JAPAN AND NATURE
It ’ s about life manifested in the surrounding world – in rivers , forests and stones – as part of an everlasting , spiritual system to which we all belong and eventually return to .
You ’ re probably wondering what any of this has to do with circularity and its economic power in a manufacturing context . To better explain , consider what leaders at Panasonic have to say about their work to protect the environment and biodiversity , like the ‘ Nawashiro ’ Initiative , Bio CO2 transformation technology ‘ Novitek ’ and restoration of the Kusatsu Factory ’ s ‘ Forest of Coexistence ’.
Living in harmony with nature is a Japanese cultural ideal , from Hokusai ’ s wave to paintings of Mount Fuji – and in historic traditions like Bonsai cultivation , the celebration of the Cherry Blossom and the growth of ‘ Forest Medicine ’ a natural alternative to mainstream medicine .
The nation has Satochi-satoyama – vast areas where artificial forests , rice paddy fields and rural areas take precedence – which have been formed from centuries of human interactions . These areas account for about 40 % of Japan ’ s total land area and are under strict protection , as is Japanese biodiversity .
The International Union for Conservation of Nature ’ s Red List of Threatened Species lists 4,900 Japanese species as endangered .
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