partnerships will be essential. In Japan,
private-sector partners play an important role inThis will be the second time that the congress is held in Japan, the last time having been in 1970 with the 4th Congress, convened likewise at the Kyoto International
Conference Center. The latest meeting will be notable for offering a hybrid format, with some participants attending physically at the venue, and others taking part online.
©Kyoto International Conference Center

22

THE KYOTO CONGRESS
The 14th United Nations Congress on
Crime Prevention and Criminal JusticeOverall Theme

Advancing crime prevention, criminal justice and the rule of law:
towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
Agenda Items
1. Comprehensive strategies for crime prevention towards social and economic development
2. Integrated approaches to challenges facing the criminal justice system
3. Multidimensional approaches by Governments to promoting the rule of law by, inter alia,･ providing access to justice for all;･ building effective, accountable, impartial and inclusive institutions;･ and considering social, educational and other relevant measures, including fostering
a culture of lawfulness while respecting cultural identities,

The Youth Forum—where young people from around theworld will discuss actions they are taking to make society
safer and achieve the SDGs—will be held on February 27
and 28, in advance of the Kyoto Congress, at which theyouths will present their recommendations.

in line with the Doha Declaration
4. International cooperation and technical assistance to prevent and address all forms of crime:(a) Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations;(b) New and emerging forms of crime

KITAZUME Katsuhiro (left) and TAKENAKA Ayano (right) of Japan’s
MOJ. They both strive for the realization of a peaceful and just society,taking advantage of their work experience at the Rehabilitation Bureau andin prisons, respectively.

various settings in reducing rates of re-offending.
This is exemplified by the fact that not only
correction officers but also social workers provide
advice to inmates with a view to facilitating social
reintegration upon release. Meanwhile, NPOs
assist with learning support at correctional facilities
for juveniles. The overall approach is intended tohelp former inmates and juveniles return to societysmoothly, while preventing them from becoming
criminals again. TAKENAKA Ayano, a Ministry ofJustice (MOJ) official with experience as a correction
officer, says, “For many inmates, I think that external
factors, such as their family environment, had helped
propel them toward crime. Citizens’ support is
especially important to give such inmates an avenue
to lead their lives without re-offending.”
Across the country, approximately 46,000
hogoshi (volunteer probation officers) are working
to help criminals and delinquents reintegrate into

local communities, supervising and supporting
probationers and parolees with government
probation officers. According to KITAZUME
Katsuhiro, formerly with the MOJ Rehabilitation
Bureau, some countries have partially modeled theirown volunteer probation officer systems on Japan’shogoshi system, adding, “Japan is known as a safecountry, and one foundation for that is the systemof support provided by public-private partnerships,
such as probation officers and hogoshi. At the Kyoto
Congress, we want to share Japan’s initiatives with theworld and make the world more peaceful and just.”
Japan’s efforts illustrate how public-private
cooperation is essential for crime prevention. At
the Kyoto Congress in March, justice ministers
from a multitude of countries will be joined byan array of stakeholders—including experts,
NGOs, and companies—who will participate indeliberations, exhibitions, and other events. It will
be an opportunity to remind the world about theimportance of multi-stakeholder partnerships incrime prevention.

Hogoshi (volunteer probation
officers) meet withprobationers and parolees tohelp their reintegration into
society and also provide
emotional support.

23

RESILIENCESELF-RELIANT
ENERGYENHANCES LOCAL RESILIENCE

A small town in Chiba Prefecture has created a microgrid—a decentralized
electric power system—utilizing locally produced natural gas andsolar energy. This innovation exemplifies how regional energy
diversification can enhance the resilience of local communities throughout Japan.
With Japan frequently suffering
natural disasters, an accelerating
shift is occurring regionally
toward the creation of a society
where energy is decentralized.
The Great East Japan Earthquakeof 2011 triggered power blackouts
all over northeast Japan, exposing
the weakness of an electric powersystem relying exclusively onmacro-scale power networks.
“Japanese expertize in small-scale microgrids canbe applied in other countries,” says President
Gouzu of Pacific Power Co., Ltd.

