Sustainable Travel Japan

Andrew Russell is originally from Scotland, but has been living and brewing sake in Japan for more than 8 years. In winter, Andrew is busy brewing sake from Oct to Mar each year, but during the off-brewing season, he gives excellent Sake tours in the famous brewing region of Nada in Hyogo. This is the third sake brewing area in Japan where he has worked with a local brewer.

Originally from Scotland, Andrew has a MA in Japanese studies and has worked in 3 sake breweries in Okayama, 3 in Hiroshima and now 3 in Nada so he has a deep understanding and appreciation for Sake in Japan.

I've heard Andrew's Sake tour is amazing - he has first hand experience using tools in the sake museum and knows how important each of the ingredients and processes are to the final resulting sake taste, aroma and look.

I have enjoyed listening to many of his insights into the history, culture and people of the sake world in Japan- he is the co-host of the Sake Deep Dive podcast.

My first talk in 2022 with Andrew here when he was brewing with FUKUCHO headed by Miho Imada in Akitsu Hiroshima: https://www.youtube.com/live/_FM1gbdgnjo?si=YPS4VK-WDPoJtpdh

Origin Sake Tours: https://www.originsaketours.com/blank-2

Sake Deep Dive Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sake-deep-dive/id1587884895

JUNE topics: Refugees | Same-Sex Couples Equality | Koike vs Renho Tokyo Gov | Big Garbage Reuse by Gov on Mercari app | Compost Toilets & Sustainable Travel | Peace Ed & Gaza from Hiroshima | Mountain Ecosystem Tokyo Event | BCCJ event Exploring Japan Corporate Diversity

LINKS:

==Renho vs Koike for Tokyo Gov== https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/202...

== Refugees==

https://rei-npo.org/en/ | https://www.unhcr.org/global-trends | https://www.unhcr.org/events/world-re...

== Same Sex Couples Equality Event ==

https://bccjapan.com/news/robert-walt...

== Event at FABRIC in JULY to promote sustainability in the mountains ==

https://mountain-ecosystem-legacy-act...

==Joy's Ogasawara Island Sustainable Travel Video==

 • 小笠原諸島 母島バイオトイレプロジェクト／Ogasawara Island...  

== Japan Gov using MERCARI to #reuse Dai-Gomi Big Item Waste ==

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/202...

== Ashley Souther: Peace Educator, Activist for Gaza Peace, Pro-Wrestling in Japan ==

  • Peace Ed & Pro-Wrestling in Hiroshima...  

Our monthly chat about all things sustainability people-planet-profits in balance in Japan. Tove Kinooka is a sustainability focused consultant, trainer and strategist based in the Tokyo area. JJWalsh is a sustainability focused travel & tourism consultant and guide based in Hiroshima.

Tove Kinooka https://www.entelecoconsulting.com/

JJWalsh https://linktr.ee/jjwalsh

I have a great love for the sustainability of Japanese indigo. It can be grown without pesticides while capturing carbon and restoring the soil, it can be used without damage to the people who work with it and it can be put down the drain without damage to the environment and waterways- a perfect solution to our modern textile needs. Aizome also has anti-bacterial properties which help keep the wearer healthy- it also looks great, preserves Japanese culture and traditions and is a great asset to a business and the local economy.

Sally Hancox is originally from the UK but co-founded this AiAii business with her husband. They have been based on Awaji Island raising a family since 2015 and opened their own indigo dye shop & workshop called AiAii in 2020. They grow their own plants, ferment and create the dyes, create beautiful products, as well as do workshops for visitors.

https://aiaii.blue/pages/en

"We love how modern some of the results of the ancient methods appear, and we also like inventing our own apparatus and techniques, or borrowing and blending with indigo dyeing methods from around the world." - Sally

In this follow-up episode with Miroslav Bachura, an architect design and urban planning insider based in Shizuoka - we discuss some key issues of good, more sustainable (people-planet-profits in balance) urban design with examples from Kyoto, Shizuoka and other areas.

Miroslav Bachura joined us last month to talk about his renovation projects in Shizuoka and insights from his presentation this year at the Minka Summit 2024.

0:00:00 Welcome back Miro

0:00:25 Minka Summit

0:02.00 Miyama village fieldtrip

0:03:00 2m26 thatch atelier

0:05:30 Keynote Azby Brown

0:07:00 Highland Inn GH

0:09:00 Keeping Heritage of Minka

0:10:10 Minka Mall shared knowledge value

0:13:10 Build love of Minka with Future Gen

0:14:40 Natural Plaster Benefits

0:16:50 What is good urban design?

