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Japan for Sustainability Newsletter #188
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April 27, 2018
Copyright (c) 2018, Japan for Sustainability
Japan for Sustainability (JFS) is a non-profit communication platform to
disseminate environmental information from Japan to the world, with the
aim of helping both move onto a sustainable path.
See what's new on our web site: http://www.japanfs.org/en/
E-mail: info@japanfs.org
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In the April 2018 issue of the JFS Newsletter:
- 'Good Companies in Japan' (Article No.3):
Seeking Ways to Develop Societal Contribution along with Core Businesses
- 'What Are the Roles of Zoos Today?' --
Interview with Director of the Popular Asahiyama Zoo
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'Good Companies in Japan' (Article No.3):
Seeking Ways to Develop Societal Contribution along with Core Businesses
The JFS newsletter introduces a selected series of examples of good
companies in Japan, referring to the book "Jizoku Kano-na Shihon Shugi"
("Sustainable Capitalism," written in Japanese) by Kazuhiro Arai,
director and asset manager of Kamakura Toshin, a Japanese investment
company. In this article, we introduce companies that really care about
the communities their businesses are based in and one company
undertaking business in innovative environmental technologies themselves.
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Employees Supporting the Community Using Team-Spirit: Miyakoda Kensetsu Co.
Miyakoda Kensetsu is a custom-home builder in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Prefecture, but it also engages in a variety of community-related
activities in and around the Miyakoda area, for example, week-end
vegetable farms and a cafe in a renovated unmanned station building.
The greatest advantage Miyakoda Kensetsu has is the tightly bonded team
spirit among its employees, derived from the company's strong
expectations for personal growth for its employees. "The company is
where we learn and get ourselves to grow" is its motto. It has an open
culture and egalitarian atmosphere, where employees call each other by
nicknames, even when talking with the president or representatives. They
feel free to give feedback to each other, including on weaknesses,
regardless of their ages, positions or work experience in the company.
That is an everyday occurrence here. Everyone wants to learn and get
themselves to grow, so advice flows unhindered among them.
A unique attempt to develop the teamwork capacity of the employees is a
barbeque held every week in the office with all employees participating.
Employees manage to keep the total expense within 10,000 yen (about $93),
preparing, eating and cleaning in one hour. The barbeque is also a time
they enjoy talking and is a chance to communicate with guests from
outside. By being involved in organizing the barbeque, they get to know
how to work effectively and help each other autonomously to enhance
performance. That boosts employees' motivation and sense of being part
of a team tremendously.
Miyakoda Kensetsu has set a goal of "Ecology, Family Ties, and Community
Relations." They have thus far tried out various ventures, for example,
holding woodworking classes and a sea turtle releasing event, and
building facilities to store disaster preparedness materials like
hardtack bread or power generators, contributing greatly to the local
communities involved. They attempt to transcend the boundaries of their
core business, approaching local municipalities' fields of work, based
on the principle that home builders exist for the sake of families and
local communities. Employees' personal growth and teamwork spirit,
enhanced through the weekly barbecue, has influenced the local
communities together with whom they are working to boost local vitality
and value.
Launching Subsidiary to Contribute to a Local Community: Tsumura & Co.
Tsumura & Co., based in Tokyo, has a 125-year history and its "Kampo"
traditional Chinese herbal medicines, imported from China and processed
in Japan, account for more than 80 percent of the Japanese market. This
company actively employs workers with disabilities. In the fiscal 2009,
Tsumura formulated a three-year plan for inclusive employment under the
leadership of its president at the time, and the employment rate of
workers with disabilities rose to 3.93 percent by the end of March 2012.
Since then, the company has continued its efforts to create a
comfortable and friendly working environment for its employees and
maintain employment of workers with disabilities in the three percent
range, exceeding the legally-required rate of two percent.
Note: From April 1, 2018, the legally-required minimum rate of disabled
worker employment has been raised to 2.2 percent.
Tsumura established a subsidiary, Yubari Tsumura, in 2009 in Yubari,
Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, as a base for its Kampo
business for all of Hokkaido. Yubari was going bankrupt as a
municipality at the time, but its location was suitable for growing,
procuring, processing and storing herbal medicine. Tsumura's idea was to
support the local community in Yubari by establishing a facility for
herbal medicines, and it hoped to create an affluent local community by
working with local farmers.
The reason Tsumura established this subsidiary as an independent company
instead of establishing a Tsumura branch office is that the new subsidiary
would pay corporate taxes to Yubari. Tsumura created a scheme to
contribute to the city simply by focusing on its main business. In addition,
executives and some employees of Tsumura's headquarters in Tokyo have
donated to the city through a "hometown tax" donation program every year.
