Unlock The Real Japan #7

A SPECIAL MAGAZINE BY Nikkei Asia

THE REAL JAPAN A MEETING OF MINDS

The world’s leaders head to Japan

Welcome to issue seven of Unlock the Real Japan , a special collaboration between Nikkei Inc. and Time Out Tokyo created to help business leaders gain new insight into one of the most exciting countries on Earth.

In Unlock you’ll find Nikkei Asia’s renowned insight into the business world combined with Time Out Tokyo’s knowledge of city living, ensuring that visiting executives can experience all sides of life in Japan.

This issue looks ahead to two international assemblies coming to Japan. First up is the G7 meeting in Hiroshima which, along with its accompanying ministerial conferences, will set the global agenda for the years to come. We speak to Hiroshima Prefectural Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki (p4), preview the agenda (p7) and bring you an exclusive guide to the places set to host the G7 Ministerial Conferences (p21). But the G7 aren’t the only countries heading to Japan. Expo 2025 will give over 140 nations and regions a platform to show off what they do best. Our preview starts on page 29.

We hope you enjoy the issue.

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Rob Orchard (Time Out Tokyo)

Marcus Webb (Time Out Tokyo)

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Ili Saarinen (Time Out Tokyo/ORIGINAL Inc.)

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A SPECIAL MAGAZINE BY N ikkei Asia

What is the significance of holding the G7 summit in Hiroshima?

This year’s summit is being held under unusual circumstances. Japan will be hosting the G7 leaders in the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a renewed threat of nuclear weapons being used. So it will be very significant to send a strong message of our commitment to peace. Hiroshima has two symbolic qualities. One is that we have experienced the use of nuclear weapons and how inhumane it is. At the same time, we can demonstrate that with a foundation of peace, there is an opportunity for prosperity, such as that Hiroshima enjoys today. Having the theme of the summit and the message [of peace] conveyed by Hiroshima as host align so perfectly is a rare thing, and in that sense I think it’s deeply significant that the summit will be held in Hiroshima, from where a strong message of peace can be communicated.

It has been a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. As a Hiroshima representative, how would you like to convey the preciousness of peace to the world?

It comes down to the tragedy of war and the reality of the use of nuclear weapons. Russia’s nuclear threats are a real, present-day problem. It is not a matter of abstract understanding about how many kilometers of land would be damaged [in the case of nuclear war], what the radiation would be like, or how many tons of force the explosion would have, but rather, it is more important for people to come here to Hiroshima and actually see what happens [when a nuclear weapon is used]. If possible, I would like the world leaders to visit the Cenotaph [which commemorates the victims of the atomic bomb] and go to the [Hiroshima Peace Memorial] museum to see the reality of nuclear weapons. Through visiting the museum and listening to the stories of hibakusha [survivors], there are things that can be physically felt, and I am sure that were the leaders of the world to have this experience, they would return home with a different view on nuclear weapons and how to build a foundation of peace.

How important is the summit?

First, there is the issue of nuclear weapons. We want people to feel strongly that they are something that must be eliminated for the sake of humanity. In addition to this, the sustainability of the planet is a major issue. These issues are connected: global

A WELCOME change

In May Hiroshima Prefectural Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki will welcome some of the world’s most influential people to the area for the G7 summit. He talks to Akiko Toya about how Hiroshima is preparing for the conference and how he hopes the prefecture will leave a lasting impression on the attendees

l Hidehiko Yuzaki

warming and the pandemic are threats to sustainability, as are nuclear weapons. The problem of nuclear weapons gives rise to a paradox of simultaneous instability and stability, in which countries with nuclear weapons cannot wage full-scale war against each other, but can invade countries that do not have them. The impact of such wars is then widespread, such as we’re seeing with the inability to export wheat from Ukraine, which is causing hunger and social unrest far away. Everything is connected. I think that these connections and issues are something that can be discussed at the G7 and that solutions to them can be formulated. In the end, this is what can lead to peace. I would like world leaders to send the message that prosperity is possible only if there is a foundation of peace.

How is Hiroshima Prefecture addressing carbon neutrality?

Hiroshima Prefecture is in a very difficult position. We have a major concentration of steel, automobile, and chemical industries, all of which emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. Our percentage of emissions from industry is 74 percent, while the national average is 47 percent. In that sense, if we just reduce emissions, it will be very costly, so I think it is important to find a way to translate measures into new investment in new industries. The companies here, especially the large ones in industries such as steel, automobiles, chemicals, and shipbuilding, are making solid efforts. My administration would also like to support and help small and mediumsized enterprises as well as households to promote energy conservation as a prefecture-wide effort, which can open up new opportunities for growth. The prefectural government is also working to promote the use of renewable energy sources, and we have a goal of reducing our CO2 emissions by 55 percent [from 2013 levels by 2030]. It’s possible to make this an opportunity for growth.

by small and medium-sized businesses, and encourage households to invest in energy conservation too. In terms of the carbon-circular economy, the problem is the emission of carbon dioxide into the environment. People say that coal is bad or oil is bad, but what matters is how much CO2 is emitted. It’s important to convert CO2 into valuable resources and let them circulate—without releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Human beings are mostly made of carbon. If we truly “decarbonize,” we will all be gone, but I believe that technologies that allow for CO2 to circulate without emissions or discharges, often referred to as CCUs [carbon capture and utilization], which capture emissions from the source, will be a great growth opportunity. Right now, the national government is developing a research facility for this in the [Hiroshima Prefecture] town of Osaki-Kamijima. We have also created a Carbon-Circular Economy Council (CHANCE) in cooperation with universities to boost new technologies. We are working on this in the hope that it will become a new industry for the prefecture.

You are one of the expert members on the government’s Council for the Realization of the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation. What is your view on the potential of this vision?

believe that the goal of the Digital Garden City vision is to increase productivity. I have high expectations.

Is Hiroshima digitizing?

We’re aiming to incorporate aspects of AI and big data to strengthen our core industries. In order to support the digitalization of manufacturing, we have a project called the Hiroshima Sandbox. It’s an opportunity for experimenting with digital [technology] and robotics, just like playing in a sandbox. In addition, in 2019 we established a Digital Transformation (DX) Promotion Headquarters, which works on introducing digital [technology] into daily life. In 2020 we established a new vision for the prefecture, which included promoting digital as one of the key aspects of all our operations. In Hiroshima’s mountainous areas, we are examining what smart agriculture can do to add value. For example, [grape-growers] often thin vines in order to grow larger grapes, but this isn’t easy for inexperienced workers to do. So we have a project in which workers wear smart glasses that help them identify which grapes to pick, thereby improving productivity.

What sort of decarbonization measures are being taken?

We have three focus areas: energy conservation, renewable energy, and carbon recycling and a carbon-circular economy. We’re aiming for a 39.4 percent reduction from 2013 levels by fiscal 2030. We facilitate investment in energy conservation

to promote the use of renewable energy our CO2 emissions by 55 percent investment in energy conservation

I believe that digital technology will be I think that creating new business important initiative. As the pandemic the digital transformation of digital constraints of time and should be pushed forward,

A major challenge facing Japan, and Hiroshima Prefecture, today is the continuing decline in our population, not only in terms of natural decline [more deaths than births] but also social decline [more residents moving away than new residents moving in]. The population is increasingly concentrated in the Tokyo area, and I believe that if this continues, the country as a whole will lose its vitality. I believe that digital technology will be effective in overcoming this problem. I think that creating new business models through innovation is an important initiative. As the pandemic is coming to an end, some parts of the digital transformation of society that were advancing have started to reverse, but what can’t be reversed is the experience that digital allows us to leap over the constraints of time and space to a great extent. This should be pushed forward, allowing for people to work productively wherever they are. I

You have said you want to promote “Hiroshima’s unique hospitality” during the summit. What do you have in mind? I believe that hospitality is about making people feel glad that they have visited. You need to be very resourceful to accomplish that—to welcome visitors in a way that puts their preferences and hopes first. It’s something that we need to get all residents of the prefecture on board with. We want people to understand the significance of the summit in Hiroshima, and with that, we would like to create momentum for the people of the prefecture to welcome visitors. We have a participatory project called Smile for Peace, which is a mosaic art project with pictures of the smiling faces of prefectural residents along with messages from them. By increasing engagement, we would like to heighten people’s feeling of participating in something where important things are being discussed. There are many things that make Hiroshima attractive, be it culture, technology, or the nature and landscape. Hiroshima inevitably gets mentions for the Atomic Bomb Dome and the World Heritage Site of Miyajima, but I hope people will also look beyond those and at the many other wonderful and valuable attractions we have.

One of the most important events in the global 2023 calendar, the 49th edition of the G7 Summit takes place from May 19 to 21 in Hiroshima. It’s the seventh time Japan has hosted a G7 or G8 Summit, with previous events being held in Tokyo (1979, 1986, 1993), Kyushu-Okinawa (2000), Toyako in Hokkaido (2008) and IseShima in Mie Prefecture (2016).

