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Today, I would like to take you behind the scenes for the making of the cover for Ecotwaza Vol. 10, published at the end of last month.
As usual, I start by sketching an artistic masterpiece (?) and submit it to the designers.

Our photographer, Kuro, works hard to get a photo. He looks like a very suspicious character in this one!

 

You may be wondering what he was trying to photograph crouched in this awkward position in the middle of the city...

The title of his picture: Shinmaru Building from Behind the Hedge!
He responded magnificently to the extremely difficult task I gave him of including the shrubs in the shot. Thanks Kuro!

 

All that was left for us to do was to hand this photo to our genius designer Mr. Suzuki, who worked his magic to turn this picture into a cool and trendy cover.

As it turns out, for various reasons, I happen to be in the picture...

Anyone who is able to find my discreet presence may have a happy windfall...maybe???
We have been very surprised by the success that this issue has enjoyed so far.

It must be because of the cover.... Look out for an even better one next time!
If you are interested in subscribing or purchasing past issues, please visit the website below. Thanks!

www.eco-friendly-japan.com/product/256

On July 2, a preview for the Hybrid Air-Conditioning System utilizing ceiling panels was held at the head office of Mistsubishi Estate.

Mistubishi Estate has renovated a room in its corporate headquarter building into an energy saving system. Currently, systems for saving energy have been instituted in new buildings, but not in the buildings which already exist. Here, Mistubishi Estate have tried to validate the system for an existing building. These technologies are known as "Ceiling radiation hybrid air conditioning system" and "LED task and ambient lighting system."

"Ceiling radiation hybrid air conditioning system" is being introduced in Japan for the first time. It is expected to reduce CO2 emission, improve comfort, and reduce maintenance costs. The amount of power needed is reduced to a quarter of the normal air conditioning. In addition, the energy necessary will be created and stored in a more efficient fashion through late-night storage.

Though this system seems to be widespread in Europe, they have to examine whether the function will work in the hot and humid climate in Japan. Experiments to answer this question are being run in a room in Mitsubishi headquarters. The system incorporated is a Japanese version of technology developed by MWH Barcol-Air AG, Switzerland.

In terms of the "LED task and ambient lighting system," ceiling lights are set to 300 lux. Individual workers can adjust the brightness of the lamps at their desks depending on their personal needs. Through these adjustments, CO2 emissions are expected to be reduced to half the original amount.

Through this type of energy conservation, we will not have to endure heat and discomfort for the sake of being environmentally friendly. These new technologies will enable us to care for the environment in comfort.

Anyone who has watched an episode of the hit NBC television series “The Office” will know how hard it is for a small-sized paper company to compete in the world today. For those unfamiliar with the show, it is a comical and satirical documentary of a small fictional paper company and its struggles against superpower retailers. Recently, however, I was lucky enough to have the chance to observe such a small paper-industry business first hand, and was struck by the importance of such often-overlooked and ridiculed enterprises.

Fukunaga Printing Company is a small-scale paper and printing company based in the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan. With only thirty or so workers on a small plot of land, it is definitely not competitive with large-scale companies in terms of production. However, what they lack in sheer mass and numbers they have made up for through a combination of brilliant creativity, traditional technology, hard work, and personal touch.

Especially eye-catching is its “Kami no kousakujyo” project. Using ideas received from designers from across the nation, workers at Fukunaga collaborate with “template-making” craftsmen to hand-make templates for paper artifacts, according to the particular design. These templates consist of a wood base and razors in a specific design, so that when paper is pressed against them in the paper-cutting machines, certain patterns are cut into it. When folded, this paper transforms itself into objects of wonderful aesthetic and practical appeal, ranging from paper vases to flashlights to miniature models to greeting cards. All of their products are extremely eco-friendly; in fact, some, such as the paper vase, are manufactured from the leftover scraps from other products.

Equally as picturesque as the products is the factory itself. The 50-year-old machines (which still function perfectly well) and the workers who have been in this industry for decades give a truly intimate feel, and it is hard to imagine such delicate artifacts being created in a factory on a larger and less personal scale. In fact, some of the products are still hand-made as the intricate processes cannot be maneuvered by the robotic arm.

The “Kami no kousakujyo” project from Fukunaga Printing Company is a wonderful collaboration of creative ideas, environmental consciousness, and intimate personal touch. However, it is only one of many small- and medium-sized businesses present in Japan today that have supported the country for decades but are now being forgotten under a mass of large-scale retailers. Although these chain stores do have some advantages, there are countless ways in which the small- and medium-sized enterprises are irreplaceable. Perhaps it is time to pay them more attention once again, and to recognize and respect their true worth and potential.

