From Japan straight out to the world: the web site for news and information

In order to bring about sustainable growth, Japan will have to deal with various issues such as population decline, energy conservation, and maintaining pension and healthcare systems. In the second of the FPCJ’s series of interviews about these issues, we spoke with Dr. Takashi Inoguchi, president of the University of Niigata Prefecture, about environmental pollution and solutions in Japan, and about regional approaches to environmental issues.

 

Dr. Inoguchi specializes in political studies and international relations theory, and is also a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo. He is the author of many books, including Gendai Nihon Gaikou- Seikimatsu Hendou no Naka de [Japan's Foreign Policy in an Era of Global Change] (Chikumashobo), Gendai Nihon Seiji no Kisou [Foundations of Modern Japanese Politics] (NTT Publishing),  Deeta Kara Yomu Ajia no Koufukudo [Happiness in Asia as Seen in Data] (Iwanami Shoten) and Cities and the Environment (United Nations University).

 

 Dr. Takashi Inoguchi

 

FPCJ: I would like to talk about Japanese people’s relationship with the environment.

 

Dr. Inoguchi: Japan’s geography is unique, squeezed between mountains and the ocean, and with fast-flowing rivers. This has caused every region to suffer in various ways. The population increased quite significantly from the end of the 17^th century to the beginning of the 19^th century. This is due to planting forests in mountainous areas to prevent flooding, and making diversions to handle excess water when rivers overflowed. This helped improve nutrition, and lifespans increased to nearly 50 years.

Women marrying and having children in their early 20s became common around the 18^th century. This is quite early when compared to Europe at the same time. In Europe, the death of millions due to diseases such as typhus interfered with periodic birthing patterns, and made it difficult to establish stable families. The population remained unstable for a long time.

In Japan, stabilization occurred surprisingly quickly and helped stimulate economic activity, and gradual technological advancement. As far as controlling the environment goes, mainly connections with rice farming, the tendency was to be very careful in attempts to control the environment. The results became clear in the 18^th and 19^th century, leading to an increase in population, as well as extremely high education and literacy rates.

 

FPCJ: Are the lessons Japanese people learned from interacting with the environment in the 17^th and 18^th century being put to use today?

 

Dr. Inoguchi: I believe so. Many Westerners think of nature as something to compete with or conquer, but most Japanese people instead think of how to compromise with nature. We’ve thought of a variety of ways to interact with mountains, rivers, storms and wind. For example, there are strong winds coming off the mountains in Gunma and Tochigi, so they surrounded their homes with trees. This helps minimize damage from anything short of a major tornado.

 

FPCJ: Would it be right to consider Japan’s environmental pollution from the 50s to 70s as similar in severity to pollution in China today?

 

Dr. Inoguchi: To some degree. There were cases of serious pollution, with results including the Ashio Copper Mine Incident and Minamata disease, but I believe Japan solved its issues with pollution relatively quickly.

The biggest factor behind China’s air pollution is its reliance on coal. Japan also relied on coal for a time. After WWII, there was extreme pollution in areas such as Kitakyushu, but over 20 or 30 years the main energy source changed from oil to coal. However, since energy resources such as coal and oil are all limited in quantity in Japan, Japanese people are used to saving energy. I believe that may have prevented the pollution that occurred from worsening even further. The protests against pollution also had a positive effect, creating a stronger dedication to avoiding pollution.

China has been using coal for almost 70 years, and on a large scale. They haven’t made much technological investment in pollution prevention either. As a result, there is severe air and water pollution occurring throughout China.

 

FPCJ: I would like to hear about regional environmental initiatives. I understand the University of Niigata Prefecture has a Regional Environment Course.

 

Dr. Inoguchi: There are three points I would like to raise based on Niigata’s experience. First, efforts were made to control large rivers such as the Shinano and Agano Rivers, and use them for rice farming. This helped increase rice output. From the Meiji Restoration to the Russo-Japanese War, Niigata Prefecture was paying the most taxes in the country, even more than Tokyo.

Second, pollution. It took 30 years to resolve the issue with Minamata disease and the Agano River. I believe protests are to thank for the issue’s resolution.

Third, the success in restoring the Japanese crested ibis, which was in danger of extinction, to Sado Island, which was depopulated. By protecting the island’s environment—in other words, minimizing the usage of chemical fertilizers and insecticides so as not to harm the small animals the ibis feed on—they succeeded in having the ibis breed. There are now about 30 Japanese crested ibises that have been born outside captivity.

Management of water and snow is necessary, and Niigata has a lot of different local methods. For example, in Niigata 12 to 13°C water is released from the center of roads in order to melt snow. I’d like this technology to be shared with other countries as well.

 

FPCJ: Regions throughout Japan are tackling environmental problems. What is the meaning in doing so?

 

Dr. Inoguchi: I think it has an important purpose. The only way to eliminate pollution is to increase public awareness. Unless everyone has the same sense of urgency, then protests against water pollution from industrial waste won’t gain any momentum. River pollution from household wastewater can occur as well if people are careless. In that respect, I believe that the environment is the highest priority issue for humanity in the 21^st century. Ensuring the availability and quality of food, water and air will be a major issue moving forward.

 

Read more in the second part of the interview.