24

To safeguard essential utilities
in times of need, evacuation
and rescue areas equippedwith decentralized and selfreliant energy systems are being
established in many parts of thecountry.
Mutsuzawa Smart Wellness
Town is exemplary of this trend.
Located in Mutsuzawa, a small
town of 7,000 inhabitants insoutheastern Chiba Prefecture,whichneighbors
Tokyo,
Mutsuzawa Smart Wellness Town
comprises 33 homes and a roadsidestation with restrooms and amarket. The zone was conceived
to attract new residents fromother areas, as well as to promote
the health and fitness of local
inhabitants. In collaboration witha private company, Mutsuzawa
town operates an energy businesswithin the zone in the form of aself-reliant power system.
“The mainstay of a decentralizedenergy system is the presence of a
microgrid, a self-standing network

Mutsuzawathat transmits and distributes
energy to meet the needs of acommunity,” explains GOUZUMichiko, president of PacificPower Co., Ltd., Mutsuzawa’s
business partner in providing thetown with electricity. Mutsuzawa
Smart Wellness Town produces
half the zone’s electricity using
locally extracted natural gas andsolar energy, and distributes it

Thermal baths at the roadside station are heatedwith waste heat from natural gas engines.

DIAGRAM OF A DECENTRALIZEDENERGY SYSTEM INTRODUCEDBY MUTSUZAWA
SMART WELLNESS TOWN

through its own power lines.
Any energy deficiencies aresupplemented by purchasing
power from outside sources. Thebrine left over after the extractionof water-soluble natural gas isheated with waste heat fromnatural gas engine generators andused in the thermal bath facilities,
which means that the local natural

gas is utilized 100%, without any
waste.
Mutsuzawa Smart Wellness
Town came into the limelightin September 2019, when oneof the most powerful typhoons
on record made landfall in
Chiba Prefecture and triggered awidespread power failure.
Although the surrounding areas
were plunged into darkness andtook three days to restore regularpower, the zone was able to fireup its gas-engine generators,
providing electricity to theroadside station and homes in thetown. The thermal bath facilities
and restrooms of the roadsidestation were thrown open toresidents living outside the zone.
Mobile phones could also berecharged at no cost, and longlines formed to take advantage ofthe service.
Efforts to introduce selfreliant energy systems likethat at Mutsuzawa have begun
to take root in other areas ofJapan as well. As climate change

has intensified certain natural
disasters, microgrids are now
seen as a way to enhance regional
resilience.
President Gouzu adds thatthey can also serve as the driving
force behind local revitalization.
“Profitsfromanenergybusiness can be funneled backinto the region to improve its
sustainability. Any industry, suchas agriculture or tourism, needs
energy to be powered. We believethat locally produced electricity
will be a driving force toward
regional development in the
future,” she declares. 

Top: The region was plunged
into darkness by the 2019
typhoon, but the roadsidestation was able to turn on its
lights and provided relief toneighboring residents.
Left: Mutsuzawa Smart Wellness
Town established a cogeneration
system using locally produced
natural gas and a microgrid of
locally operated power lines. The
roadside station has also
installed solar power generators.

25

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYNEW ID CARDSYSTEM
CREATES SOLUTIONSFOR REGIONAL CITY
How is Maebashi City in Gunma Prefecture digitalizing
public services with Individual Number Cards (“My Number
Card”) to better residents’ lives?
As the world reels from the severe impact of
COVID-19, the digitalization of governmentand society has become increasingly essential forcommunities to enhance the lives of their residents
while creating new industries and expanding the
economy. Prime Minister Suga’s administrationconsiders this an issue of top priority, and has crafted
policies to that end. In September of this year, theJapanese government will set up a digital agency
to lead the digitalization of the entire country. At
the heart of the initiative is the Individual Number
Card, also known as “My Number Card,” on which
a personal number assigned to all persons residing inJapan is displayed, along with their name, address,

A city-specific initiative in Maebashi offers half-price taxi fares topassengers who may have limited mobility; they use it by simply
scanning their My Number Card when getting in a taxi (top right).
The city is also trialing autonomous buses that are linked to the cards
and require only facial recognition to ride.

