stood at approximately 260 billion yen as at the end of March 2006, and is estimated to grow further in the future.

As more and more people seek an “affluent life” in touch with nature, Japanese citizens have a stronger desire to settle in agricultural, fishing, and mountain villages. In particular, people in their 50s (baby boomers) tend to have such a desire, while younger people in their 20s might also wish to do so.

As baby boomers reach retirement age, more and more people are expected to return to live or stay in natural environments such as satochi-satoyama areas.

In addition, local policymakers are taking policy initiatives to encourage local production for local consumption. If farmers produce more food for local consumption, so-called “food mileage” will decrease, reducing environmental burdens, such as $ CO_{2} $ emissions.

As of FY2003, 2,982 Farm Stalls provide locally produced agricultural products. Their total sales stand at 177.2 billion yen, which is 1.7% of the overall agricultural output (excluding stock farm products). According to our food mileage calculations, if we entirely replaced these $ CO_{2} $ Emissions if Japan Replaces Locally Produced Agricultural Products (Sold at Farm Stalls) with Imported Products

Source: Compiled by the Ministry of the Environment based on the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Outline of Actual Conditions of Locally Grown Consumer for Agricultural Products Produced and Consumed in Local Areas, 2004.

locally produced foodstuffs with imported agricultural products, $ CO_{2} $ emissions would increase to almost 10 times the current level. This suggests that local food production for local consumption has a significant impact on the environment.

More and more people will have a different set of values, and at the same time efforts to address such changes will permeate society. These factors are expected to provide strong driving forces to create a sustainable society. In addition, attempts to create a new society where we enjoy lifestyles compatible with these new values will play an important role in achieving spiritual affluence.

### 2. Taking Advantage of More Leisure Time

As working hours and household duty hours are generally getting shorter, Japanese citizens have a longer free time. As baby boomers retire from their professions, there will be a larger number of active seniors (energetic elderly people in their 50s and 60s) who have plenty of leisure time and are expected to participate in a range of activities.

According to the opinion survey on environmental conservation activities, respondents who have participated in environmental conservation activity make up 51% of overall respondents in their 50s, which is a higher percentage than in other age groups. In addition, respondents who are willing to participate in environmental conservation civil activities or events also register a higher percentage in the 50s and 60s age brackets. This suggests that elderly people are more active in environmental conservation activities than younger people.

An increase in active seniors with plenty of leisure time will be a turning point to lead to the progress of environmental conservation activities. In order to support these activities, it is important that local governments and the business community cooperate to provide environmental education programs, secure and properly provide opportunities for environmental conservation activities, and set up an appropriate framework that will provide the opportunity for many people of different ages to participate in environmental conservation activities. This will result in more effective activities.