Figure 2-2-21 State of Photochemical Oxidant Warnings Issued

Source: Ministry of the Environment’s Atmospheric Environmental Regional Observation System

## Section 3 Wisdom in Order to Take over the Earth to Future Generations

The loss of biodiversity caused by changes in our society and economy affects the interaction between organisms on the Earth as well as our everyday and traditional lifestyle. What are necessary for taking over our life and culture across generation, and for

### 1. Wisdom in Our Everyday Life

Here we try to get the hints of the wisdom from our everyday life through clothing, cooking and housing.

## (1) Wisdom in Life Cycle of Japanese Traditional Clothing

Japanese traditional clothing “Kimono” is made from linear parts of cloth. A piece of rolled cloth called a “tan-mono”, that is about 12 meters in length and 36 centimeters wide (for clothes of a woman who is 160cm tall), is cut into several liner parts and then sewed them flatly together. Kimono is “incomplete”, in a sense, at the product stage because they acquire a function as clothes when it is “wrapped and fitted” to fit one’s body shape who wears it, while western clothing is made “completely” by sewing parts of cloth together three-dimensionally at the product stage (Figure 2-3-1).

Because of this style of Japanese traditional clothing, it is relatively easy to return it from clothes (“Kimono” state) to rolled cloth (its original “tan-mono” state). In addition, silk, which is one of the materials used in the fabric of Japanese traditional clothing, is a very strong fiber that silkworms produce within their bodies. If managed appropriately, it can use over an extremely long time, and rolled clothes can be retailored to fit one’s body shape and preferences.

preservation and sustainable use of biodiversity?

In this section we will focus on “wisdom” and consider how to achieve a sustainable society which reflects the geographical and climates conditions in regions.

Kimono that was tailored in a parent’s generation can be retailored to fit preferences and body shape, and then passed on to a child’s generation and in some cases even carefully passed on to a grandchild’s generation. After that, when the clothes finally can no longer, it can be reused as house hold uses such as children’s dolls and wallets. This important resource from living organisms can be used to the end with none to waste.

This recycling system of Kimono was general in the Edo Period. Clothes were so expensive that people needed to continue to wear as long as possible. This was a spirit to use the value and role of the products to the end. This is summarized in a word “mottainai” (means “what a waste!”), and this spirit is one of important wisdom in our everyday life for the sustainable use of resources.

## (2) Local Production for Local Consumption and Seasonal Production for Seasonal Consumption: Wisdom for Controlling Consumption

Next we will discuss the wisdom for sustainable use of resources, focusing on Japan’s dining table.

Agriculture, forest, and fishery products are important products that are derived from the ecosystem services that are based on biodiversity. We have obtained,