MyMizu

The great efforts of the Japanese people to sort their trash by type and keep their street litter free may lead one to believe that Japan must also has a healthy relationship with waste management, however it seems this is not so. According to an article by the japan times, Japan produces the second most plastic per capita, and in response startups are inventing countermeasures. MyMizu is crowdsource app startup that shows the location on water refill areas in Japan and the US. It has seen a very positive response so far. Another startup, Refill Japan replaces old water fountains with a new, attractive ones.

These companies are attempting to fill a gap in Japanese environmental awareness. One of the more interesting insights from one of the MyMizu founders is that the Japanese people usually don’t speak up against that which they may feel is incorrect, but they will take the opportunity to do what they believe is best given the chance. The early success of MyMizu is a testament to a desire of a silent group.

This article has two main points of significance to me.

The first is Japanese environmental and conservation politics. Japan seems to be slow to move toward environmentally friendly practices as evidenced by its plastic output, its fuel based electricity production, its water use etc. The host mom of an exchange student to Japan told her not to concern herself with the amount of water she uses while bathing because Japan has a lot of water. For a country that originated the concept of “mottainai,” this seems to be in contradiction with the favored values of the Japanese people.

The second is the tendency of the Japanese people not to show dissent or activism thinking even for matters which they believe in. I imagine this is due to perceptions of politeness and knowings one’s place, but I wonder at what level of crisis might these values begin to break down in favor of longevity?