Sustainable Japan by The Japan Times

09/09/2026

In Kumamoto, groundwater sustains around 1 million people and protecting it means protecting the forests, farmland and ecosystems that help replenish it. 💧

For more than 20 years, Suntory has worked with local communities, farmers and researchers to conserve water resources through its Natural Water Sanctuary initiative. From restoring forests and wetlands to winter-flooded rice paddies and rain gardens, these efforts are helping recharge groundwater, protect biodiversity and build more resilient communities.

Discover how Kumamoto is pioneering new approaches to water stewardship and nature-positive action here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/esg/312

The region comprising the city of Kumamoto and 10 surrounding municipalities is a rare example of an area where the tap water for approximately 1 million...

08/09/2026

LOOKBACK: Is Japan really losing its global competitiveness? 🇯🇵

In this lookback at a past interview, Ulrike Schaede, professor of Japanese business at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy, challenged the idea that Japan’s post-bubble decades should simply be described as “lost.”

While Japan has been slow to adapt to a rapidly changing global business environment, Schaede argues that “slow” does not necessarily mean “stagnant.” Instead, she sees the past three decades as a period of transformation, with Japanese companies increasingly shifting away from mass-market consumer products and moving upstream into high-value components, advanced materials and other specialized fields.

So what is holding others back?

Read our lookback at the interview for more of her insights into Japan’s changing corporate landscape and the future of its global competitiveness here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/unraveling/13

It has been a long time since critics started to say Japan had entered what became its post-bubble “lost decades.” They say its...

07/09/2026

From Tottori Wagyu curry to pear-topped udon and a sake-and-pear cocktail, the flavors of Tottori are taking center stage at Hotel New Otani Tokyo.

The hotel’s annual Tottori Wagyu event, running through Sept. 20, is the largest edition yet, with 8 restaurants showcasing Tottori ingredients including its renowned Wagyu beef, Shinkansen pears and locally produced sake. Discover how chefs at Hotel New Otani Tokyo are putting a creative spin on the flavors of Tottori here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/esg/311

The Hotel New Otani Tokyo in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward is holding its annual event featuring Tottori Wagyu-brand beef until Sept. 20. This event...

06/09/2026

Villa Aida: Where the land becomes the cuisine 🌱🍽️

Named Destination Restaurant of the Year 2022, Villa Aida in Wakayama is built around a simple but powerful philosophy: let the land guide the menu.

Owner-chef Kanji Kobayashi and his wife, Yumi, grow nearly all of the restaurant’s vegetables themselves, cultivating around 150 varieties across fields and greenhouses surrounding the restaurant.

After initially cooking Italian-inspired dishes with imported ingredients, Kobayashi realized that the path forward was to focus on the bounty of Wakayama and invite diners from Japan’s major cities to experience it. Today, Villa Aida’s cuisine combines the chef’s experience in Italy with the flavors, culture and agricultural traditions of Wakayama.

Read the full story here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/magazine/vol13/13-04

The restaurant Villa Aida has been unanimously selected as Destination Restaurant of the Year 2022. Its culinary philosophy holds...

05/09/2026

Discovering Fukui, one dish at a time 🍷🍽️

Chef Kyohei Nagaya trained at restaurants in Italy and Japan before moving to Echizen in 2024. Drawn to the opportunity to work more closely with the seasons and the land, he immersed himself in Fukui’s food culture while preparing to open Tsukihi.

His cuisine reflects the region from his own perspective, making use of local ingredients and even the surrounding landscape. The meal begins with spring water sourced from snowmelt on Mount Hino, infused with the aromas of scorched local rice and grape shoots.

Read More: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/magazine/vol57/57-01

Energized by the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Fukui and Tsuruga in March 2024, Fukui Prefecture’s tourism scene is bustling...

