Waste Consciousness in Japan – From Productivity to Sustainability and True Affluence

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April 29, 2023
Waste Consciousness in Japan –
From Productivity to Sustainability and True Affluence
Waste consciousness has evolved significantly in Japan over the past few decades, reflecting the country's broader social, economic, and environmental transformations. This essay will discuss the shift in Japan's waste consciousness from focusing on productivity and efficiency in a fast-growing economy before the 1990s to emphasizing environmental awareness, sustainability, and "true affluence" since then. Three examples from Eiko Maruko Siniawer's Waste: Consuming Post-war Japan (2018) will be analyzed to assess how this shift is unique to Japan and how it reflects a global pattern.
Examples of Waste Consciousness in Japan
Example 1: Resource Scarcity and Waste Reduction (Siniawer 2018, 61-68)
During the early post-war period, Japan confronted an acute resource scarcity crisis, prompting a major emphasis on waste reduction to enhance productivity and efficiency. Siniawer (2018) reveals that the government and industry leaders championed waste reduction as crucial for Japan's rapid economic growth. To encourage this mindset, they launched numerous campaigns and devised catchy slogans, such as "use everything, waste nothing" (61-62). This strategy placed economic growth and competitiveness at the forefront, often overlooking environmental concerns.
At the time, Japan's resource scarcity resulted from several factors, including the destruction of infrastructure during the war, limited access to raw materials, and a surge in population. The government responded by implementing policies designed to maximize available resources and reduce waste, such as promoting industrial efficiency and technological innovation (Siniawer 2018, 64-65). This led to the development of a "circular economy" approach, wherein waste materials were repurposed or recycled to feed back into the production process.
This focus on waste reduction and productivity is also manifested in the daily lives of Japanese citizens. People were encouraged to adopt frugal habits, repair and reuse items, and minimize consumption. Educational campaigns and propaganda materials emphasized the importance of thriftiness and resource conservation as patriotic duties (Siniawer 2018, 66-67).
However, this approach to waste reduction during the early post-war period prioritized Japan's industrial development and consumerism, echoing the broader global trends of the time. The main objective was to rebuild the nation's economy and secure its place as a global economic powerhouse. Environmental considerations took a back seat in this period, as Japan primarily focused on achieving economic growth and prosperity. The subsequent shift in waste consciousness toward environmental awareness and sustainability would only emerge in later decades as Japan and the world began recognizing the consequences of unchecked industrial development and consumerism.
Example 2: The Emergence of Environmental Awareness (Siniawer 2018, 163-171)
As Japan's rapid economic growth continued, it brought about numerous environmental problems and crises, including air pollution, water contamination, and waste disposal. Environ...