In 2010, Yubari Tsumura signed a consignment contract for herbal plant
cultivation with Temiru Farm Co., which was established to support the
economic independence of people with intellectual disabilities. This
partnership, which created job opportunities for workers with
disabilities, was very well received, and was later awarded the Minister
of Economy, Trade and Industry Prize, winning the Second "Japanese
Companies Which We Want to Cherish Most" Award in 2012.
Thus, Tsumura creates value for local communities such as increased tax
revenues for a local municipality and broader job opportunities for
people with disabilities through efforts derived from its own
profit-making business.
Recycling Business Model Working with Major Retailers: JEPLAN, Inc.
JEPLAN, Inc., in Tokyo, is a company specializing in the recycling of
unused clothes and plastic items. The company also develops new
recycling technologies and operates a consulting business. Cotton is
recycled into bioethanol, plastics into oil, and polyester clothes into
new polyester fiber, thereby recycling waste into fuel and materials.
A major challenge in launching a business utilizing innovative environmental
technologies is to create a business model. Whether the business model
works out or not is a big test of any company that tackles environmental
or social problems.
The challenge facing JEPLAN was to create a mechanism to collect
materials for recycling from consumers that wouldn't be burdensome. To
meet this challenge, the company located collection boxes at major
supermarkets, clothing stores and sundry articles shops, and established
a scheme for shoppers to bring along used clothes and plastic products
when they went shopping. The stores and shops involved could enjoy the
advantage of increased customers and sales while contributing to
eco-friendly activities.
JEPLAN has succeeded in turning mountains of waste into mountains of
treasures by making its recycling system into a business and then
involving society in the business swiftly and dynamically. The company
says that most plastic items being produced in Japan will be available
for recycling if the recycling business continues to expand its
involvement with society. The example of JEPLAN discovering common
values between companies and society will inspire great hope among
companies tackling social issues.
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In this article, we have introduced examples of companies that support
local communities through business and one company that has successfully
incorporated a socially effective structure into its business model. In
upcoming articles, we will cover more "good companies" in Japan from
different perspectives. Please stay tuned!
See also:
"Good Companies in Japan" (Article No. 1):
Valuing Employee Happiness and Trust
https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id035984.html
"Good Companies in Japan" (Article No. 2):
Seeking "Happiness" for All Stakeholders
https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id036022.html
Edited by Noriko Sakamoto
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'What Are the Roles of Zoos Today?' -- Interview with Director of the
Popular Asahiyama Zoo
https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id036058.html
The Asahiyama Zoo, located in Asahikawa City, Hokkaido, Japan, opened in
1967 and is operated by the city. In 1997, the zoo started a new
approach of displaying animals in settings that let visitors observe
natural behavior, unlike the traditional approach that focused mainly on
displaying animals' physical features. Although the annual number of
visitors fell to 260,000 in fiscal 1996 after peaking in fiscal 1983 at
597,000, every time the zoo added a new facility for displaying animal
behavior, it attracted more visitors, eventually surpassing 3 million in
fiscal 2006. The zoo has created quite a stir in how Japanese zoos
should display animals.
Aiming to raise awareness of global environmental conservation and the
coexistence of people and wildlife, Asahiyama Zoo also offers
educational programs under the theme of "Communicating the brilliance of
life." What are roles of zoos in this age of accelerating destruction of
nature and climate change? In this issue, we introduce an interview with
Gen Bando, the Director of the Asahiyama Zoo.
(Interviewer: Junko Edahiro, Chief Executive, JFS)
Feeling Nature
Edahiro: Although environmental problems are escalating and drawing
increasing public attention, nature destruction and climate change still
continue. Under these circumstances, what are the roles of zoos?
Bando: We don't really feel nature very much in our everyday lives, although
we often do hear about environmental destruction and endangered species.
But, I believe that most people don't really feel much nature or have a
sense of crisis.
Under such circumstances, the existence of zoos is becoming more
meaningful as places where people can feel nature. I believe that zoos
are a gateway for people to learn about nature. Zoos should help
visitors to become aware of nature by showing the current situations of
animals and providing opportunities to have contact with nature and
animals. That should be the most important role of zoos.
Edahiro: What do you mean by "feeling nature"?
Bando: For example, even elementary students know that tigers are in
danger of extinction. However, they cannot actually feel that tigers are
truly living creatures just by reading books or watching videos about
them. Tigers are living at a zoo and may look back at visitors
responding to their behavior. Visitors can feel that tigers exist for
real, which I believe is the potential of zoos.
