The Mammalogical Society of Japan announced last year that about half of the 174 mammal species in and around Japan are in danger of extinction. Ruling Liberal Democratic Party members, in the meantime, want to revise legislation to make it easier to kill wild animals and birds, supposedly in the interest of controlling nuisance wildlife. Under the proposed revision, responsibility for managing wildlife would be decentralized to the local level, where many feel regulating powers would fall into the hands of the would-be destroyers. But the system doesn't work. Which is not to say all is gloom for the environment in Japan.
Truth be told, Japan is ahead of even the United States in certain areas.
Energy efficiency, for one, says Forrest. If it's a question of technology or use of resources, Japan can be very efficient and innovative. The country, in fact, is among the world leaders in shipments of photovoltaic cells for solar homes, largely because of government support in the form of subsidies and tax incentives. And Japanese auto companies, especially Toyota, are leading environmental innovators. Additionally, Honda has pledged to share its environmental technology with other companies.