26

Maebashi, about 90 minutes from Tokyo by train, is a major urban areaof 300,000 people. Although an agreeable place to live—with warm
weather and plenty of greenery—the city is dealing with an aging andshrinking population.

and photo, and which contains an IC chip withdigital certification. Due to its strict safeguards for
personal data, the card can be used for processes
that require highly confidential online verification,from govermental administration to the opening ofbank accounts, leading to its applicability in various
situations. Some local governments have alreadystarted some ambitious experiments with the card.
The local government of Maebashi City in Gunma
Prefecture, located in the Kanto region, has been
an early adopter of the My Number Card for use inpublic transit systems. For example, Maebashi hasdeveloped a city-specific initiative that supports
individuals who may have limited mobility, such as

TRANSPORTATION
Individuals who may have limited
mobility, such as senior citizens, caneasily receive half-price taxi fares .*The rechargeable transit cards
synchronized with My Number Cards
provide citizens with automatic farediscounts.
The city can design more efficientpublic transport networks by analyzing
passengers’ individual traits andtheir usage patterns on public transit
systems.

My Number Cards
Improve Lifein Maebashi

GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Various municipal governmental procedures will be able to be
performed online.
Cards issued by various facilities, including libraries and sports
complexes, will have their information integrated into My Number
Cards. (On the national level, My Number Cards have also served ashealth insurance cards since March 2021, and will serve as driver’s
licenses by the end of fiscal year 2024)

HEALTH CARE
Medical institutions
can view citizens’
medical images
owned by otherinstitutions.*
Maternal and childhealth informationsuch as vaccination
records is provided toregistered parents.*
Necessary
emergency
information (health history, allergy
information, etc.) is provided to paramedics
and medical institutions.

DISASTER RESPONSE
People can use their My Number Card to check in at evacuation
shelters, making it easier for municipalities to confirm the safety of
citizens.
*Already implemented

senior citizens, by offering them half-price taxi fares.
To get the discount, all they have to do is place their
My Number Card on a tablet inside the taxi. The
system had used paper coupons when it was firstcreated in 2016, but the current version utilizing the
My Number Card was introduced in 2018 to lessen
the heavy administrative burden on the city and taxi
operators. After the updated system was launched, asurvey of users revealed that 86% of them found it
convenient. Around a total of 20,000 passengers now
take advantage of it monthly.
The city is also piloting the use of the My Number
Card as part of a MaaS (Mobility as a Service)project that combines buses, taxis, and othermeans of transportation into a single service. By
synchronizing rechargeable transit cards and a facialrecognition system with the data on My Number
Cards, the project is experimenting with new services
to provide city residents with automatic discounts
and allow them to ride buses simply through facialrecognition. The end goal is to create a community
where people’s day-to-day activities can be achieved
more conveniently even without owning a car. Manyrural areas in Japan commonly face the issues of anaging population along with a reliance on privatelyowned vehicles, and that background provided theimpetus for the experiment. In the past, given thelimited financial resources and personnel in regional
cities, it had been difficult for effective measures that

address these problems to be devised. MATSUDA
Keita, head of the information policy department
at Maebashi City Hall, says, “Most cities in outlying
regions have a shortage of funds and a declining
population. For such municipalities to survive inthat situation, not only should municipal services
be made more efficient, but value-added solutions
must be brought about. In that sense, digitalization
is a requirement. Such cities can indeed reduce thecost of the government services they provide while
enhancing convenience for their citizens.”
Maebashi also utilizes the My Number Card toprovide maternal and child health information,
including the status of vaccinations. In addition, it
uses the cards to allow medical institutions to viewscans and other such medical images owned by otherinstitutions. The city is considering using the cards
for emergency medical care and disaster responsein the future as well. Those initiatives should usher
in true well-being in a broad, well-rounded sense—
something that sheer economic development
tends to forgo. Matsuda says, “Besides streamlining
government services, our goal with digitalization
is to give people more leeway—additional timeand freedom—to enjoy their lives more fully.” The
Maebashi Model could be the start of a new waveof revitalization in Japan’s outlying regions, bothsocially and economically.

27

RESILIENCEUTILIZING THE CITY’SUNDERGROUNDSPACES

Japan employs underground spaces to ready urban areas
for otherwise catastrophic flooding.

TO PREVENT FLOOD DAMAGE

Massive underground spaces, such as
this one, below the ring roads that run
through major residential areas are criticalelements of flood control in Tokyo.