There is a real entity living there. As we see the animals grow, we
learn that their wild habitats are disappearing and that we live in an
era in which people benefit or profit from the loss of their habitats.
At that point, I believe that people realize it is not just someone
else's problem, but that it involves them.
Edahiro: Do you think that in today's society, people live without a
sense of other people's lives?
In the old days, people lived together while relating to and
understanding one another, even though they periodically did have
conflicts. Society was basically like this. Today, society is densely
populated but many people are not really connected with others. It feels
like society does not really function as it once did.
Edahiro: Speaking of which, the wolves looked like they were playing
together today before they howled. Were they actually playing?
Bando: There are playful aspects, but with every interaction there are
also subtle changes in hierarchy within the group. Even so, they have
rules for conflict, and they don't cross that line. This is really a society.
No animals live just to be friendly and get along. They can live together
happily only when they make an effort to "understand" each other.
Balance and Harmony
Edahiro: Applying this thinking to relationships among people, perhaps
we could roughly classify human relations with others as "having no
connection," "getting along well," or "being in conflict."
Bando: I believe that language is a special capability of humans. With
language we can talk about the past, we can talk about the future, and
we can think. But despite our advantages of having language and this
kind of advanced society, we have begun to abandon our own relationships
with others. When people feel strained, they tend to focus only on
themselves. It feels like this is where the world is at today, so things
are difficult, I think.
Edahiro: In your book, "Humans and Other Creatures, the Connection of
Life -- A Message from the Asahiyama Zoo," you wrote that even though
animals cannot count, somehow they are able to maintain a delicate
balance. Can you say something about that?
Bando: That's right. They maintain balance and harmony. In contrast, we
humans can count, but we are completely unable to maintain balance and
harmony. Humans saw birds flying in the air and wanted to be able to fly
too, so we invented the airplane. We wanted to swim like the fish, so we
invented the submarine. We wanted to run faster, so we invented the car.
We are driven by desire.
I am amazed just by watching birds in the zoo. The oriental tit (Parus
minor) sits on a branch just like the tree sparrow (Passer montanus).
When the tit finds a sunflower seed, for instance, it picks up the seed
with its beak, places it on a branch, holds it down with its claws, and
pecks it to eat. But the sparrow cannot do that, and is simply not wired
to want to do that. That's why both birds can live in harmony, not
needing to compete with each other. I don't know whether it's right to
say that the sparrow has less desire. But if it wanted to, I believe it
would be able to eat exactly the same way as the tit, because both sit
on a branch the same way.
It's amazing. Just think. Dozens of different kinds of birds can all
live on the same mountain. Humans would probably compete with each other.
I think that humans and other animals are totally different in how they
feel or how they process things in their brains. That's why, although
they are killed by humans, they don't hate us or strike back to get even.
They just die. There is some kind of real harmony there.
What Do We Lack?
Edahiro: Do you think that humans are naturally wired to steal and
destroy out of greed or desire? Or did humans evolve to be this way?
Bando: I think that humans are naturally such a creature. The fall of
past civilizations is said to be caused by human-induced local
environmental destruction. Natural disasters such as big floods
inevitably occur. Civilization might be falling right now. Other
creatures are dying out more now than in the age of dinosaurs due to the
advance science and technology.
Edahiro: What should humans do to be able to coexist with other
creatures?
Bando: We should take a pause at some point. The key is whether we can
all think about maybe it's time to subtract one thing, little by little.
I think that's possible. When personal computers came out, there was so
much hype about the CPU power, and people bought new models one after
another. But I think that some people are now starting to realize that
maybe we don't need that much.
I believe that the movement of going back to nature once again is built
upon such reflection. The future will change if we really think about what
makes us happy. Are we happiest when we are chasing our desires? Or
is it when we feel a gentle breeze and are surrounded by nature? In fact,
a lot of things are happening, like more and more people prefer
nature-oriented products or a slow life approach.
Our zoo started a crowd-funding campaign for the conservation of rock
ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), aiming to raise 10 million yen (about
US$88,500), and it eventually collected 20 million yen (about US$177,000).
I think if there is some kind of platform, showing that "We have this
goal and if you support us, we can achieve it," a lot of people will
potentially support what they cannot achieve by themselves.
So, if people will donate money to projects such as one to ensure that
orangutans are still living with humans on the Earth in the future,
things will definitely change. A zoo is an organization that can
anticipate these kinds of things earlier than the general population.
Therefore, we at the zoo need to show concretely that these animals
exist, and that we are aware of threats or challenges facing them, and
that we are going to do something about it, so please support us.
