1. Environmental Issues & Conservation in Japan
JPN-11
Samantha Contreras & Autumn Hampton
April 4, 2019

2. Environmental Issues
Pollution began with the rise of Industrialization (Meiji Period)
The 1960’s saw an increase of factory produced pollutions in the air and water supply due to economic growth being prioritized over the people
itai-itai disease in the Jinzu-gawa river basin
Cadmium poisoning softens the bones and causes kidney failure
respiratory complications in the Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka-Kobe industrial zones due to smog
Arsenic poisoning in the Toroku district
Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, increases your chances of cancer and heart failure.

3. Minamata Bay
Mercury Poisoning due to organic mercury being released into Minamata Bay by the Chisso
Minamata Plant for over 30 years.
Minamata Disease Symptoms
tremors
numbness
sensory impairments
muscular coordination failure,
loss of equilibrium
The disease was recognized as caused by environmental pollution in 1968
The government made compensation efforts for victims
July 29, 1997 is when the Bay was declared safe

4. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant
Caused by the tsunami following the Tōhoku earthquake in March 2011
3 nuclear power plants had meltdowns resulting in lethal doses of radiation leaking into the ocean & 1000 deaths
Radiation poisoning is still felt today in Japan and on the West coast of the North American Continent.
end at 2:02

5. Other Pollutions
Waste: Industrial wastes was million tons in 2013
Dioxin: chemical gases released from trash burning
Can causes serious birth effects & cancer
CO2 Emissions: Coming not from factories but from vehicles
80% of emissions come from diesel engines
agricultural chemicals that can contaminate ground water and soil
Environmental disruption: noise from construction and traffic, vibration from trains & offensive odors

6. Implementing Laws to Protect Japanese Citizens & the Environment
Air Pollution Control Law in 1968 regulates soot and smog pollutions
The Pollution Countermeasures Basic Law in 1967 creates policies that keep the government responsibly for pollution control
A new Basic Law (1993) is actively promoting worldwide preservation and international cooperation in keeping the environment safe
The Law Concerning Special Measures Against Dioxin (1999) regulates dioxin pollutions, and monitors the health of the community and environment
The Water Pollution Control Law (1989) regulates the dumping of toxic substances and holds the polluters responsible for cleaning up any spills that can contaminate the ground water

7. Waste Management Protocols
Nonindustrial garbage is 40 million tones per year (2008)
* 45,360,000 tons per year 8th country in the world for highest garage produced
Due to Japan small size, recycling is the main way of disposing waste
In 2015 waste recycled averaged at 20.4%, much lower then that of the Netherlands (51%) or Britain (39%)
However, Japan has the highest rates of paper recycling in the world at 81.3%

8. How do the Japanese Recycle ?
Differing Gomi Guides per locations
In Tokyo, trash is divided into three categories:
combustible trash (papers, woods, food waste, clothes)
non-combustible trash (metals, ceramics, aerosol cans)
recyclable trash (PET bottles, aluminum cans)
Certain pick up days for individual gomi
some are every other day, monthly or even annually (batteries)
1:37-2:30, 3:55-5:00

9. U.S.A. Recycling Laws Laws Regarding Recycling
Receptacle Packaging Recycle Law ( April 1997)
recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and glass bottles is the manufacturer's responsibility
The Specific Household Electrical Appliance Recycling Law (1998)
reduce electrical waste in landfills from appliances
U.S.A. Recycling Laws
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (1965)
- abolished open dumps and required guidelines for solid waste disposal and hazardous waste management
- called for increase of recyclable products, but did not demand it.
recycling is regulated by state laws

10. Environmental Protection Movements
Wild Bird Society of Japan
largest movement
40,000 members & 90 provinces
Goal: protecting birds & their habitats
The World Wide Fund for Nature Japan
43,000 (corporate members included)
Currently discussing the Okinawa Coral Reefs
Nature Conservation Society of Japan (NACS-J)
24,000 members
Established in 1949 to protect the Oze Marsh (尾瀬ヶ原)
from a hydroelectric dam
5,000 small environmental preservation groups scattered through out Japan and overseas

11. Ministry of the Environment & Environmental Agency
Responsible for environmental conservation, pollution control, and nature conservation.
created in 2001
sub-cabinet of the Environmental Agency (1971)
Encouraged the buying of environment friendly material
Environmental Agency sponsored students in the Junior Eco Club in order to increase awareness in regard to the environment and activities that benefit the Earth.
- aquatic life checks
- astronomical observation
- empty-can recycling

12. Environmental Cooperation
Japan has a range of environmental concerns they are tackling which include:
water maintenance
sewer services
trash disposal
disaster prevention measures
forest preservation
energy conservation
Japan is also partnered with international organizations like the International Tropical Timber Organization & the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Forest restoration & Sustainable timber production
International effort to end the world hunger problem
Not only is the government and citizen actively participating in protecting the environment, cooperate businesses are too
Mitsubishi Corporation is attempting projects with the goal of restoring rain forests in South America

13. Laws Regarding Environmental Protections
Nature Conservation Law of 1972
- protection of Japan's forests
International Whaling Commissions (1982)
- no more whaling
- Japan agreed due to pressure from the U.S.A. and other trading countries

14. Opinion
The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster was both interesting and terrifying to learn about; knowing how far the radiation of the three power plants went.
Japan has an innovated recycling program that should be imitated in larger land mass countries
Japan may be a small country but its attentiveness to nature also warms my heart due to the fact that the common attitude in the U.S.A. seems to be that of utter disrespect
- vandalizing national parks (Joshua Tree & Crater Lake in Oregon)

15. Works Citied