0:17:30 Kyoto's good design- waterways

0:20:00 History of Edo design

0:24:05 Shizuoka city plan map

0:25:40 Hiroshima's quality of life rebuild

0:27:00 Kyoto's Tree lined streets

0:29:00 Prague shady city streets

0:29:50 Houston filled with trees

0:30:00 No trees problem city design

0:31:48 Trees in Tokyo good design

0:33:40 Pedestrian only zones

0:36:00 Test Accessibility in Wheelchair

0:37:40 Kyoto new yet traditional

0:39:40 Cool with water on street

0:41:40 Kids Neighborhood Parks

0:43:00 Sad city park

0:45:00 Genius Japanese garden paths

0:47:00 Height limits to retain views

0:49:20 Lack of Urban plan

0:51:20 Tokyo Super-block

0:53:30 Living Green Design

0:56:15 Cycle People Cars separate

0:57:30 Bicycle parking available

0:59:00 Sustainable Building design

1:01:00 Thank you - wrap up!

In this follow up talk, Miro & JJ will start with a wrap up of highlights from the Minka Summit 2024 event.

Miro will share some insights about some of his urban planning projects and consulting with the city to discuss some issues important to sustainable urban planning and design in Japan.

TAKEAWAYS:

Ideas for how can we create better, more sustainable communities which are happier and healthier that balance the needs of people and planet with profits.

Miroslav Bachura on LinkedIn:  

 / miroslav-bachura-2479161b4  

Japan needs the diverse perspectives represented in the creative performance arts & Aya tells us the how and why theatre, acting and performance helps us live healthier and happier lives.

Aya Kawakami Murray is a university educator who founded the Theatre Iridescence in Nagoya and will give us insights on her backstory, vision for the theatre, a bit about her process, and introduce some of the group's upcoming projects. In this talk, Aya introduces why she started the theatre, how she feels about being based in Nagoya Japan and how teaching the performance arts is a great life skill for her students.

Buy your tickets and see more about past and upcoming performances on the website for Theatre Iridescence - founded by Aya Kawakami Murray

https://theatreiridescence.com/

BGM thanks to The Beanpod host Casey Bean - Support Casey Bean's Musical Journey on BandCamp

https://caseybean.bandcamp.com/

Double the fun in one episode of our April and May live talks in the Sustainable Japan short-takes series with consultants Tove Kinooka and Joy Jarman-Walsh.

April 2024 Episode:

• 00:30 Bring Your Own Bottle
• 01:00 Refill with MyMizu
• 01:45 Singaport Hilton tap water sign
• 02:40 What is MyMizu?
• 03:15 Is Plastic Recycled?
• 04:05 Plastic Waste Export Crisis
• 06:20 Our Waste Our Problem
• 07:10 Ask for refills
• 08:30 Hotel Greenwashing
• 10:00 No waste communication
• 12:50 Show how you're a better visitor?
• 13:50 Japan Times sustainable news
• 14:33 Freshen Up Old Shoes
• 16:00 DIY materials
• 16:30 2nd Hand Stores
• 18:00 Minka Summit Event
• 20:30 Tokyo Rainbow Pride Event
• 21:50 Rakuten D&I
• 24:30 Same Sex Partner Visa Issues
• 26:10 Earth Day holiday kids adventure
• 28:00 Picking up trash & no cans
• 29:00 Hiroshima Flower Festival
• 30:00 Spartan Obstacle Adventure Racing

LINKS

• + Japan Times - Bottled water has more microplastics than previously thought (2024: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environm...
• + ShachoBell (Eremi) for same-sex and other tricky immigration issues:  
•  / shacho_bell   | English page of her website: https://en.shacho-bell.com/
• + The Netherlands has many sustainability focused entrepreneurs like @theoceancleanup https://linktr.ee/TheOceanCleanup BUT is the world's biggest exporter of plastic waste (Japan is #2) so we need a shift in government policy and regulation asap
• + NIKKEI ASIA - Plastic Waste Exports to Asia is unethical, illogical and a community & climate disaster: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/The...
• + MEDIUM article Joy wrote about the MINKA SUMMIT 2024:  
•  / celebrating-rural-japan-life-reuse-of-old-...  
• + Playlist of all videos on this channel about Minka, Akiya, Rural Life Renovation Projects & Minka Summit:   
•  • AKIYA-MINKA-KOMINKA Renovation Projec...  
• + MyMizu website for refill locations around Japan: Map of Locations around Japan: https://map.mymizu.co/ | About MyMizu: https://www.mymizu.co/home-en | Download the MyMizu app from Google or Apple
• @GetHiroshima Flower Festival https://gethiroshima.com/organizer/hi...
• + Spartan Japan Adventure Racing- https://spartanracejapan.jp/

topics: renewable energy, whaling, ocean health, sustainable suncare, traditional Japanese garden tradition to reduce mosquitos & upcoming events..