Edahiro: Earlier, during feeding time for the seals, a zoo staff member
was explaining various situations about seals. I thought it was very
good. We can feel that the creatures we are looking at are cute, or we
feel sorry for them, or we think we should do something for them. But
our imagination may not go beyond that.
Bando: Talking about the conflict situation facing the Kurdish people in
the Middle East, for instance, the general public may not take much
notice of a news report that dozens of people were killed in air strikes.
But if you hear that a student from your former school was killed in a
traffic accident, you might pay more attention. The touch point is
important. It depends on whether you consider a situation to be someone
else's problem or your own.
However, in today's society, people do not want to be involved in others'
affairs, and tend to refrain from taking serious action on something
that is going on out of their sight. People lack a sense of urgency
about it. If people act like that when it comes to other human beings,
obviously there is also a tendency not to care if animals are dying out
of sight.
I think people have too much information today. As a result, people are
apt to see only what is convenient for themselves. People tend to see
only one side of things and accuse others, saying "It's their own
responsibility." Since few think they themselves may be responsible for
something bad, few say "It's my responsibility."
Edahiro: It seems many people are unable to have a calm dialogue or to
listen to the other side and stop pushing their own views.
Bando: This may be because people have had no such training. Without
looking into the other person's eyes in a conversation, one cannot see
the hurt or distress that words can cause. They haven't accumulated the
experience of feeling hurt or hurting someone else, so they may act
impulsively, and it becomes a matter of "me" versus "you." That's how I
see it.
Edahiro: You said that people have lost a sense of feeling about others
even at the zoo. Do you think people have lost the sense of empathy for
people who are even right there before their own eyes?
Bando: One cannot feel anything without "antennas." We need to help
children put up lots of antennas (or sensors) to tune in to others
around them.
Roles of Zoos
Edahiro: Do you think that zoos have a larger role as the world becomes
more virtual?
Bando: Animals have been living in some kind of harmony and balance with
each other for millions of years. Humans can change their perspective on
life in a matter of decades. I would like the zoo, with its constant
mechanisms of living, to serve as a place where people can perceive how
they themselves are changing and that there may be another way.
There are strong odors at our zoo, and occasionally someone complains
about that. However, it is rare for someone who is enjoying watching the
penguins to say that the penguins smell bad. When people see someone in
a positive light, they can accept the other's entire existence, including
smell, just like one who accepts the smell of a person he or she loves.
One purpose of zoos, I think, is to help people to realize and accept
that this is the natural smell of a penguin (or other animals).
Edahiro: Zoos are often considered to be a place for children accompanied
by adults, but it may be good for adults themselves to visit there. Is
the number of adult visitors increasing?
Bando: Since adults can change society, I hope that many adults will
visit the zoo and become more aware. For example, someone may recall
what it was like decades ago, and wonder why things have changed now. If
people who are playing a key role in society can discover something here,
there is greater potential.
Edahiro: Can you comment on the business aspects of running a zoo?
Bando: Zoo admission fees are inexpensive in Japan. People often
estimate the value of something in terms of the money they have paid, so
there is a tendency not to think much of zoos. One advantage of low fees
is that people can easily enjoy zoos. However, people who take an easy
look at animals may not fully understand the difficulties that those
animals are facing.
The Penguin Walk event at our zoo is very popular, but this is actually
aimed at keeping penguins fit and healthy during the winter when they
tend to lack exercise. They take a stroll even when there are no
visitors. So we started to show the strolls to visitors. Penguins are
just waddling; there is nothing special. These ordinary things may touch
people's hearts. Seals are also just swimming, not giving a performance,
but visitors can be impressed with the seals' ordinary life. I don't
think that animals have their value because they do something special.
The same goes for humans.
Edahiro: Yes, there should be value in just being the way they are.
Bando: There is something absolutely wonderful and exciting in ordinary
things. With this in mind, I have been thinking a lot about how animals
just being themselves can appeal to people. Because it is unsustainable
to expect them to do something that is unnatural.
Edahiro: Thank you so much for this thought-provoking discussion.
Written by Junko Edahiro
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What do you think about his ideas in this interview?
Please share your ideas and leave comments!
https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id036058.html#comment
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[JFS Web Site Additions of the Month]
- This month's cartoon:
"In search of happiness" (2018/04/03)
https://www.japanfs.org/en/manga/manga_id036045.html
- JFS Newsletter No.187 (March 2018)
The Growing Senior Population in Japan's Metropolitan Areas:
Challenges for Japan, Hints for the World(2018/04/15)
https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id036044.html
Nishiawakura's Initiative for 100% Energy Self-Sufficiency,
and a Municipal ICO Scheme(2018/03/30)
https://www.japanfs.org/en/news/archives/news_id036040.html
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