G7 SUMMIT: THE WORLD COMES TOGETHER in Hiroshima

The first summit was held in Rambouillet, France, in 1975, when six participating countries—France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, and Italy—discussed numerous major economic issues of the time, such as the oil crisis and the global economic recession.

This year, representatives of each G7 nation—the original six plus Canada—will

come together with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission in Hiroshima to talk about the world economy, regional affairs, and issues affecting the entire planet.

Hiroshima is situated in the southwestern part of Japan’s main island, Honshu. It was the first of two Japanese cities that were destroyed by atomic bombing towards the end of World War II. Now, nearly eight decades later and with the agenda focusing on the invasion of Ukraine by Russia (which was part of a G8 group between 1997 and 2014), Hiroshima has been chosen as the site for this year’s summit to emphasize the G7’s commitment to peace and its stance against the use of nuclear weapons and military aggression.

Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

It’s become impossible to ignore the impacts of global warming. Severe weather events are becoming more frequent and climate-fueled heat waves and wildfires, storms and hurricanes have wreaked havoc in many parts of the world. While the use of coal and natural gas will continue in the short term, decarbonization has become an ever-greater necessity. With the shift away from Russian fossil fuels after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it is clear that the expansion of renewable energy is essential for energy security, and that this shift is further accelerating, especially in Europe and the United States.

Progress was made at the international environmental conferences held towards the end of last year—COP27 on climate change and COP15 on biodiversity. At the former, it was decided to establish a fund to assist developing countries in dealing with the “loss and damage” caused by global warming, and at the latter a ground-breaking agreement was reached to protect 30 percent of the Earth’s land, oceans, and coastal areas.

The nuclear option

The Japanese government is playing its part, and will participate in an international presentation of concrete measures for decarbonization at the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May 2023. The foundation for this presentation was established in the government’s “Basic Policy for Implementing GX (Green Transformation),” a 10-year roadmap announced in December 2022, which outlines ¥150 trillion in public and private GX investment to help the country lower its emissions. While the roadmap focuses on energy conservation and making renewables the main source of power, the headlines in Japan were largely about another part of the plan, the move to further utilize nuclear power—still a contentious issue in the country some 12 years after the Fukushima Daiichi disaster. While the Basic Policy includes an increase in hydrogen usage and the decarbonization of transportation, Japan’s efforts to expand renewable energy, supposedly the mainstay of power generation, have not changed much since the invasion of Ukraine caused shock waves through global energy l Wind turbines in Shizuoka Prefecture. The government plans to make renewables the main source of power

EMISSION control

At a time of geopolitical instability and soaring energy costs, the need for Japan to push ahead with its decarbonization goals is more pressing than ever. Environmental journalist Kazuya Kitamura offers a progress report

markets. Nuclear power plants may be Japan’s trump card, but if they are to be built, practical use is still more than 10 years away, beyond the roadmap’s stated timeframe. Moreover, the implementation of carbon pricing, which sees emission producers either charged fees for producing emissions or given incentives to reduce them, is stalling in Japan.

Bringing the heat

Meanwhile, municipalities wanting to revitalize their communities with renewable energy have been competing to become one of 29 “decarbonization leading regions.” These regions have committed to expanding renewable energy sources such as solar power generation.

In Tottori Prefecture, however, the focus has been on a pioneering heat insulation project. Heat accounts for about half of Japan’s total energy use, and is an important component of decarbonization.

Buildings in Japan are poorly insulated compared to those in Europe and the United States, and rectifying that is an urgent issue in terms of preventing energy leakage. While most efforts to combat this problem promote the implementation of insulation retrofitting of ordinary homes and other buildings, in Tottori Prefecture

they’re being more ambitious. Its NE-ST scheme sets standards for heat insulation on a par with Western countries, far exceeding those of the national government, and it aims to achieve these standards in nearly 1,600 existing family houses and apartment buildings by 2030. As well as offering subsidies of up to ¥2 million, Tottori Prefecture has launched a training and registration system to encourage local operators to help lower the carbon footprint of the area’s houses. The local government sees the move as a win-win situation—both reducing the region’s emissions and, if the work is done by local contractors, benefiting the region economically.

Innovative projects focusing on heat utilization and cogeneration are also

taking place elsewhere in the country. In the village of Ogata, Akita Prefecture, one of the leading rice farming areas in Japan, a project is taking place to accelerate decarbonization while tackling the cost burden of rice husk disposal. It will see a rice husk boiler installed in the village’s grain storage facility. The resulting hot water will be supplied to municipal facilities and hot spring facilities for heating and other purposes. Ogata mayor Hiroto Takahashi, who is also president of regional energy company Ores, believes the project will serve as a model for paddy field regions across the world.

Meanwhile in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, a heat supply project is making innovative use of mushrooms. Solid fuel can be generated when the dried waste of enoki mushrooms is used in combination with woody biomass chips in a newly introduced biomass boiler; the heat from the boiler can be used at a municipal hot springs facility.

While the journey towards decarbonization in Japan can sometimes feel like a frustratingly slow one, the projects in Tottori Prefecture, Ogata village and Azumino City demonstrate that there’s no shortage of ambition and innovation in the country to see this critical goal realized.

Nuclear power plants may be Japan’s trump card, but if they are to be built, practical use is still more than 10 years away

Towards a Digital Garden City Nation

How digitization can help Japan achieve a greener tomorrow

Japan has big plans for a better tomorrow. The country has taken a giant leap toward a digital future during the pandemic, driven by the popularization of remote work and increased demand for online public services. Seeking to build on this momentum, the government had laid out a bold vision for a Digital Garden City Nation—a roadmap to digitalization for solving rural issues such as depopulation.

The aim is to harness technology to make living and working anywhere in the country more comfortable, convenient, and sustainable. This involves turning the challenges each rural area is facing into a driving force for nationwide growth in a country connected through digital means. Additionally, the hope is that solutions developed in the course of this initiative will increase Japan’s attractiveness as an investment and business destination, further boosting the economy, encouraging innovation, and facilitating the export of Japanese technology—all while reviving the regions.

A wide range of international issues are set to be discussed at May’s G7 Hiroshima Summit and

the related 15 ministerial meetings that will be held across Japan. The many facets of the vision for a Digital Garden City Nation, including smart infrastructure and agriculture, are expected to have a major impact on these conversations. In a preview of that agenda, we explore three projects at the forefront of the initiative: the use of 3D city models and smart agriculture, each taking place in a region set to host a G7 ministerial meeting, as well as technology exports for urban development in other Asian countries.

Model cities

Japan’s Plateau, the world’s most extensive set of virtual city models, is set to bring urban planning and environmental policy into the digital age. Wakako Jimba, Mayumi Mizobuchi, and Yuya Uchiyama, who are key to the project, explain how 3D maps can help with everything from solar panel placement to making cities more walkable

As Japan steps up efforts to achieve its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, cities and towns across the country are exploring a wide variety of paths toward a greener future. So far, one popular solution has been to install solar panels on the roofs of buildings, with the aim of covering a significant chunk of local electricity consumption with locally produced power.

But knowing where and how to place the panels to achieve optimal results has often proved challenging. Digital technology may

soon solve that dilemma, along with many other problems of environmentally friendly urban planning. In 2020, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) unveiled Plateau, a project aiming to bring together a vast and growing set of threedimensional maps and other data into what is now the world’s most extensive open 3D city model. By making use of existing data held by local governments, Plateau has grown quickly and will soon include virtual versions of 130 cities across Japan.

Following the sun

The launch of Plateau, which is based on open data and accessible to anyone, has spawned a flurry of efforts to harness this powerful resource for smarter and more effective policymaking. Backed by the MLIT, some 100 “usecase” projects—initiatives aimed at demonstrating the practical benefits of 3D city models—have been carried out so far by organizations and companies throughout the country.

One highlight initiative explored the prospects for solar power production in Kaga, a city located on the Sea of Japan in Ishikawa prefecture and noted for its embrace of decarbonizationfocused urban planning. Plateau’s 3D model of Kaga was used to run a municipality-wide simulation of solar potential by analyzing the number of building roofs in the city capable of hosting solar panels.

Local officials are now working with geospatial survey, consulting, and software firm Asia Air Survey Co. (AAS) to produce even more precise estimates. “We are building software capable of

evaluating the potential of solar power generation on a building-by-building level,” says Wakako Jimba, who leads AAS’s development team. “[Using our program] can make local governments’ simulations more accurate, and having the results in 3D form will make them easier to understand for residents when the time comes to ask for permission [to install solar panels].”

Once development has been completed—MLIT is aiming for a spring 2023 launch—the simulation program will be available for free to anyone interested and applicable to any other location with a 3D city model in place. “Tailoring the software for non-professional use has been challenging,” says Jimba, “but we’ve done our best to lower the hurdles for use as much as possible.”

But the potential of 3D

city models in improving urban planning and cutting emissions goes far beyond deciding where to place solar panels. “Plateau being open source allows for a wide range of applications,” says Jimba. Yuya Uchiyama, director of the Plateau project and a deputy director in MLIT’s urban policy division, agrees. “The 3D city models could be used to plan the expansion of sidewalks to make a city more walkable, simulating things like how much of an increase to pedestrian traffic could be expected, or to predict the movement of people after a disaster or accident to draw up evacuation routes that prevent overcrowding and the formation of bottlenecks,” he says. “Some startups have even tried simulating drone deliveries.”