• Welcome to Hydrangea season in Japan
• 01:00 Garden water pots & MEDAKA
• 01:50 Responsible Investment Event
• 04:40 RE shift for Digital Biz Development
• 06:40 RE consumer awareness
• 10:00 BioDiversity Nature Positive
• 12:12 Sustainability Solved Podcast
• 14:15 REI World Refugee Day Event
• 16:35 World Oceans Day Event
• 18:10 Kids Summer Camp in Kamaishi
• 19:40 Little Hands Hawaii Japan
• 20:55 Whaling ramping up in Japan
• 21:40 Whale watching economic benefits
• 24:00 Sustainable Tourism Innovation Tyni
• 25:50 1% Bad Tourists in the news
• 28:10 Tourists Value Manners in Japan

LINKS

• Japan Times: Japan Politicians Moving Forward on Climate (2024) https://www.japantimes.co.jp/environm...
• Small water features in gardens are loved in Japan and can reduce mosquitos in the garden by adding small fish called MEDAKA (Japanese rice fish) and water plants like lotus flowers- for beauty and less itchy bites: https://www.medakanoouchi.com/index.h...
• LITTLE HANDS natural mineral tinted reef-safe suncream now in Japan - single mother founded in Hawaii and now also women owned in Japan
• https://littlehandshawaii.com/ | https://www.littlehandshawaii.jp/
• Responsible Investor Japan event in May by PEI https://www.peievents.com/en/event/ri...
• June 20, 2024 REI - Refugee Empowerment International Workshop Event
• Tyni - small luxury stays in hard to develop without damaging the environment areas - inventive new tourism strategy: https://tyni.jp/
• Atlantic pacific meaningful & fun summer camp for Japan kids in summer (July-Aug) but deadline to register is in June: https://www.atlanticpacific.org/summe...
• June 8th World Oceans Day - SEGO org event: https://www.segoinitiative.org/challange
• Nature Positive BioDiversity topic: https://www.weforum.org/publications/...
• Japan Whaling Industry - History of Whaling in Japan: http://www.whaling.jp/english/history.

BGM thanks to the talents of Casey Bean- support his musical journey on BandCamp

Miroslav Bachura is an architect-designer who is originally from Slovakia, now based in Shizuoka Japan. Here he talks about how to properly reuse Minka traditional Japanese houses and materials to be both stylish, cost effective, safe and more sustainable.

Watch the talk with Miro here to see all the great pictures we refer to in this talk.

Miro is now working for the Sozosya (Sozosha) architectural design company focused on building renovations, machizukuri, and local urban development projects. https://sozosya.co.jp/

• 00:00 Welcome
• 01:05 Miro's Backstory
• 05:18 Heritage & Sustainable Design
• 07:30 Minka Summit 2024 talk summary
• 08:40 Before Renovation Minka
• 09:33 Old Clay Patterns HONEGUMI
• 11:00 Wood & Lumber in Japan
• 14:30 Grooves in flooring
• 15:00 Jon Stollenmeyer hand carved flooring
• 16:40 Artisan hotel promote local crafts in design
• 17:44 House moved to new location in Japan
• 19:20 Subtle Lighting
• 20:22 Wooden Bathtubs from Shizuoka
• 21:00 Views from bath & bathroom
• 22:30 Samurai Japanese gates
• 24:40 Eateries, Guest Houses & Onsen projects
• 25:50 Village Museum vision for preservation
• 26:30 How to Reuse Wooden Beams
• 28:30 Do not knock structural elements down
• 31:00 Earthquake safety design for Minka
• 33:00 KURA storehouse renovation to guest house
• 36:00 Choose insulation carefully
• 38:10 Chazome fermented tea dye design
• 41:40 Energy and heat efficiency standards
• 43:00 Solar panels without insulation is inefficient
• 44:30 Make use of abandoned Akiya or not
• 47:00 Wood shock effect on construction
• 49:00 Artistic Minka to Guest House projects
• 50:59 Hanamura Yakitori eatery design
• 51:28 Gara Batik Kimono design
• 52:00 Local bamboo art
• 53:00 Natural light use
• 54:00 City central sauna design
• 55:20 Upcoming projects for 2024
• 56:40 Urban planning pedestrian green project
• 58:00 Getting rid of trees in Japan cities
• 1:00:00 Thanks for joining!