River flow

To the reservoir

Water from a rising river flows into an underground regulating reservoir
instead of spilling over the banks of the levee.

28

Annual rainfall totals have been increasing
worldwide in recent years, given the growing
frequency of localized torrential rain, typhoons,hurricanes, and other extreme weather phenomena.
Not only does the inundation of buildings andunderground structures represent a danger to people
living in highly developed urban areas in particular,
but it also poses a grave threat to urban functions ingeneral. Therefore, developing measures against flood
damage is a pressing issue. The Japanese government
considers national resilience—including disasterTokyo Metro
Ginza Line

Left: Shibuya is a
popular spot amonginternational tourists.
Over 3 million people
use the station every day.
Right: New rainwater
retention facilities havebeen constructed below
the Shibuya Stationarea’s undergroundcommercial complexes.

prevention and mitigation, such as flood control—acentral element of its policy, and is moving ahead
with both public and private initiatives.
Tokyo, one of the world’s foremost metropolitan
areas, is making use of underground spaces in the fightagainst flooding. One example is the undergroundregulating reservoir being constructed to prevent
overflow from small and medium-sized rivers. When
heavy rain causes a river’s water level to rise, waterflows from a weir built into a revetment down into
the reservoir, thus reducing the amount of waterflowing downstream. So far, 28 such facilities havebeen constructed, collectively holding a total of 2.56
million m3 of water.
One massive reservoir has been built under a major
ring road that runs around central Tokyo. When atyphoon dropped record rainfall of up to 32 mm perhour on Tokyo in 2019, the reservoir retained about
490,000 m3 of water, or 90% of its total capacity.
Estimates indicate that it lowered water levels
downstream by up to 1.5 m. “We have systematicallydeveloped river facilities such as this reservoir, whichhave helped to prevent massive flood damage,” says
Director ODANAKA, from the Tokyo Metropolitan
Government (TMG)’s Bureau of Construction, withconviction. The reservoir is currently undergoing
expansion. Eventually, it will be able to compensate
for localized heavy rainfall coming down at up to 100
mm per hour.
Life-saving flood control countermeasures arealso being implemented in the area around Shibuya
Station, one of Tokyo’s most well-known and popular
sightseeing spots. Since the land around the stationis slightly lower than the surrounding area, theunderground malls used to be prone to flooding.
However, as part of a massive redevelopment
project in the area that is currently underway, a new
rainwater storage facility with a capacity of 4,000 m3

Shibuya River

Underground plaza(East exit)

Rainwater storage
facility

was completed underneath the station’s east exit, andwent into operation in August 2020. It temporarily
retains rainwater if the rainfall exceeds a certain
amount, and the water drains out through sewer
pipes when the weather returns to normal. Director
OKUDA, from the TMG’s Bureau of Sewerage,
said, “Combined with the facility previously built
underneath the station’s west exit, our storage system
can now hold a total of 8,000 m3 of water. Shibuya
has evolved into an even safer urban area.”
Many other efforts to save lives from flooding
are also being made across Japan, including theconstruction of levees and detention basins, as wellas the refinement of heavy rain forecasts. A further
example of Japan’s inundation prevention measures
is the use of dams for hydropower and irrigation tocontrol flooding. To prepare for this year’s Olympic
and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 and beyond,Japan is advancing the development of national land
infrastructure that is resilient to natural disasters.
In order to prevent floods
in downstream areas whenheavy rain is predicted,
such as during typhoons,
the national andprefectural governments
have established a system
to discharge a certain
amount of dam water inadvance.

29

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYYOUNG MINDS APPLY TRADITION TO SUPPORTGLOBAL FOOD
PRODUCTION
A team of high school students has devised a functional water-collection systemthat applies tataki, a traditional Japanese technology for soil solidification, with hopes that it canhelp tackle food shortages in arid regions like those in Africa.
As indicated by the goal of “zero hunger”
mentioned in the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), creating stable supplies of food is a global
challenge. There are quite a few regions in theworld experiencing difficulties in increasing foodproduction, owing to the inability to secure water
for agricultural use and soil degradation caused bysurface runoff during the rainy season. West Africa is
one such region.
A system developed by a team of high school
students from Japan, however, might provide asolution to this problem. The students, part of theEnvironmental Research Team of Aomori Prefectural

The members of Treasure Hunters at the online presentation for the
Stockholm Junior Water Prize. From left to right: NAKATSUTSUMI
Yasuhito, MATSUHASHI Hiroki, MIYAKI Takuma, and TAMURA Yusei.