And in the future, Plateaubased applications made in Japan could well help cities elsewhere become greener and smarter, too. “Plateau is compatible with CityGML, the international standard for 3D city models,” says Mayumi Mizobuchi, Jimba’s colleague at AAS. “That will be an advantage when the time comes to share our expertise with other countries.”

Growth strategies

Uchiyama is confident that Plateau’s coverage will keep growing, with 3D models of new municipalities being added at a steady pace. “Engineers and civic tech people, universities, and the private sector, who are the ones developing the solutions, will have ever more data to work with,” he says.

being added at a steady tech people, universities,

Having undergone its own incredible growth spurt, Yokohama is now helping the megacities of tomorrow by leveraging local companies’ technology into making fastgrowing Asian cities greener and more liveable. We explore the “win-win” thinking underpinning the city’s pioneering Y-PORT project

While countering depopulation and rural decline is one of the main aims of Japan’s Vision for a Digital Garden City

l Simulation of solar power generation in Kaga; (below left to right) Wakako Jimba and Mayumi Mizobuchi

SURVEY CO., MINISTRY OF LAND, INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND TOURISM; KEISUKE TANIGAWA

Nation, many believe that the country’s cutting-edge technology will also prove useful for alleviating the issues brought on by rapid population growth—a pressing concern for numerous cities in the emerging economies of Southeast Asia.

This line of thinking is being converted into concrete business opportunities in Yokohama, a city that has seen its own population boom. Once a small fishing village, Yokohama became Japan’s most important port practically overnight after the country’s opening to foreign trade in 1859. Its population swelled further after WWII, rising from some 600,000 in 1945 to over three million in the 1980s. The rapid change brought with it some growing pains, but once racked by pollution, waste, and housing issues, Yokohama is now one of the most desirable places to live in Japan. Drawing on its experience in dealing with these urban troubles, Yokohama is looking to help fast-growing cities in countries such as Thailand and Vietnam and avoid the same pitfalls.

At the center of Yokohama’s efforts is the Y-PORT (“Partnership of Resources and Technologies”) initiative, established in 2011 to provide “smart urban solutions” to rapidly urbanizing partner cities such as Da Nang, Bangkok, and Cebu. The project connects these cities with Yokohamabased firms noted for their expertise in areas such as wastewater treatment, waste management, transportation, and smart energy management.

According to Akihito Kubota, manager for development

cooperation in the city of Yokohama’s international affairs bureau, the Y-PORT approach is all about building mutually beneficial relationships. “Yokohama-based companies receive greater business opportunities through increased orders from abroad,” he says, “whereas our partner cities get access to advanced technology that can help solve their issues with pollution and global warming.”

The voice of experience

But why pick those specific partners? “Cities like Cebu and Da Nang are going through an experience quite similar to that Yokohama had during Japan’s [postwar] period of rapid economic growth,” says Yasuaki Nakamura, Yokohama’s director for development cooperation. “They have

million, as we had in the 1950s, but that number is expected to double in the coming decades. Our experience can be helpful in their urban development.”

One difference between the postwar decades and today is the availability of digital solutions to environmental problems, and many of the projects under the Y-PORT umbrella make use of digital technology. In one such venture, Yokohama Water Co. teamed up with Dawaco, the water supply company of Da Nang, to install nine high-efficiency pumps at the city’s Cau Do water treatment plant, significantly cutting the plant’s energy consumption. A web-based monitoring system allows Yokohama Water to observe the pumps’ operation from afar. “We can see whether they’re running or not, how much water is in the plant’s reservoirs, and how much energy is being used, all in real time via the internet,” says Wataru Tamura, who manages data

monitoring at the company. “This allows us to contact Dawaco immediately in case a pump goes out of service, and for an accurate calculation of emissions reduction.”

Another undertaking facilitated by Y-PORT saw environmental technology firm Finetech Co. install solar panels on the roofs of two factories in Bangkok. As a result, the plants—one of which produces fishing nets, the other disposable lighters—are now powered entirely by clean energy.

Finetech CEO Motoyuki Okada says that in addition to benefiting the climate, the project’s success has boosted his company’s business prospects in Thailand, and that the backing provided by Y-PORT has been crucial. “[Operating within the Y-PORT framework] reduces risk and offers local market access that can then be expanded beyond the partner city,” he explains.

The fruitfulness of cooperative projects such as these is encouraging Yokohama officials to look toward expanding the scope of Y-PORT. “We are pursuing further opportunities to promote Yokohama’s technology, and are actively

l The city of Yokohama; (below) Takeshi Ichikawa, Yasuaki Nakamura, Akihito Kubota

and smart energy

populations of around one

Tamura, who

establishing connections with [new] cities overseas,” says Nakamura. And such opportunities may well present themselves: with the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation set to supercharge digital-powered urban and environmental planning in Japan, international demand for the country’s high-tech solutions could soon soar.

Robo crop

Smart agriculture has the potential to transform rural life, with robots assisting farmers to increase their harvests and help ensure Japan’s food security. Kisui Tech CEO Tamir Blum explains his plans to usher in a new age for agriculture, starting with apples

For a long time, it looked like Tamir Blum’s future lay in the stars, literally. Having completed a Masters degree in the application of artificial intelligence in lunar rovers at UCLA, he won a prestigious internship at Elon Musk’s outer-worldly exploration company SpaceX, which hopes to conduct manned missions to Mars by 2030. “To be able to intern at SpaceX was a very big dream of mine,” says the 29-yearold American-Israeli. “But I started to question what I was doing. I couldn’t see the benefits of pushing to try to colonize Mars when we have so many things to solve on this planet. Technology should make life better for everyone and I saw so many applications for this technology on Earth that would have more impact.”

Space’s loss is proving to be rural Japan’s gain. As part of his studies, Blum completed his PhD at Tohoku University mentored by

renowned professor Kazuya Yoshida in the Department of Aerospace Engineering. Blum soon fell in love with the beauty of the Japanese countryside, as well as the challenges faced by rural communities. “I have always loved nature, but back in the US I’d never really thought about agriculture,” he says. “As part of my course I had the opportunity to do a homestay in Miyagi prefecture and visited a small farm. I saw the physical nature of their work and I thought that this is a place where I can help to really make a difference. There are huge inequalities between rural areas and big cities and technology can help address those.”

against Ukraine,” he says. “Our automated transport robots can help improve harvest efficiency by 33 percent and in the long term perhaps even more.” This, Blum believes, will be achieved by helping Japan’s farmers deal with the physical nature of their work. “The average age of a farmer in Japan is 68 years old,” says Blum. “Robotics can not only help these farmers work longer, but also attract a new generation of people to the rural way of life. By automating some of the more tedious tasks, robots can empower the work that the farmers are already doing.”

same SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology used by lunar exploration vehicles to traverse the rugged terrain of orchards. “In many ways the surface of the moon is similar to a farm,” says Blum. “There are lots of rocks, it’s bumpy and there are obstacles that the rover has to be aware of. The good thing about the farms is that unlike the moon if the rover breaks you can just go and pick it up. The bad thing is the mud!”

logistical supply

In 2021 Blum launched Kisui Tech with the dream of creating agricultural robots which would bring space-age technology to Japan’s farms and orchards. “Japan is an island country and having a self-sufficient food supply is very important, as we saw with the logistical supply chain problems caused by Covid and events like Russia’s aggression

Kisui Tech’s first area of focus has been the harvesting of apples. By speaking with farmers, Blum discovered that each basket of harvested apples weighs 20 kg and as many as 250 baskets a day would need to be ferried from the trees to a pickup location. Having a lunar rover-type vehicle taking the strain, he believed, would help the farmers concentrate on farming. So Blum and his team got to work, using his experience to create a wheeled robot that deploys the

vehicle taking the strain, he farmers concentrate on

The team are currently working on their fifth prototype, all developed by working closely with farmers across Japan, and the company plans to have its autonomous vehicles commercially available by 2024. So far, the reception has been incredibly positive. “We are creating our own sort of community: us, the farmers, local government and other businesses,” he says. “The farmers we have worked with have been so enthusiastic, and so helpful—sharing the things that work and those that don’t. Their work is so important for everyone’s way of life and if we can help them, then we can revitalize the whole countryside.”

l An automated transport robot at work in an apple orchard; (below) Kisui Tech CEO Tamir Blum

A BALANCED diet

Akiko Toya meets Takamasa Ishikawa, a fisherman with plans to change the tastes of the country—and maybe save a species in the process

Takamasa Ishikawa, a fisherman in Japan’s Ise-Shima region in the eastern part of Mie Prefecture, is seeing first-hand the impacts of climate change. Working with the local Aquaculture Research Institute (ARI), in recent years he has tracked the rising temperature of the waters he fishes off the coast. The results are startling. According to ARI data between January 2020 and January 2023, the average seawater temperature in the region rose by approximately three degrees centigrade and these warming waters could be devastating for the creatures that call them home.