In an age when rainforests all over the world are disappearing at alarming rates due to the human rush for resources, it may be counterintuitive to learn that there are cases of necessary tree-felling that are not carried out. Yet this is a very real phenomenon observed across Japan today.

Approximately 64% of Japan’s total land area is covered in forest, of which 45% are plantations. These artificial woods were planted during the country’s period of rapid economic growth following World War II, mainly through former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka’s plan to remodel and reform the Japanese archipelago. Most of these plantations are of a single uniform species, with Japanese cedar (sugi), Japanese cypress (hinoki), and Japanese red pine (akamatsu) being the most common types of tree used. With the trees growing within close proximity of each other, and at the same rate, a common problem is that all the trees grow to be thin, weak, and of sub-par quality and price for the harvesters (these are often called “bean sprout forests” in Japan). The forests can also become tangled and unmanageable masses as the thin trees intertwine with each other. In addition, the uniform height of the trees prevents sunlight from reaching the lower regions, denying the growth of grass and shrubbery. Without this growth, the land becomes very prone to landslides.

In order to maintain high-quality wood and to deter the dangers of these natural disasters, it is necessary to, once in a while, thin out the forest by felling the smaller trees, giving the taller and more “promising” trees more room to grow while allowing the growth of grass, ferns, and such to prevent landslides. This is the process known in Japan as kannbatsu, and is absolutely vital for the well-being of any plantation. This practice is often neglected, however, as it incurs economic costs (labor costs, etc.) without financial reward.

Recently, to help prevent the intentional overlooking of kannbatsu, many groups have taken initiative, utilizing the wood harvested from the process to create products and sell them for profit in order to fund the system. Although this wood may not be thick or strong enough to serve as the framework of a house, for example, it can be used perfectly well as material for smaller goods. Providing people with a wide variety of innovative and useful goods while helping prevent landslides and thus sustaining forestry and the environment, these products made of sustainably harvested wood are great for both their fashionable and their environmental qualities. 

Konjac: A Healthy Alternative

Despite all claims that America is the most obese nation in the world – or perhaps as a result of it – the people of the United States seem to be very health-conscious. As a college student in New Jersey, it has been especially interesting to see the use of tofu as a healthy alternative to meat. Throughout the US, meals such as pasta with tofu and barbeque tofu have become commonplace. This varied use of tofu is a result of two factors. One is its taste (or lack thereof) and texture, which lends itself easily to different types of recipes. The second is its health benefits – compared to other foods, it is extremely low in calories and high in protein.

Tofu, however, is not the only food that meets these requirements. I would like to introduce another alternative: konjac. Although not as famous internationally as tofu, konjac is a traditional Japanese food that has become a key ingredient in any health-conscious Japanese’s diet. Derived from a plant grown in many parts of Asia, it can be used to create flour that can be formed into a gel of unique texture, slightly firmer than that of gelatin-based products.

Being low in calories and high in fiber, konjac is used in a variety of Japanese foods, ranging from oden to fruit jelly snacks. It can be cut into strips to create konjac noodles. Some companies have taken a further step, mixing konjac with bananas and okara (residue left after production of tofu) to create a substance they have named KON-NIKU, which has a texture and protein content similar to meat, minus the calories (http://www.eco-friendly-japan.com/product/99).

Konjac is only one of many health-friendly products that exist in Japan today, but are as of yet unknown to the world. In fact, with its high adaptability, great health benefits, and addictive texture, it is surprising that konjac has not yet caught on globally. If given the chance to cross the Pacific, konjac will most definitely have a strong impact and enjoy immense popularity among the health-conscious in the United States.

KON-NIKU: http://www.eco-friendly-japan.com/product/99


Written by: Yohei Shoji.
Profile: Born in Japan, Yohei lived abroad for 13 years, spending time in Germany, England, and the US. Currently, at age 21, he is a student at Princeton University, majoring in economics. He is interning at Ecotwaza for the summer.

IWAKI Optical Aoyama Store will hold its first eyewear exhibition. The exhibition is set to open on June 14 until July 31, 2010.

Visitors will enjoy a warm, intimate and relaxing atmosphere at IWAKI's spacious Aoyama Store which is located in front of Akasaka Imperial Palace. Green bamboo plants and Japanese moss balls will greet you at the entrance.

They will also display a new model of IBC series. This pair of sunglasses was worn by an up-and-coming filmmaker Takashi Miike who directed various films, including Yatterman and Zebraman, at the Venice Film Festival.

IWAKI Aoyama Store:
Minami Aoyama 1-1-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Shin-Aoyama Bld. East 1st Floor
Tel. 03-3403-2344

Map: IWAKI official website