August Catch-up on Sustainable initiatives in Japan, Europe & Hawaii

7 min readAug 27, 2024

Great to catch up after the summer break with fellow sustainability-focused consultant Tove Kinooka on our monthly series Sustainable Japan short-takes. It was a lively discussion of connections across topics that help us find better ways to balance the needs of people and planet with profits.

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The Circularity of Japan Blue Indigo

Starting with why I now have blue indigo dyed nails, I talked about the Japanese indigo studio, workshop, and farms we visited. Tokushima is historically famous for Japanese blue AIZOME growing and dyeing, but there has been a trend in the last twenty years to use faster and cheaper chemical dyes from abroad.

It is great to see a renewed interest in indigo dyeing in Japan by artisans and clothing merchants. We were able to see the whole circular and sustainable process of growing, processing, fermenting, dyeing and composting Japan’s famous blue indigo dye.

Peace, Collaboration & Dark Tourism

Not all tourism is light and cheerful, some of the most popular sights are historically significant for horrors and atrocities we should never forget. Tove talked of her experience visiting a dark tourism site in Austria called Mauthausen— a WW2 concentration camp where 190,000 people were imprisoned and more than 90,000 people were killed by the Nazi German regime. Tove spoke of how it was a powerful experience with expert guides that asked visitors to engage with the difficult issues of the past.

My experience going to Pearl Harbor on Hiroshima day August 6th had many similar connections to the appeal, but need to show respect, at dark tourism sights. I appreciated the attention spent by the ranger guides to prime visitors to maintain a sense of place as we walked through the memorial. We then discussed the importance of owning history’s hard truths and the need to collaborate in order to move forward for peace.

Pearl Harbor light up ceremony to commemorate Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombings

Hydration, Heat Stroke & Refills

It’s still 35 degrees most days at the end of August, as Japan is not immune from the hottest ever summers around the world. The Japan times has started a new series this year called BOILING POINT to highlight climate-change heat related issues in Japan.

Some of the most surprising news stories are that Japan’s population is already dehydrated! Studies found that over half the kids documented were dehydrated and didn’t know how to observe signs of dehydration or heat stroke.

The sustainable start-up MyMizu (follow MyMizu co-founders Robin Lewis & Mariko McTier here on Medium) does great work supporting people looking for places to fill up their bottles with free, clean, delicious water- but we need so many more refilling opportunities in Japan.

Water refill stations like these are standard in parks and public places in the US

Visionaries of Oahu, Hawaii

When I was home for a month, there are so many frustrations in Hawaii with its traffic, inefficient waste and recycling management, difficulty to do anything without a car, and poor public transportation. But I was impressed by the quick progress Hawaii is making on sustainable initiatives.

For example, electric cars are booming (30% increase YOY) and charging stations are everywhere. Solar and renewable energy projects are showing strength. Locally grown organic and natural food programs are improving. And indigenous culture preservation are getting more priority- including with billions of sustainable projects funding coming in from the Biden-Harris inflation reduction act.

“This $20 million down payment — part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic investment in climate action — recognizes the critical role of the Native Hawaiian community in charting a path towards a sustainable, climate resilient future in Hawai‘i and beyond.” US Senator Brian Schatz

There are also other innovative initiatives, strategies and policymaking in action which is available to the public. Online publication of government laws and policies offers transparency to the public looking for proof of a sustainable and accountable government.

Policymakers need to share their clear vision with the public

Cycle-Friendly Netherlands

How can we make cities more cycle friendly? There is no better example than the Netherlands where the lanes are clear and user-friendly as well as the ability to take your bicycle with you on trains and buses to get further or faster than if just traveling on 2-wheels.

Tove was raving about the bicycle buggies and bikes which move all kinds of people and goods everywhere they need to go.

It’s interesting to note that the Netherlands hasn’t always been a cycle-friendly mecca- city planners made a concerted effort to change (back) to a car-centric city in the 1980’s. Now it is known as a premiere cycle-centric country which shows if there is a will there is a way at any destination.

How do we preserve Japan’s traditional trades?

In the show, we also talked of the many examples we see of traditional crafts, artisans and trades which are so sad to see dying out in Japan. The artisan at the workshop making stunning Wagasa umbrellas in Tokushima lamented that there are no apprentices for the trade, and no students interested in studying.

Douglas Brooks who I also followed up with this month highlighted the challenges of learning the art of Japanese wooden boatmaking before it disappears.

Beautiful traditional Japanese umbrellas in Udatsu town Tokushima

Culture and tradition disappearing is the norm in Japan which makes the continued strength of Awa Jurobe Yashiki all the more special. This puppet theatre and museum in Tokushima has been continuing the traditions strong, even having a revival.

One of the reasons for its success might be how inclusive it has been for women and international people who want to learn and practice the art. The museum guide spoke of the interest from international academics and artists who have helped to highlight the value of the craft and performance. Local schools are also engaged with the culture and kids take part in learning the music.

Give the bugs a home of their own

No one really likes living with bugs, so it’s such a nice idea to give the insects a home of their own.

Claremonth Landscape Gardens Bug Hotel in Surrey, UK

Tove talked of this wonderful project to protect insects (basically from us) in the UK with the Bug hotel pictured above. The war on bugs and leaf mess in Japan is real — which makes Japanese parks too often void of any trees, grass or bugs. Most of the playgrounds for kids here are unfortunately sad, sterile little lots of land without any shade.

In elementary schools in Japan, however, kids are taught the joys of nature and insects and often encouraged to go around to explore the natural world around them- this curiosity and enjoyment needs to be embraced more by adults too.