Japanese spiny lobsters, known locally as Ise lobsters, are one of the popular marine delicacies for which Ise-Shima is famous. Underwater, the Ise lobsters have established a triangular symbiotic relationship with octopuses and moray eels. Moray eels prey on octopuses, and octopuses are fond of the Ise lobsters, but this delicate balance is now under threat. The recent rise in sea water temperatures

What we eat can have a huge impact on the environment.

l A fisherman holds up a moray eel caught in Japan’s Ise-Shima region

has resulted in an increase in the number of moray eels and a dramatic decrease in the octopus population, resulting in moray eels feeding on lobsters to survive. “Three to four years ago, I began to hear stories, where ama (female divers who collect shells and seaweed) had their hands bitten by moray eels while collecting abalones in the rocky areas,” says Ishikawa. “I even heard of moray eels breaking through fishermen’s nets to eat the lobsters.”

Sea change

Believing that human diets will change along with climate change, Ishikawa launched a project to capitalize on and combat the number of moray eels, by turning them into a local specialty to rival Ise lobsters. Tokyo-based filmmaker Keita Takayanagi, CEO and creative producer of Dotframe Inc., and photographer Hiroshi Ishikawa, joined the project. Together they plan to put moray eels on plates across Japan, while also educating consumers about both the joys of eels and the importance of making sustainable choices in what they eat if we are to bring balance back to the seas. “Let’s face these challenges with excitement,” says Takamasa.

Ishikawa was born in Ise-Shima, but in 2002, at the start of his career, he left for Tokyo where he developed frozen foods across Asia for a large company. After nine years away, he returned to his hometown to take over his father’s frozen food wholesale business. Back in Shima city

he noticed the challenges facing Japan’s rural areas, particularly a stark decline in birthrates, an aging population, and a shift in industries. Believing his experiences at a major distributor could help the current local situation at his hometown, he decided to help the local fishing industry. In 2020 he expanded the family business by selling locally caught seafood and promoting Ise-Shima’s fishing industry and preserving their traditions.

Takayanagi launched the “Eat to Know” project and encouraged the hospitality company Transit General Office to create a place in Tokyo where moray eel dishes can be tasted. Transit General Office is involved in the “Farmer You” project, which encourages cities to address global environmental issues through food, and runs over 115 different restaurants across Japan. As moray eel is a familiar ingredient in iberian cuisine, Transit General Office decided that its Spanish brand Xiringuito Escribà—which has a restaurant in Shibuya, Tokyo, and a flagship store in Barcelona—would be the ideal home for a new eel-centric dish. The Xiringuito Escribà chefs didn’t disappoint, combining the moray with rice to create an extraordinary paella. “In my hometown, the only idea I had was to deep-fry moray eel,” enthuses Ishikawa. “In Tokyo, they [Xiringuito Escribà] made it tasty and stylish.” Even though moray eel is commonly eaten in Spain, it is not often found in paella there, but after introducing the dish at Tokyo’s Xiringuito Escribà, the company considers adding it to the menu in Barcelona, too.

Moray eels are similar to common eels, but they have a unique internal structure, with three bones from the head to the belly and five from the navel to the tail. According to employees at Xiringuito Escribà, when they’re filleting the fish, some bones inevitably remain—but they have plans to turn this into a positive: launching a campaign where if customers find a bone in their fish, they receive a free drink. They also hope to take advantage of the fact that moray eels contain the highest percentage of collagen, which is good for the elasticity of the skin, of any living organism.

Turning the tables

Ishikawa sees the popularization of moray eels as just the beginning in encouraging people to broaden their culinary horizons. Only around 80 kinds of fish are sold at Tokyo’s Toyosu Wholesale Fish Market, whereas Japanese fishermen will enjoy as many as 4,000 different types. Ishikawa says that he would like to continue to communicate about the joys of unsampled fish in the future and hopes to make them staples of plates across the city. He is also considering developing a fish-focused YouTube channel to spread the word about fish dishes that people just don’t know about. “If we continue to take only the fish that are currently sold at urban markets, marine life will be depleted,” he says. “We can start by eating fish that’s been unused so far. I want to be involved in the challenges facing the world.” And that change can start at your dinner table.

l Takamasa Ishikawa, a fisherman in Japan’s Ise-Shima region, has plans to change the eating habits of a nation

l Xiringuito Escribà, a Spanish restaurant in Tokyo has created a paella using moray eels

stablished in 2014, PCV (Peace Culture Village) is a nonprofit organization that aims to create opportunities for people to play an active role in creating a peaceful culture. Today its activities include recording the testimonies of hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and offering education programs aimed at nurturing the next generation of peace activists. Peace Education Director Haruki Yamaguchi explains how Hiroshima’s painful past can help lead to peace.

What kind of organization is PCV?

PCV was originally founded by an American, Steven Leeper, who came to Japan in 1984 to work as an English teacher. He became involved in activities to give a voice to hibakusha, becoming the chairman of the board of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, which operates the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. As he guided prominent figures from across the world around Hiroshima, he realized that although he had many opportunities to talk about nuclear weapons and war, he had not had a chance to think deeply about what peace is. He wanted to explore peace as more than just the absence of war—so he launched the Peace Culture Village [PCV in 2014]. Today about 300,000 students visit Hiroshima on school trips every year. We thought about what we could do for those children and decided to start a program for them to think about peace. Those programs started in 2020.

Please tell us about your role.

Primarily I plan and run tours and programs that inspire students to think about peace—educating students before their visit to Hiroshima and showing them around the Peace Memorial Park during their visit. I am also responsible for the training of our so-called “Peace Buddies,” a team of young professionals who guide visitors around the Peace Memorial Park and conduct workshops.

Are there any keywords that you keep in mind when creating opportunities to think about peace?

Conventional peace education in Japan teaches that peace can be defined by the absence of nuclear weapons. Of course it would be better if nuclear weapons were eliminated, but everyday people may struggle to see how they can contribute. We run an online school for the next

HISTORY lessons

Haruki Yamaguchi of the education initiative PCV (Peace Culture Village) talks to Akiko Toya about what we can learn from Hiroshima’s tragic past

generation of peace culture leaders, where each participant considers how they, with their individual strengths, connections, and passions, can create peace. We also designed an AR [augmented reality] app called Xplore Hiroshima to make Peace Memorial Park accessible to people from around the world. While valuing dialogue, I would like to think about how we can make peace more personal, rather than just conveying the tragedy [of the atomic bombing]. Even now, nuclear weapons remain. What would happen if I lost my

family in an instant? Even if we cannot change the world, I want people to think about what we can do in our daily lives.

In other words, anyone can play the role of peacemaker?

Yes. At PCV, we have a concept called “Peace x ____.” Each PCV member chooses a word that goes into the blank to represent how they want to create peace in the world. Mine is “Peace x Children.” Hibakusha Toshiko Tanaka often says “a peaceful society is one where you have the freedom to pursue your dreams.” There are children in the world who will not live to adulthood, or who cannot choose what they want to do in the first place. So I want to create a world where they can choose freely how they want to live.

You have traveled to 18 countries around the world as a backpacker. What made you decide to return to Hiroshima and work for PCV?

I really want people to listen to the stories of the hibakusha, even if it is only for 10 minutes

Haruki Yamaguchi

Before joining PCV, I worked at a kindergarten for three years and was about to quit and go on an around-theworld trip. It was my encounter with Mary, an American who is also one of the founders of PCV, that made me reconsider. When I met her and saw how she, an American, was working to pass on the words of the hibakusha to the next generation, I wondered what I was actually doing [to make a difference]. I really hate this Japanese peer pressure where everyone is pressured to live in the same way. When I joined PCV and had the opportunity to work with many college students, I realized that many of them were feeling discouraged by this peer pressure, and didn’t have a place to be themselves. I want to show them how fun and interesting it is to walk to the beat of your own drum. I wanted to show them they have endless options, not just in Hiroshima, but even abroad. That is what I find rewarding.

What were Mary’s reasons for getting involved in PCV?

Mary, who had participated in activities for nuclear abolition and peace before coming to Japan, happened to have a connection with Steve and together they started PCV. Because of her Christian roots, she was first interested in Nagasaki [which has a long history with Christianity, dating back to 1560] and received a grant to conduct research there as a college student. She had never

learned about the atomic bombings in school and was shocked to learn that America had destroyed the largest Christian community in East Asia at that time. From there, she wanted to know the thoughts of the hibakusha, so she began visiting Hiroshima each summer. There, she had the opportunity to meet [survivor] Masao Ito. One of the common questions people ask hibakusha is, “Do you hate Americans?” Mary asked the same question to Mr. Ito. He said “I would be lying if I said I didn’t have lingering feelings of anger. But when the chain of hatred continues, there will never be a peaceful world. What happened is very painful and sad, but it is not Mary’s fault and holding on to hatred is not good for us or for the world.” When Mary heard these words, she was deeply moved and wondered why she had not learned about the hibakusha’s stories in the US. It was a turning point for her, and she decided to share the thoughts and words of the hibakusha with others [through PCV].

How many hibakusha are involved?

