2023

In Japan, rice consumption is falling, over 420,000 hectares of farmland lies unused, and a great volume of rice goes to waste. Kamiya Kazuhito has spent 15 years developing a company that uses it to make biomass resin—a form of plastic. In response to rising demand, Kamiya took advantage of unused farmland in Fukushima Prefecture, and began large-scale production. This created jobs, contributing to the recovery of an area devastated by the 2011 Great Earthquake and Tsunami.

Around the world, cats, dogs, and other pets are an integral part of many families. But while improvements to diet and veterinary care have brought increased lifespans, they have also seen an increase in health conditions that affect elderly pets. Shimada Akio is Japan's first veterinary prosthetist, pioneering custom prosthetics and rehabilitation schemes that preserve quality of life for animals who would once have been beyond help, including pets, wild animals, and zoo residents.

Against the backdrop of societal aging and isolation in Japan, Yata Akiko is a pioneer of community nursing. Rather than direct treatment at healthcare facilities, this approach promotes integration with local people to provide advice and catch potential issues early. Inspired by the early death of her own father, Yata runs a health visit service for seniors, local "busybodies' assemblies," and training schemes whose graduates are now active in various settings across Japan.

A year into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with the specter of global war a constant presence, young people in Japan are pursuing new ways to promote peace. Hiroshima-born Yamaguchi Haruki directs peace education initiatives for an NPO. Her team of young staff run guided tours and online programs aimed at participants in Japan and overseas. As first-hand memories of the atomic bomb gradually fade, we follow a new generation striving to keep the flame of peace alive.

Top European brands rate Japanese textiles highly but many workshops are closing down. Miyaura Shinya shares information on the industry's superb skills as a way to revitalize manufacturing regions and forge relationships with designers. He visits factories to learn about new cloth, brings designers on visits and plans exhibitions. He also set up a course to train a new generation of potential factory workers. Miyaura's hard work helps to slow the decline of Japan's textile industry.