LINKS for projects Miro is a part of with Sozosya co in Shizuoka Japan:

Apartment remodel: https://sozosya.co.jp/works/3452/

Craft Inn Waraku GuestHouse https://craftinn-waraku.jp/

Restaurant - Yakitori Hanamura https://sozosya.co.jp/works/4749/

Guest House from a traditional MINKA house Izumigaya Crafts Inn Waraku ~RAKU~ https://sozosya.co.jp/works/4298/

Guest House from a MINKA Izumigaya Crafts Inn Waraku ~ WA WA ~ https://sozosya.co.jp/works/4289/

Pre-Japan projects in Chezchia & Slovakia

Matyskovi - https://architekturasrdcem.cz/matyskovi-na-slapech

Self-Sufficient for energy and resource home Aranka - https://architekturasrdcem.cz/aranka-v-orechu

Library project Vamberk https://architekturasrdcem.cz/altan-knihovny-vamberk

Apartment project: https://architekturasrdcem.cz/zuzka-pepa-byt-hanspaulka

Miroslav was a presenter at the 2024 Minka Summit in Hanase Village talking about “Reshaping Heritage: Sustainably Revitalizing Japanese Architecture” & a

panelist talking about "Lessons from Noto – Personal Stories & Disaster Mitigation".

Miro also appeared in some short videos on my channel explaining some interesting Japanese design concepts while we viewed the stunning 2m26 Kayabuki Atelier:

* Kaidan-Dansu (Stair Storage) https://youtube.com/shorts/WZsNI0NlmEU?si=-YY0DDDHyBUI7njk

* Nuki (support beams) https://youtube.com/shorts/a4XTWvD12f0?si=nzOPdAeOAMAVFYX3

* Kusabi (Wooden Wedges) https://youtube.com/shorts/qX5vyZssJN4?si=XWeKLPOvJKid6Qfj

2m26 architecture, design and construction studio

https://2m26.com/about/

Miroslav Bachura on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/miroslav-bachura-2479161b4/

Related Links:

Waste issues for housing construction: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/construction-waste

Japan's Wood Shock: https://str-con.com/wood-shock-eng-version/

Jon Stollenmeyer's stunning showhome tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abmvhZyRB9g&t=258s

Alex Kerr talks about the Minka Summit event and introduces the design of his home CHIIORI in the Iya Valley, Tokushima https://www.youtube.com/live/2DMobzO4IPc?si=CMtPLB2-HqHR4MP7&t=1140

2m26 Design Team - Kayabuki thatch roof atelier talk with Melanie https://youtu.be/UkyNSnXb558?si=ZD1PdrBtL3WdDZxP

Japanese houses and earthquake safety talk with Uberto and Ayumi in Fukuoka: https://www.youtube.com/live/veARC65sE14?si=UApzCmhiNshxVay8

Brett Rassmussen on Ojika Island Renovation Projects: https://www.youtube.com/live/LVESPjbfGW4?si=X6IzzfTXBI10R9zv

USA EPA report on benefit of adding trees to city centers to reduce heat island effect: https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-trees-and-vegetation-reduce-heat-islands#:~:text=Trees%20and%20vegetation%20also%20provide,lower%20than%20unforested%20urban%20areas.

David Caprara is an American journalist who has been based in Japan since he first came as a JET in 2012. David has worked as a writer, researcher, director and producer with major broadcasting companies both inside and focused on Japan from the US. Some of his interesting film projects give us a new perspective on travel and community issues in Japan.

Watch the video of our talk on YouTube

== DAVID CAPRARA LINKS ==

https://www.davidcaprara.com/

https://totorobaga.com/

* Japan Lumberjacks Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5pIie2X69I

* Japan's traditional Tattoo HORIMONO pilgrimage film on VICE: https://youtu.be/q1h8K92cEag?si=9cZW1tbZ8uLu49ee

**BTW this section of the talk had to be trimmed out because of copyright**

* NHK documentary about David's project "The Fallen Fortress" https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/3004783/

* PEW Journalist survey (2022) referenced by David at 27:27 https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2022/06/14/journalists-sense-turmoil-in-their-industry-amid-continued-passion-for-their-work/

Minka Summit 2024 Schedule: https://kominkajapan.org/schedule-at-a-glance-2024

2024 is set to be the biggest year yet for international visitors coming to Japan and while most news articles focus on overtourism and the bad apples in the crowd- I’d like to highlight how inbound tourism is having a positive influence on the local people, planet, proactive mindset and a more sustainable economy. Also, ideas for how we might appeal to more of these “good tourists” to enjoy Japan travel.

Read the article on MEDIUM

Bonus podcast of my MEDIUM article Celebrating Rural Japan at the 3rd Annual Minka Summit in Hanase Village. Read the full article here: https://medium.com/@jjwalsh/celebrating-rural-japan-life-reuse-of-old-houses-at-minka-summit-24-1e496d5bc357

This year was the 3rd annual Minka Summit and we went back to the beautiful Hanase Village in rural Kyoto for the 3-day event. Old houses in Japan built in traditional style with beams fitted together beautifully are called Minka and if a house is over 100 years old, called a Kominka...