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French Twist on Vegetables for Tokyo Locavore
Aug 31st, 2010
Be Innovative And Collaborative. Change The Paradigm.

A small group of people wearing aprons focus intently on one woman stirring a mixture of flour and water. At first glance she appears to be speaking to the bowl in front of her as she gives instruction on making pasta by hand, but her devotees hang on every word and motion. These locavores in training are getting a dose of DIY: the art of French cooking with Japanese vegetables.
REGISTER: GLF RSVP FORM (http://equalc.com/en/events/japan/129-glf8-registration).
Ranging from financial incentives to sources of renewable energy, Yusuke Saito of Carbon Free Consulting, Aya Asakura of RH2 Renewable Hydrogen Network, and Thomas Giuffre of Hot Earth Enterprise, shared their organizations innovative ideas for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels with attendees at the July Green Leaders Forum. (more…)
Image: CScout Eco Japan 2010 Report
CScout has released the ECO Japan 2010 Report: Green Innovations from the World’s Leading Consumer Market.
Because of its unique market position and approach, Japan leads the world in environmental technology and marketing techniques that will save the planet through its economy. Using solutions that connect with consumers, Japanese companies are on a different path than the rest of the world. CScout says its mission is to bring these innovations to light to inspire businesses around the world to innovate in the coming green economy. (more…)
A Coca Cola vending machine and Okinawan rail bird. Photos: CScout Japan
Japan is famous for its weird and wonderful vending machines and the eco field is no exception. Previously on greenz we heard that Coke was planning To Install 1500 Solar Vending Machines In Japan By End of 2010 and who could forget this Moss Covered Solar Powered Vending Machine from Fuji Electric? Now, as COP10, the United Nation’s Biodiversity Conference to be held in October in Nagoya, draws ever closer, there is some more interesting news from an unusual crossover field of biodiversity and vending machines. According to CSource Japan, Coca-Cola Japan is collaborating with an NPO running a conservation center for the Okinawa Rail bird to try and help preservation and monitoring efforts for this species which has been on the decline for more than two decades.
Photo: SheepGuardingLlama, Flickr. Creative Commons License.
Here at greenz, we love our Organic Farming Holidays and WWOOFing in Japan and as avid locavores — people who try to eat food produced within a 100 km radius of their homes — we’ve not been averse to traversing the town searching for Wild and Domesticated Vegetables and you might even catch us having a few Wild Times at the United Nations University Night Market so it was interesting to see this piece of news from the Japan Times. Apparently fast food chain Subway Japan Inc. has announced it will open a new outlet in the Marunouchi business district in central Tokyo that will be able to grow its own lettuce. (more…)
Five of the nine winners of the British Council E-Ideas Competition outlined their projects to another full house at the June Green Leaders Event. A perfect follow-up to the May event exploring sustainble economic ideas, audience members heard from fledgling social and ecopreneurs (eco-entrepreneurs) about their vision for making the world a better place.
SustainableCommunity
LEED versus CASBEE: A Comparison Between Two Green Building Certification Systems
Jul 1st, 2010
LEED Platinum California Academy of Science
As one of the pillars of a sustainable society, Green Buildings continue to gain widespread attention both in Japan — with projects such as Japan’s First Certified Passive House and Roof Gardens: A Smart Solution for Japan’s Dense Neighborhoods, the news that the Marunouchi building is to run on 100% ‘raw’ green electricity and ongoing research into how Green Biomass Dampers Atop Buildings Mitigate Earthquake Risk – and abroad — with projects such as The First Smart Upcycled Green Home In Malaysia — so it is no surprise that Green Building certification is starting to grab headlines. There are a bevy of green building guidelines around the world and this article by Fenja Blobel takes a closer look at the differences and similarities between USA’s LEED system and Japan’s homegrown CASBEE system.
Slow Business might sound like an oxymoron, but for a small group of creative minded entrepreneurs its got the ring of truth to it. An offshoot of sorts of the Sloth Club, Slow Business takes it cue from Slow Food. Members focus on meaningful work that satisfies their quest for creativity and joy as well as the customer who chooses to purchase their product.
GreenBusiness
Despite “Box-Lunch Men” and “Chicks in the Nest”, Japanese Consumers All Fired Up by Solar
Jun 23rd, 2010

While a recent study from McKinsey indicates the attitudes and behavior of Japanese consumers are shifting dramatically, presenting opportunities and challenges for companies in the world’s second-largest retail market, recently launched government initiatives are fueling a major solar boom.
Whereas in the past Japanese were inclined to pay higher prices for quality and convenience, many consumers are now purchasing from discount and online retailers. Affordable, no-brand food sales have increased dramatically, and even bulk food purchases are increasing, despite the famous Japanese micro-homes. Workers are also returning to carrying their own lunches, sparking the nickname bento-danshi, or “box-lunch man.” (more…)
2010-09-063 days left
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A selection of classic greenz.jp articles. See why they are so popular!
SustainableCommunity
LEED versus CASBEE: A Comparison Between Two Green Building Certification Systems
SustainableCommunity
CulturalCreative
GreenBusiness
GreenBusiness
GreenBusiness
CulturalCreative
CulturalCreative
SustainableCommunity
Roof Gardens: A Smart Solution for Japan’s Dense Neighborhoods