30

The Winner of
the Stockholm
Junior Water
Prize
2020

Nakui Agricultural High School, devised a system
to retain rainwater that applies tataki, a traditional
Japanese soil-solidification technology. Tataki
involves adding slaked lime and magnesium chloride
to red clay and gravel, and then mixing, pounding,and hardening the compound. The resultant increasein viscosity and strength has led to the use of tataki ina variety of venues, ranging from the earthen floors of
traditional Japanese homes to irrigation channels andthe floors of sumo rings.
West African farmers use a traditional system
known as zai, in which they dig earthen pits tocollect water. A drawback to the system, however, isits tendency toward soil erosion, as the pits are madesimply by mounding soil. The Japanese students
had learned in class about the challenges to zai, so
they took the initiative to study ways to improve
the system. The idea for using tataki came from theearthen floor at the home of one of the student’s
grandfathers. It was a suitable choice because it canbe made from readily-available materials, whileproviding the needed durability.
The students searched for a design that could
facilitate water retention, and after much trial
and error, decided upon a wing shape. They also
reproduced African soil and water quality conditions
when conducting tests to confirm if tataki would
work in Africa. In the process, they discovered thatthe nutrients mixed in during the tataki process
gradually seeped out into the surrounding ground.
Using that to their advantage, they modified thetataki mixture to include phosphoric acid, which islacking in West African soil, in order to enrich thesoil.
The students’ project won the Grand Prix of the2020 Stockholm Junior Water Prize, awarded to an
outstanding water-environment project conductedby young people. Team member MIYAKI Takuma
recalls, “I had been impressed by the other countries’
excellent presentations, so I was totally overjoyedwhen the presenter, Crown Princess Victoria of
Sweden, uttered the word ‘Japan.’”
The team’s name is Treasure Hunters. According
to NAKATSUTSUMI Yasuhito, “We chose thename with the hope that our technologies would
be treasured by people around the world.” In 2018,
their high school had come in as runner-up for
the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, for a project
employing a natural water-purification method

Tataki has been used from the days of old for earthen floors in traditional Japanesehouses (left) and the floors of sumo rings (right).

It took the students a year and a half to conduct their research. Although theyfound it difficult to harden the materials sufficiently, they confirmed that tataki
would remain durable even after one year.

Water
Water

Valley sideseeds

Tataki arranged in a semicircular shape is installed on the valley side of thehole to catch the water runoff. The students devised an optimal shape toretain the water more fully and curb soil erosion.

combining plants with high transpiration rates andmicroorganisms. Having watched their seniors rack
their brains to find a solution to a global problem
inspired Treasure Hunters to do the same two years
later, and their efforts were duly rewarded.
MATSUHASHI Hiroki analyzes the reason for
their win: “Although tataki—a process of hardening
soil by mixing it with water—is a traditional Japanesetechnology, it can be easily applied anywhere in
the world. I think it got high marks for being an
inexpensive and simple approach that can support
sustainable agriculture.” An increasing number ofinquiries have come in regarding their study, andtalks are also underway with a nonprofit organization
active in Tanzania.
The members of Treasure Hunters will graduate
from high school this spring. TAMURA Yusei, whowill be going on to a vocational school for agriculture,
speaks of his future aspirations ambitiously: “I aminterested in the world’s agricultural issues, and want
to do my part in contributing to their solutions.”
Given how these young people devoted themselves
to studying the local environment and adapting a
Japanese method to suit West African conditions,they will undoubtedly continue to blaze new trailswith their inquisitive minds in the future to findsolutions to agricultural challenges.

31

LIFE & CULTURE

Allan West paints on the flat surface of tatami mats tostop the thinner natural mineral pigments from running.