04/09/2026

LOOKBACK: Magnus Hansson on navigating Japan’s unique automotive market 🚗🇯🇵

In this lookback at a past interview, Magnus Hansson, then Representative Director and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover Japan, shared his perspective on building a career in the global automotive industry and returning to the country where he was born.

Having worked across Sweden, Hong Kong, Canada and Japan, Hansson spoke about the challenges of adapting to different markets, from language and business practices to the unique demands of Japanese consumers.

For Hansson, succeeding in Japan means balancing global strategies with the needs of a distinctly local market.

Read our lookback at the interview to hear more about his experiences, lessons and approach to leadership here:

There’s no industry quite as dynamic as the automotive industry.As global manufacturers constantly...

03/09/2026

🌱 Sustainable Japan Day 2026 is coming!🌱

Join The Japan Times on September 29th for Sustainable Japan Day 2026, featuring the presentation of the Sustainable Japan Awards and panel discussions with this year’s winners.

The Sustainable Japan Awards recognize companies, organizations and individuals taking innovative action toward a more sustainable society.

At the event, we’ll spotlight leading initiatives in ESG and Satoyama, exploring what the award winners are doing on the ground and what their experiences can teach us about the future of sustainability.

Please note: The event will be conducted entirely in Japanese.

▼ Details & registration
https://sustainable.japantimes.com/sjd-2026

02/09/2026

🌏🎭 Nagoya became a stage for the world’s cosplayers this summer!

The World Cosplay Summit 2026 brought together representatives from 40 countries and regions from July 31 to Aug. 2, transforming the streets of Nagoya into a colorful celebration of Japanese manga, anime, video games and pop culture.

This year’s championship title went to Hong Kong representatives AR Lu and Ronnie Kui for their “Monster Hunter” inspired performance. With 259,000 visitors attending Oasis 21 alone, the World Cosplay Summit showed how cosplay can bring people together across borders and cultures.

Read More Here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/wcs/04

Cosplayers dressed as characters from Japanese manga, anime, video games or TV shows gathered from around the world on the weekend...

31/08/2026

🎉 Nomura at 100: Building the Next Century with Purpose

As Nomura Holdings marked its 100th anniversary in 2025, the group introduced a new corporate purpose:

“We aspire to create a better world by harnessing the power of financial markets.”

Nomura’s global transformation accelerated after its 2008 acquisition of parts of Lehman Brothers’ operations across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Today, the group has a truly global footprint.

The results are also significant. For the business year ending March 2025, Nomura reported a record net profit of ¥362.1 billion ($2.2 billion), up 6% year-on-year, with revenue reaching ¥2.17 trillion, up 15%. But perhaps the most interesting part of this story is how Nomura developed its purpose.

According to Chief Human Resources Officer Yukiko Ozaki, the company spent 3 years engaging more than 10,000 employees in Japan and overseas. The goal wasn't simply to create a corporate slogan, but to connect the group's purpose with each employee's personal purpose.

Read the full story here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/unraveling/51

To mark its 100th anniversary in 2025, Nomura Holdings Inc. established a corporate purpose for the entire Nomura Group: “We aspire to create...

27/08/2026

🍽️ Can art help build a more hopeful society?

For Kayo Tokuda, president of the nonprofit organization Tomorrow, the answer begins with something fundamental: food.

After years working as a curator on Naoshima, Japan’s famed “art island,” Tokuda established Taiza Studio in Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture, in 2020. Housed in a century-old wooden home renovated by traditional craftsmen, the studio has become a space where art, food, architecture and community come together.

Through a project called “Fields of Tomorrow” (Ash*ta no Hatake), Tomorrow hosts events and tours that combine art with dining and explores the rich food culture of the Tango Peninsula from heshiko and Taiza crab to seaweed, organic vegetables and traditional rice varieties.

📖 Read the full story to discover how art and food are coming together in Taiza here: https://sustainable.japantimes.com/magazine/vol39/39-03

Have you heard of the nonprofit organization Tomorrow, which runs cultural activities focused on art, crafts and architecture? ...