At PCV, there are three. The average age of the hibakusha is now over 84, so I think we need to create a form of learning that focuses not only on hibakusha, but is also about [what we] can apply to our own lives. Even though in Hiroshima young elementary schoolers learn about the bombing, it may be too graphic and lead to trauma. The facts of what happened were truly tragic, but even in Hiroshima

there is controversy over how to pass on this history. There are arguments that if we don’t change the way we communicate, children will lose the desire to even learn about it. For myself, I would like the children to start their learning not with the horror, tragedy, or harshness of the situation, but with something closer to their daily lives, such as what they would do if they lost something they cherish.

People are suffering from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and other forms of oppression around the world. Amidst this situation, the leaders of the G7 nations will come together in Hiroshima for the G7 Hiroshima Summit. I really want people to listen to the stories of the hibakusha, even if it is only for 10 minutes. There are many videos and articles on the internet of the voices of hibakusha translated into English, but I feel that they don’t get the attention they deserve. The atomic bomb was dropped 78 years ago, but there is still a threat that nuclear weapons could be used, brought to the forefront by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The hibakusha continue to raise their voices [about the consequences of conflict]. That is exactly why we want G7 leaders to come here to experience Hiroshima. I want them to take time to feel with their hearts what they can only feel in Hiroshima, not just the numbers, not just the information... I want them to hear the voices of the people who have been speaking out for 78 years.

LEARNING curve

Saitama City is collaborating with IT professionals to take digital education in its schools to the next level. Ili Saarinen digs into the city’s ambitious Smart School Project

Japanese schools have long been fond of traditional teaching methods, but are now eagerly embracing digital education.

e groundwork for this revolution was laid by the GIGA (Global and Innovation Gateway for All) School project, unveiled by the Ministry of Education in 2019, which seeks to put digital devices into the hands of every one of the country’s 12 million elementary and junior high students. As the GIGA push dramatically transforms Japan’s educational infrastructure, some school districts are already taking the next step: leveraging digital technology to overhaul the education system to better prepare the next generation for their future.

Among these frontrunners is Saitama, a city just north of Tokyo with a population of 1.3 million and home to 168 elementary, junior high and high, and specialneeds schools, with total enrollment exceeding 100,000 students. Rooted in the realization that the traditional way schools work is in urgent need of change, the city’s groundbreaking

Saitama Smart School Project (SSSP) seeks to harness the power of digital resources, learning, and data for the bene t of schoolchildren and teachers alike. “Our ultimate goal is education that ful lls the potential of each student,” says Mayumi Hosoda, superintendent of the Saitama City Board of Education. “To achieve that vision, we aim to change three ‘hows’: how our students learn, how our teachers teach, and how we work in schools.” Using technology to reform both how a city’s children study and the way its teachers go about their work sounds like a tall order, but Saitama has not

of learning. “Education in Japan has traditionally sought to avoid in uences from outside the school,” says Hosoda, “and working together with a leading private company is something quite new in our eld.” But the limits of the selfsu cient approach are beginning to show. “In today’s world, if we are to meet our goals, I think we have to enlist the talents of external professionals where necessary.”

The school of life

e SSSP is built around two central initiatives, the rst being the introduction of a “school dashboard”—a digital system that aggregates various kinds of studentrelated data and presents it to teachers and principals in a useful and accessible manner. Development of the dashboard has been entrusted to Uchida Yoko, and the company is working with teachers at ten pilot schools in the city to incorporate as many of their requests and suggestions as possible. According to Uchida Yoko’s Hiroshi Mano and Takamasa Takeda, building the school dashboard, which the company is doing “hand in hand” with the city of Saitama, is something that hasn’t been attempted at this scale in Japan before.

While teachers will undoubtedly like having all the data they need at their ngertips, Hosoda is adamant that it’s students who will ultimately bene t most. “ e data we gather belongs, rst and foremost, to our schoolchildren,” she says. “As teachers’ IT literacy improves, [easy access to relevant data] can lead to a more organized way of working, freeing up more time to interact with pupils one on one—bringing about a virtuous cycle.”

been afraid to seek assistance where needed to ensure the success of the SSSP. e city is working together with a handful of privatesector rms, including educational infrastructure experts Uchida Yoko Co. Ltd, on matters such as the e ective use of educational data and designing new forms

e other mainstay of Saitama’s endeavor is a digital-driven shift toward more inquiry-based learning, centered on breaking down barriers between subjects from science to social studies. “In the real world, issues aren’t con ned to clearly delineated boxes, so you have to think across several subjects,” says Hosoda. “Developing the ability to solve real-world problems is what education should be aiming for.” e superintendent believes that IT can help encourage such a shift in thinking by providing the tools for interdisciplinary study. “Once children realize how convenient technology can be, they start to nd learning fun and exciting,” she says. “And that is exactly what helps them cultivate the skills they’ll need later in life.”

Our ultimate goal is education that fulfills the potential of each student

of Tokyo with a population

Co.

Mayumi Hosoda, superintendent of the Saitama City Board of Education

PREPARING FOR the worst

What can Japan’s approach to natural hazards teach the world? Japan Bosai Platform president Hiro Nishiguchi tells Ili Saarinen why preparing for disasters must be made a society-wide concern

Climate change is already increasing the frequency and destructive power of extreme weather events which, along with the effects of other natural disasters, are being felt around the globe, including in many communities with little experience of handling such threats. Japan, on the other hand, is in the unenviable position of being one of the world’s most disaster-hardened countries. Lessons learned from its long history of battling earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, and volcanic eruptions form the basis for a multitude of practices and technologies in the field of disaster risk reduction, or preparing for and mitigating the effects of natural forces.

But beyond giant breakwaters, subterranean flood-prevention tunnels, and high-rises designed to absorb seismic energy, what makes the country so good at dealing with disaster, and what can the rest of the world learn from Japan’s approach?

“Our strength,” says Japan Bosai Platform (JBP) president Hiro Nishiguchi, “is in the basics, in how society as a whole prepares for natural hazards, not leaving the individual to fight alone.” Bosai is the Japanese word for holistic disaster risk reduction, and the JBP brings together around 100 private-sector firms and nonprofit organizations with expertise in the field, promoting their solutions to a worldwide audience.

The association was established in the aftermath of the “triple disaster”—the magnitude-nine earthquake, tsunami, and

nuclear accident which rocked Japan in March 2011. The triple disaster devastated the northern Tohoku region but also demonstrated Japan’s extraordinary tenacity in the face of overwhelming adversity. Known locally as 3/11, the event drew global attention to the country’s disaster response—attention that people in the field were ill-equipped to deal with. “After 3/11, there was no focal point [for interested parties from abroad] to speak with [about Japan’s disaster risk reduction technology],” says Nishiguchi. Filling that gap, the JBP has been spreading the word about bosai and Japanese disaster knowhow since 2014.

Are Japan’s life-saving technologies about to take over the world, then? Cautioning that things aren’t quite that

straightforward, Nishiguchi employs a smartphone metaphor. “One thing we’ve learned is that solutions are like apps; they don’t work without a common operating system underneath,” he says. “Part of that is technical basis, but more important aspects are mindset, the legal system, rules, values, and education.”

The foundation of the Japanese “operating system” is the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act, a law that spells out obligations for the entire public sector with regard to disaster preparation and response. “It’s like a very thick manual,” says Nishiguchi, “providing the basis for [the] mindset, budgets, training, and the allocation of manpower, and being a shared framework that enables the private and public sectors to work together.” Another key aspect is education. “[In Japan] fundamental behaviors such as how to deal with an evacuation situation and storing things like food and water are very much embedded due to education,” says Nishiguchi. “Responsiveness to a sudden situation is something that must be trained. When a disaster hits, unless you’re prepared, you won’t be able to react.”

Crisis management

Having the entire world install the same “operating system” for dealing with natural disasters, which would allow for more effective adoption of relevant technologies and systems in accordance with local contexts and circumstances, is no pipe dream. In 2015, the year when the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals, UN member states also agreed on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, an action plan for making societies more resilient to natural threats. “The bad news is that implementation is still limited,” says Nishiguchi.

Nevertheless, the JBP works tirelessly to disseminate its members’ products and services, showcasing them through a solution database on the association’s website, which gets traffic from more than 100 countries every month. “With the planet becoming more vulnerable to natural hazards, people are concerned about their situation and interested in Japanese solutions,” says Nishiguchi. “We want to create a society in which rescue workers won’t ever have to scramble to save people from ruins. Saving lives in advance, not afterwards, is where we can contribute.”

l Japan Bosai Platform president Hiro Nishiguchi

Japan UNLOCK

discussing issues related to climate, energy, the environment, gender equality, women’s empowerment, technology, and much more.

The conferences take place in some of the country’s most scenic regions and cities and, traveling north to south, we’ve compiled a special guide on the best things to see, do, and eat in each of them.

Sapporo, Hokkaido

Ministerial Conference on Climate, Energy and Environment, April 15-16

THE LOWDOWN

One of the most important events in the global 2023 calendar, the 49th edition of the G7 Summit takes place in Hiroshima from May 19 to 21. Representatives of Japan, France, the US, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Canada, as well as the presidents of the European Council and European Commission will come together to exchange views on the world economy, regional affairs and various global issues.