DRAWING
NATURAL BEAUTY
WITH TRADITIONALJAPANESE
PIGMENTS
Expressing the beauty and essence of the natural seasons,an American artist turned his back on the Western
style of painting to learn about traditional
Japanese painting techniques and materials.
32

Pigments are made fromnatural minerals such as lapis
lazuli and malachite. Additionally, glue, which is hardened
into a stick for longer storage,
and gold leaf are used.

JAPAN

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

“I was shocked to learn thatwhat I thought was my own
technique of using animal glue
has in fact been used in Japan fora very long time,” says Allan West.
From an early age, West loved
to capture scenes of nature, andaspired to be a painter. However,
he found it difficult to portray thedelicate lines of plants and flowers
using oils, so he sought to make his
own pigments and canvases fromrabbit-protein glue and marble.
After graduating from high school,
West entered Carnegie Mellon
University, one of the leading
art colleges in the United States.
There, he turned his back on the
traditional thick brushstrokesof oil painting mainly taught
in American colleges, instead
showing his individualistic spirit
by experimenting with othermaterials in his depiction ofnature.
One day, seeing West’s artworkat an exhibition, a woman
happened to mention that similar
techniques could be found inJapanese painting. Wanting
to find out more about thosemethods, West took a hiatusfrom his studies and headed toJapan, a country he knew nothing

Top: Inside the Allan West studio-cum-gallery, thetraditional latticed ceiling of which West has adorned
with dragons, plants, and flowers.
Right: West opened his studio gallery after renovating an
auto body garage in the downtown area of Yanaka, full of
Buddhist temples and old houses.

ALLAN WEST
Born in Washington, D.C. While a high school
student, West believed he pioneered the use of animalglues mixed with natural pigments, unaware that these
are the same materials used in the nihonga technique.
He studied art at Carnegie Mellon University’s
College of Fine Arts in the United States. West settled
in Japan after several visits, entering the Graduate
School of Fine Arts at Tokyo University of the Arts in
1989. A decade later, he opened Art Sanctuary Allan
West, a studio-cum-gallery, in Yanaka, Tokyo. The
majority of his artwork is commissioned work
consisting of plant and flower paintings on hanging
scrolls, folding screens, and fans. He also serves as atrustee at The Yurabi Institute for the Study and
Preservation of Japan’s Cultural Heritage.

about. There, he was impressedwith his introduction to nihonga(traditional Japanese painting).
He found the deer-protein glue
used in nihonga to be far lessodorous and cloudy than the
rabbit glue he had previously used.
West was also impressed with thecountless colors of the naturalmineral pigments made frompowdered rock, as well as with thebrushes that allow for more open
and expressive lines. Pleasant towork with, these organic materials
capture the beauty of nature andleave a lasting clear vibrancy formore than a thousand years. After
graduating from university in the
United States, West returned toJapan and entered the Graduate
School of Japanese Painting at
Tokyo University of the Arts.
It was there, under the tutelageof KAYAMA Matazo, that helearned the techniques of nihonga
in depth.
Not far from Tokyo Universityof the Arts is Yanaka, a temple
neighborhood of Tokyo from theEdo period (1603-1867) withmany old Japanese buildings still
standing. West was fascinated bythat part of Tokyo, packed fullof well-known stores specializing
in nihonga materials. This
fascination led him to renovate
an old auto body garage so thathe could open his own Japanesestyle studio-cum-gallery in theneighborhood. Stepping inside,
the visitor is transported into amagical world full of art painted
with gold, silver, and copper leaf,
as well as containers filled withfinely powdered natural mineralpigments. It’s not unusual forneighbors to stop by for a glanceof his artwork, which offers thema distinct sense of the changing
seasons.
In recent years, West, alongwith followers of traditional
performing arts such as Kabuki
and Noh, has been focusing his
attention on conveying the allureof Japanese culture throughexhibitions and performances
overseas. “Japanese culture carries
with it a wisdom that cherishes
the beauty of nature, a harmony
with nature that is preserved in asustainable way. It is that wisdomthat I’d like to convey through myart,” remarks West softly. With
such an artist capturing the beautyof nature unfettered by nationalboundaries in this traditional
painting style, the potential ofnihonga will further resonate
around the world.
33

Spring 2021

Published by

Edited by

Public Relations Office, Cabinet Office
andOffice of Global Communications, Cabinet Secretariat
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