environment

Hay Fever in Japan: A Man-Made Nationwide Epidemic

How did a condition once thought to be non-existent in Japan become the country's "national illness"? Blame the government, says Krys Suzuki.

Japan Tackles Its Plastic Problem

From Cup Noodles to onigiri wrappers, some major Japanese businesses are taking steps to reduce plastic waste. But many experts say these…

A Subway Train in Japan Gets a Second Life…as a Vending Machine

A long-serving train car on Tokyo Metro's Ginza line isn't heading entirely for the scrapyard: a part of its gets to live…

Mottainai Culture: The History and Philosophy of Waste in Japan

Though sometimes honored more in the breach than the observance, Japan's philosophy of "waste not, want not" strongly influences everyday culture.