Situated in the southwestern part of Honshu, Japan’s main island, Hiroshima was the first of two Japanese cities that were devastated by atomic bombing during World War II. Now, nearly eight decades later, the city has been chosen as

the site for this year’s summit to emphasize the G7’s commitment against nuclear weapons and armed aggression.

Throughout 2023, fourteen G7 Ministerial Conferences will be held across Japan—from Sapporo in the north to Miyazaki in the south—with ministers

Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan’s four main islands, is known for its abundant nature and scenic landscapes, including Mt. Yotei, an active stratovolcano with an uncanny resemblance to the majestic Mt. Fuji. Hokkaido’s capital Sapporo became the island’s administrative center at the beginning of the Meiji era (1868–1912) and boasts a rectangular street system, complete with a number of historic buildings influenced by architectural styles from abroad. The city gained worldwide recognition as the site of the 1972 Winter Olympics.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Sapporo is known for its high-quality seafood, which is best enjoyed fresh at the local Nijo Fish Market in the morning.

Across 2023 some of the world’s most important people will travel to Japan for the G7 Ministerial Conferences Tabea Greuner profiles the incredible places that will host them

The conferences take place in some of the country’s most scenic regions and cities

Odori Park in Sapporo

Devour a donburi rice bowl for breakfast, topped with sea urchin, salmon roe, squid, scallops and more. If seafood isn’t your thing, visit one of the many ramen eateries in the city. Most of these specialize in miso broth noodle bowls, a dish best paired with a pint of local Sapporo beer.

DON’T MISS

When the snow melts in late spring, Sapporo’s central Odori Park turns into a lush green space decked out in colorful blooms—the perfect place for a pleasant stroll.

Sendai, Miyagi

Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology, May 12-14

THE LOWDOWN:

Sendai is the capital of Miyagi prefecture and the largest city in the northeastern Tohoku region. It’s only a 90-minute shinkansen ride from Tokyo, making it a convenient weekend getaway.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Sendai was founded in 1600 by one of the country’s most powerful feudal lords, Date Masamune. One of the city’s top attractions is his mausoleum, a colorful structure adorned with gold and detailed woodwork. Head to the former site of Sendai Castle to admire an equestrian monument of the warlord himself, dressed

in armor and wearing his signature crescent moon-bearing helmet. At the nearby museum, you can see the real deal: Masamune’s original suit of armor.

DON’T MISS:

Try the local specialty gyutan, thinly sliced beef tongue grilled over charcoal. It’s served as is or placed on top of a rice bowl—itadakimasu!

Niigata city, Niigata

Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, May 11-13

THE LOWDOWN

Niigata prefecture is located on the west coast of Honshu. The area is known as one of the country’s top producers of highquality rice thanks to natural conditions that are considered ideal for cultivating the staple grain. The prefectural capital of Niigata is often referred to as the City of Water due to the Shinano and Agano rivers flowing through the city.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Aside from fluffy rice, delicious sake and fresh seafood, the seaside city boasts a few beautiful buildings influenced by foreign designs. The symbol of the city is the

Sendai’s monument to Date Masamune

Niigata city

Bandai Bridge that crosses the Shinano River. The current version with its six arches was built in 1929 and is designated an Important Cultural Property. It’s especially scenic when lit up at night.

DON’T MISS

Niigata city is the gateway to the prefecture’s mountainous Echigo region, noted for its hot springs, ski resorts, and bountiful nature.

Nikko, Tochigi

Ministerial Conference on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, June 24-25

THE LOWDOWN

One of Japan’s few landlocked prefectures, Tochigi’s most frequented travel destination is Nikko. The small town is famous for its many ancient shrines and temples, which are collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nikko is only two hours north from Tokyo, making it a popular sightseeing destination.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Nikko is the gateway to Nikko National Park, which boasts scenic mountainous landscapes, lakes, and waterfalls. Both domestic and international travelers flock to the town to visit the vast shrine complex dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan between 1603 and

1867.

DON’T MISS

A visit to Nikko isn’t complete without getting a taste of the town’s local specialty, yuba. Also known as tofu skin, it’s made by scooping the skin off boiling soy milk. Yuba is usually served as is, but is also tasty when fried.

Mito, Ibaraki

Ministerial Conference on Internal Affairs and Security, December 8-10

THE LOWDOWN

Ibaraki prefecture is part of the greater Tokyo area and is home to scenic landmarks such as Lake Kasumigaura and Mt. Tsukuba. The prefectural capital is Mito, about 90 minutes by train from Tokyo Station.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Mito’s main attraction is the vast

Nikko is the gateway to Nikko National Park, which boasts scenic mountainous landscapes, lakes, and waterfalls

Kairakuen, a traditional Japanese garden considered one of the three finest in the country. Created in the mid-19th century, it’s especially picturesque during early spring when plum trees bloom in white, pink and red. You’ll also find a bamboo grove and a three-storied pavilion on the premises.

DON’T MISS

Eat like the locals and try natto, fermented soy beans. Mito is well known for this nutrient-rich food that’s commonly eaten over rice for breakfast.

The structures are embellished with elaborate woodwork and gold elements.

A Japanese whiteeye sitting among plum blossoms

Shinkyo Bridge at the entrance to Nikko’s shrines and temples

ARIKURA MACHIKO/PIXTA; RNDMST/DREAMSTIME

Takasaki, Gunma

Ministerial Conference on Digitization and Technology, April 29-30

THE LOWDOWN

Landlocked Gunma prefecture is famous for its hot spring resorts and ski areas, with Takasaki being the largest city in the region.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Takasaki is overlooked by a more than 40-meter-tall statue of the bodhisattva Kannon. Visitors can climb the monument from the inside and enjoy panoramic views of the city. In spring, the structure is surrounded by pastel pink cherry blossoms. Takasaki is also known as the hometown of daruma dolls. These round, traditionally red-painted tumbling dolls are believed to bring good luck. They come with blank eyes—you’ll paint one eye when making a wish, and complete the other when your wish has been granted.

DON’T MISS

Probably not a dish you would associate with Japanese cuisine, but Takasaki is known for its pasta and often referred to as Pasta Town. Gunma prefecture is one of Japan’s top wheat-growing areas, and you can taste homemade pasta at many restaurants across the city.

Karuizawa, Nagano

Ministerial Conference on Foreign Affairs, April 16-18

THE LOWDOWN

The site of the 1998 Winter Olympics, Nagano prefecture is one of Japan’s top destinations for winter sports. The picturesque town of Karuizawa is one of the prefecture’s most popular ski resorts and a well-frequented year-round holiday destination for Tokyoites—it’s only a 70-minute shinkansen ride from the capital. The nature escape offers everything from golf, hiking and cycling in summer to skiing and ice skating in winter.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Karuizawa gained popularity in the late 19th century when foreign residents of Tokyo, including diplomats, scholars, and priests, traveled to the town in summer due to its cooler climate. Many of the beautiful Western-style buildings and churches built at that time can still be visited today.

DON’T MISS

Karuizawa is best visited in spring, when the lush greenery takes over the town’s forest areas. Nestled in the forest north of Karuizawa, you’ll find the scenic Shiraito Waterfall. At 70 meters wide and three meters high it makes for stunning photo ops. At the parking lot leading to the waterfall you can pick up different snacks, including salt-grilled char fish or oyaki dumplings with different fillings.

Toyama and Ishikawa

Ministerial Conference on Education, May 12-15

THE LOWDOWN

Neighboring prefectures Toyama and Ishikawa are located along the coast of the Sea of Japan and are both part of the country’s historic Hokuriku region.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Take a stroll in Toyama city’s beautiful castle park, complete with a reconstructed keep and a beautiful garden. It’s especially scenic during cherry blossom season (usually late March). Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa prefecture, offers a range of sightseeing options, including samurai homes in the picturesque Nagamachi district and old townhouses in the Higashi-Chaya area. Kanazawa is known as Japan’s main producer of gold leaf. You can join workshops across the

Daruma dolls

Shiraito Waterfall

city and decorate your own lacquer box with the delicate material.

DON’T MISS

Thanks to the seaside location, both prefectures’ culinary specialty is seafood. Toyama is known for its masuzushi, a type of pressed sushi made with salted trout salmon and vinegared rice, wrapped in bamboo leaves and packed in a circular splint box. Ishikawa, on the other hand, is famous for its snow crab, which is best enjoyed boiled or grilled.

Shima, Mie

Ministerial Conference on Transport, June 16-18

THE LOWDOWN

Mie prefecture’s seaside city of Shima is surrounded by unspoiled nature thanks to

its location adjacent to Ise-Shima National Park. The city hosted the 42nd G7 Summit in 2016.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Shima’s Koushirahama Beach is one of the best surfing spots in the area, with plenty of cozy restaurants and cafes to be found in the vicinity. During the evening hours, visit Bindama Road, a path along the seashore lined by bindama—glass buoys traditionally used for fishing which are beautifully illuminated after dark.

DON’T MISS

Abalones are a specialty of Shima, traditionally hand-picked by local ama (female divers who collect shells and seaweed). They are available between April and September, and are best enjoyed grilled in their shells or as sashimi.

Osaka city, Osaka

Ministerial Conference on Foreign Trade, October 28-29

THE LOWDOWN

Osaka is Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area after Tokyo and the site for Expo 2025. The city of Osaka can be reached within two and a half hours from Tokyo by shinkansen. Compared to the capital, Osaka has a more relaxed vibe with a popular nightlife and street food culture, centered around the city’s Dotonbori area.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

The restored 16th-century Osaka Castle is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Visitors can explore the inside of the structure and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its top. In spring, the castle park is bathed in pastel pink cherry blossoms.

Shima’s Ago Bay area as seen from Yokoyama Observation Deck within Ise-Shima National Park

Kanazawa’s Higashi-Chaya area

Osaka’s soul food takoyaki

DON’T MISS

A visit to Osaka isn’t complete without tasting the city’s soul food, takoyaki

These octopus dumplings are often sold at roadside stalls and are traditionally served in little boat-shaped dishes. They come in portion sizes of six or eight dumplings, and are topped with a special sauce, mayonnaise, green laver, and bonito flakes.

Takamatsu, Kagawa

Urban Development Ministers’ Meeting, July 7-9

THE LOWDOWN

Situated by the Seto Inland Sea, port city Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa, Japan’s smallest prefecture.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Long before one of the biggest contemporary art festivals was launched in the Setouchi region in 2010, art and design played an important role in Takamatsu. Former Kagawa governor Masanori Kaneko (1907–1996) brought renowned architects and artists to the city for a fresh and modern makeover. Aside from admiring these stunning architectural designs from the mid-20th century, you can go even further back in

time and visit Takamatsu Castle, one of Japan’s three great seaside castles.

DON’T MISS

Slurp a bowl of Sanuki udon noodles, a local specialty named after Sanuki Province, the area’s former name. The noodles are characterized by their chewy texture and are served in a flavorful broth made from small dried sardines.

Kurashiki, Okayama

Ministerial Conference on Labor and Employment, April 22-23

THE LOWDOWN

Located in Okayama prefecture, Kurashiki is known for its beautifully preserved Bikan Historical Quarter. This picturesque canal area with its historic storehouses dates back to the Edo period (1603-1867), when Kurashiki was an important rice distribution hub and the warehouses were used for storing the grain.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Many of the historic storehouses have been turned into museums, shops, and cafes. The best way to explore the photoworthy area is from a wooden boat that takes you up and down the narrow canal, which is lined by willow trees.

DON’T MISS

Kurashiki is the birthplace of the first pair of made-in-Japan jeans. The Bikan Historical Quarter is home to a small street lined by a number of stores selling locally produced high-quality indigo-dyed jeans and small denim souvenirs. You can even pick up a number of blue-colored street snacks sold along the road.

Takamatsu Castle

A boat tour through Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Quarter

Miyazaki city, Miyazaki

Ministerial Conference on Agriculture, April 22-23

THE LOWDOWN

Miyazaki is the capital of Miyazaki prefecture, situated on the south side of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s main islands. The area is blessed with a mild climate thanks to the influence of the warm Kuroshio Current flowing in the Pacific Ocean.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Miyazaki’s Aoshima district is one of the city’s most popular attractions. The palm tree-dotted town with its beautiful sandy beaches is the perfect spot for anyone who enjoys surfing, cycling and outdoor cafes. Off the coast you’ll find the small island of Aoshima, accessible via a bridge from the mainland. Here you can discover a beautiful seaside shrine, which is surrounded by a tropical forest.

DON’T MISS

Miyazaki beef is rated as one of Japan’s finest wagyu brands. For the best culinary experience, visit a local teppanyaki restaurant, where chefs will prepare the juiciest cuts right in front of you.

Nagasaki city, Nagasaki

Ministerial Conference on Health, May 13-14

THE LOWDOWN

The capital of Nagasaki prefecture is located on the northwestern coast of

Kyushu. After Hiroshima, Nagasaki was the second city that suffered from atomic bombing at the end of World War II in August 1945.

WHY YOU SHOULD GO

Nagasaki was Japan’s early gateway to international trade. This influence can still be seen today, with beautifully preserved European-style homes and churches dotted across the city. More adventurous visitors can join a guided tour to Hashima, also known as Gunkanjima or “battleship island,” an abandoned island once used for coal mining.

DON’T MISS

Many of the city’s local specialties are inspired by foreign cuisines. Nagasaki chanpon, for example, is a noodle dish influenced by Chinese cooking, with topping options including pork, vegetables, and seafood. Round off your meal with a piece of traditional castella sponge cake, which was introduced by Portuguese missionaries in the 16th century.

Nagasaki city

Aoshima island and the shrine’s torii gate

attractions COMING

Kaila Imada previews Expo 2025 with a look at recently announced plans for the Japanese, Dutch, Swiss, and Korean pavilions

With only two years to go until the 2025 edition of the World Expo, Japan is gearing up to welcome the mega-event back to Osaka, the site of the country’s first and highly successful world’s fair back in 1970. Expo 2025

Osaka, Kansai, Japan is scheduled to take place from April 13 to October 13, with a total of 142 countries and regions having confirmed their participation. The fair will be hosted on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay and is projected to welcome over 28 million visitors. With a plethora of sights, events and activities to look forward to, here’s an inside look at what Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and South Korea have planned for their pavilions and participation at Expo 2025.

Japan

Japan has a long history with world expos. The country is one of the founding members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and has organized and hosted two successful World Expos. On top of these, it has also held a handful of specialized expos including events in Okinawa and Tsukuba. Now, Japan will be bringing the Expo back to Osaka, where the country’s love for these international extravaganzas was kindled back in 1970.

The original Osaka Expo was the first world’s fair to be held in Asia, with a total of 77 countries and regions participating

in the event, including Japan. It had a massive turnout and ended up being the most visited Expo of the 20th century. Japan’s debut fair took place in the Osaka Prefecture city of Suita, in what is now called the Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, where some of the structures from 53 years ago can still be visited today.

Looking toward Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan has announced plans for its pavilion. Architect and designer Oki Sato, whose oeuvre includes the innovative cauldrons used for the Olympic flame at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic

Games, will be helming the project as general producer and designer, whereas architectural firm Nikken Sekkei will be handling day-to-day design duties. The pavilion will be a three-story structure made from highly durable cross-laminated timber that will also cover the exterior of the building. With sustainability being a key value of the Expo, the timber used will be leased for the event and then offered to local governments and businesses for reuse.

Focusing on the overarching theme of sustainability and a future human society in harmonious coexistence with

l An artist’s impression of Japan’s Expo 2025 pavilion

the planet, the pavilion’s exhibition will be called “Between Lives.” The displays will seek to draw visitors’ attention to how we are all part of the living Earth and what that realization entails, with the hope of encouraging people to think of sustainability and ecological issues as something directly related to their everyday lives.

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition has also shared plans for a “Signature Project,” which will take place across eight “signature pavilions” on the Expo grounds as well as in the form of events both online and offline. You can read more about this project on page 32.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is also one of the founding members of the BIE and has participated in every single world expo since the very first fair in London back in 1851. As an active contributor to this worldwide event, the country has developed a real sense of the importance of the world’s fairs and how it can best represent itself on this global stage.

Most recently, the Netherlands had

a grand presence at the Expo 2020 in Dubai, where the country took home a number of notable awards including the Sustainable Construction Project award for an innovative minimal-footprint pavilion. The structure was designed as a recyclable mini biotope with a naturally controlled climate where water could be extracted from the desert air. This water was then used to grow food and generate electricity using biodegradable solar panels. At the end of the Expo, all the materials were passed on to new construction projects or recycled, leaving nothing but the sand that was initially at the plot.

“The Expo is a platform where we can connect with the whole world to solve global challenges together,” says Marc Kuipers, consul general of the Netherlands

in Osaka and the commissioner general for the country’s display area at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Additionally, he stresses that countries need to think on a global scale and work together to help resolve issues that affect the entire planet, including climate change and the importance of the energy transition in combating global heating. “Bring your best game to Osaka. Bring your best innovations, your brightest minds. Get them to contact people from other countries in order for them to learn from one another,” he adds.

Looking toward 2025, Kuipers has hopes that the Netherlands can deepen its relationship with Japan through its participation in the Expo. The country has had close ties to Japan for over 400 years, beginning with the arrival of the first Dutch ship on the shores of Kyushu in 1600. Kuipers says that thanks to the close economic relationship between the two countries, there are many strategic ways in which the Netherlands and Japan can work together to reach their goals during the upcoming Expo.

South Korea

South Korea has had a long-standing presence at World Expos and is hoping to welcome the country’s first registered expo to Busan in 2030. The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago was South Korea’s first official appearance at an international fair and the country has been an active participant in every World Expo since the 1962 Century 21 Exposition in Seattle.

Thanks to the ever-growing interest in hallyu, otherwise known as the Korean Wave, South Korea has been able to attract an overwhelming number of visitors to its pavilions at World Expos. This is especially true for the fairs hosted in Japan, as hallyu has been a major factor in expanding the relationship between South Korea and Japan.

South Korea has decided to participate in the upcoming Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai to continue and develop its relations between the two countries. As shared by Choon-Woo Jun, an executive vice president of the Korea TradeInvestment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), “Japan and Korea are geographically

The Netherlands’ minimal-footprint pavilion at the Expo 2020 in Dubai

The Expo is a platform where we can connect with the whole world to solve global challenges together

the most adjacent countries, and have long maintained a sustained cooperative relationship in diverse areas, not only economically, but also in cultural and personal exchanges.”

Jun also discusses some context on what people can expect at Korea’s 2025 pavilion as the country has chosen to work with the Expo’s sub-theme of Connecting Lives. “Through the Korea Pavilion, we would like to present our vision that Korea, Japan and the entire world are connected, that the past, present, and future are connected, and that a sustainable future society will only be realized when we are all connected.”

The design of the pavilion was selected through an architectural design competition in 2022 and South Korea is planning to hold a number of events at the upcoming Expo including a K-pop concert and other events to introduce Korean culture through food, drink and a range of other exciting experiences.

Switzerland

Another founding member of the BIE, Switzerland has participated in the majority of world’s fairs including Expo 2020 Dubai and Milan Expo 2015. Following a successful showing in Dubai, the country hopes to

engage with a high number of visitors and use Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai as a platform to showcase Switzerland’s strengths in science, education, tourism, business, politics, and cultural diversity. “We have succeeded in establishing an attractive brand with the Swiss pavilion,” says Manuel Salchli, commissioner general of the Swiss pavilion at Expo 2025, adding that he is looking forward to deepening the Swiss-Japanese friendship further in Osaka.

Switzerland’s plans for 2025 focus on promoting the country as a leading innovation hub. The theme for its pavilion is “Innovative Switzerland,” and

its exhibition will demonstrate how the country’s penchant for change contributes to sustainability and prosperity for its population. Innovations in business, science, and research will be displayed across three areas: “Life” will focus on nutrition, health, and the life sciences; “Planet” will highlight the environment, climate, and energy, and “Augmented Human” is expected to showcase robotics and artificial intelligence.

The entire pavilion will act as a “Living Lab” where visitors can “connect with nature and innovation.” With a focus on leaving the smallest ecological footprint possible, the finished pavilion will be one of the lightest buildings at the site and will be decorated with plants grown at local nurseries that will remove as much carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as was emitted during construction. The building itself will be made from recycled materials and will also be recycled once again—into furniture, for instance—after the Expo has finished.

Salchli points out that despite the distance between the two countries, Switzerland and Japan have a strong relationship and face similar challenges. In tune with this and leading up to the Expo, the Embassy of Switzerland and the Swiss network in Japan have launched a communication program known as “Vitality.Swiss.” The program provides a platform for dialogue and co-creation aimed at exploring solutions to climate change, aging populations, the challenges of digitalization, and global health issues based on the Swiss pavilion’s themes of life, planet, and innovation.

NÜSSLIHERZBELLPRAT; ©FDFA; COURTESY OF KOREA TRADE-INVESTMENT PROMOTION AGENCY

l An artist’s impression of Korea’s Expo 2025 pavilion

l An artist’s impression of Switzerland’s Expo 2025 pavilion

apan’s exhibitions at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will extend beyond the country’s main pavilion in the form of the “Signature Project,” set to sprawl across eight “signature pavilions” at the center of the Expo site as well as into the online world. Each of the eight parts will be helmed by a different producer. Here’s what you can expect...

1

With the sub theme “Resonance of Lives,” Keio University professor Miyata’s project will emphasize the importance of respecting and appreciating diverse forms of life in modern society.

2 “Future of Life” by Hiroshi Ishiguro

This project by the professor at Osaka University and visiting director of ATR Hiroshi Ishiguro Laboratories takes the phrase “Amplification of Lives” as its guiding principle. It will show how the boundaries between the real and the virtual worlds are vanishing through advances in technology. The pavilion will feature a futuristic medical laboratory where androids and humans work together.

3 “Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion” by Sachiko Nakajima

Nakajima, who is a musician, mathematician and STEAM educator, will call for the democratization of creativity at her pavilion. Subtitled “Invigorating Lives,” it is set to become a space that stimulates creativity through games, learning, sports, and art.

SETTING THE stage

All eyes will be on Japan when the World Expo comes to Osaka in 2025. Tabea Greuner previews what the country has planned over its eight pavilions

“Forging Lives” is the theme of Ochiai’s project and the digital artist has promised to create an interactive monument that will combine nature and digital technology to develop a vision of the future.

5 “Dynamic Equilibrium of Life: I am You” by Shin-ichi Fukuoka

With our modern world seeing an increase in the division between people, and between humans and nature, biologist Fukuoka’s pavilion will aim to “position humankind as living beings in the overall system of life.”

“Totality of Life” is the guiding phrase for this project which will feature exhibitions and workshops that use augmented reality and sound effects to enhance connections. The project, by animation director Kawamori, aims to promote a paradigm shift from anthropocentrism, the belief that humankind is the central entity in the universe, to biocentrism, a point of view that values all living things.

pavilion will be designed by Japanese star-architect Kengo Kuma, who designed Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, and explore the theme “Cycle of Lives.” Guests will be able to explore cutting-edge food technology and alternative eating practices that will help usher in a more sustainable future.

Broadcast writer and vice president of Kyoto University of the Arts, Koyama’s

Under the heading “Embracing Lives,” Still the Water director Naomi Kawase will be creating a forest-style pavilion complete with an interactive theater, where visitors will have the chance to recognize the existence of “others” and step away from drawing boundaries between themselves and their fellow humans.

“Co-being” by Hiroaki Miyata

4 “Null2” by Yoichi Ochiai

6 “Live Earth Journey” by Shoji Kawamori

7 “Earth Mart” by Kundo Koyama

8 “To Exist” by Naomi Kawase

l An artist’s impression of the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan site

ETIQUETTE GUIDE: THE ART OF SUSTAINABLE LIVING

From recycling points to saying no to plastic, here are the secrets of an environmentally friendly lifestyle in Japan

Guide: Tabea Greuner, Marcus Webb

DO: Seek out the recycling bins

Trash bins are a rare sight on the streets of Japan, yet the sidewalks in even the busiest cities are invariably immaculately clean. This is thanks to a culture of people taking their trash home with them to sort into the correct domestic recycling bin. That may not be an option for visitors, but major train stations and bus terminals often have large banks of recycling bins for their endless streams of travelers, as do community centers and parks. There are separate bins for combustible items such as paper scraps, noncombustible items like plastic cups, and recyclable items like plastic bottles. These are often found side by side but don’t panic—handy illustrations will point you towards the correct one for your litter.

DON’T: Toss your rubbish on street-side trash piles

When you walk past piles of bags of litter on the sidewalk awaiting collection in the mornings, avoid the temptation to add your trash to the load. Local municipalities designate the days when residents and businesses can dispose of certain types of trash. While adding your rubbish to the heap might seem harmless, you might cause the entire pile to be rejected by the collectors.

DO: Just say no

Japanese people have almost as many phrases for ‘bag’ as the inuit do for

snow. There’s fukuro ( ) (bag), reji bukuro ( ) (a ‘register bag’, the type of plastic bags you get at checkout at most stores), bineeru bukuro (a different type of plastic bag), kami bukuro (paper bag) and even sage bukuro ( ) (a large plastic bag with a handle). To politely decline any of them, just insert your bag phrase of choice and finish with ‘wa iranai desu.’ For example, ‘reji bukuro wa iranai desu.’ (‘I don’t need a register bag.’) For an easier catch-all, try the phrase ‘sono mama de daijoubu desu’ (‘just as it is is okay’), when your cashier reaches for a bag.

DON’T: Go disposable

A lot of cafés and bakeries in Japan will automatically assume your food

or drink is to go and opt for something disposable rather than using their crockery. If you plan to eat in tell your cashier ‘tennai desu’ ( ).

To specifically request a mug over a plastic to-go cup, use ‘magu kappu wo onegai shimasu.’ ( ). If you’re on the go, but have your own reusable cup say, ‘koko ni irete kudasai’ (‘please put it in here’) or ‘tambura ni irete kudasai’ (‘please put it in my tumbler’). You’ll not only earn an admiring look for your linguistic skills, but often a discount for using your own container as well.

DO: Refill

Put your reusable cup or bottle to further use at one of the thousands of Mymizu water refill stations across the country. These range from fountains to friendly businesses that will top up your bottle for free. This being Japan, there is of course an app for that; download it via mymizu.co and you’ll never need to buy a bottle of water in the country again.

DON’T: Overlook the pre-loved

Second-hand goods in Japan are mostly in perfect condition and a fraction of the price of buying new. If you’re in Tokyo head to the Shimokitazawa and Koenji neighborhoods which are home to a plethora of thrift and vintage shops, selling anything from preloved fashion and luxury goods to books, CDs, DVDs, games, and more.