Backgound

 The Japanese Environmental movement did not really begin until after World War II.  Japanese view of Kyouguu (natureor environment) differs significantly from the European or western theory.  Most Japanese express their relationship with nature through the emphasis on hanami (Cherry blossoms) in the spring. Hanami.  Or momijigari (maple leaves changing color in the fall). Momijigari.   However, despite this general awareness on environmental issues has been tradtionally low.  The two identifying factors about Japanese society up until the late 1990's is that they were less concered with the environment and more resistent to environmental activism.  This view was a result of the post World War II stance of "growth versus the environment" that restricted environmental action through the mid- 90s.  "Growth versus the environment" has been a popular stance among many American industries who have adverse effects on the environment.  Examining Shintoism and Buddhism helps to explain why Japanese tend to protest only when human life threatened. In Shintoism, when the enjoyment of life has been hindered, protests are justified.  In Buddhism, the lack of permanence explains the constant changes in the environment.  When they percieve that the implications to human life disappear, the prostests stop, leaving no tradition of environmental protest behind.

Gardens

The close relationship between Japanese people and nature demsonstrates itself in a number of traditional ways such as bonsai, which is an aesthetic artform of miniturizing trees, or making shrubs into trees.  Gardens were orignally developed to express Buddhism by replecating mountainous regions of Japan and China.  During the Heian period, construction of gardens moved away from only representing religious beliefs and became a place for ceremonies and eventually were apart of the design for traditional Tea Houses.  Sen no Rikyu created the traditional style of tea house where there was a rojj or path leading through a garden to the house.  During the Edo period gardens reflected the taste and style of the shogun and eventually came to represent the shogun's power.  Many historians believe that these gardens flourished because of their high popularity among the shoguns.  During the Meji Period, after Japanese exclusion was ended, gardens began appearing outside the homes of businessmen and politicians.

Typical features of the Japanese garden include: water, rocks, laterns, a pavillon, a wall to enclose the garden, and a bridge to an island or across a stream.  In the center of most gardens is the house in order to have a complete view of the garden.

Styles:

Karesansui- are influenced by Zen Buddhism and are mainly found at Zen temples.  Unlike most traditional gardens Karesansui gardens do not have any water but use gravel to simulate a water-like feeling.

Tsukiyama- attempts to make a smaller garden seem larger.  Uses shrubs to block outside buildings and have onlookers focus on mountains in the distance.  This effect gives visitors a feeling that the garden is part of the moutains.

Chaniwa- are typically built for tea ceremonies.  Usually there is a tea house in the center with stepping stones leading up to the house.

Japanese style gardens are very popular in western culture as well.  Many gardens have been built in the United States, mainly on the west coast where the wet climate is similar to the climate of Japan.  Many of the plants are native to Japan and have been imported.

Climate Change

Global Climate Change threatens Japan in many ways.  First, rising sea levels will threaten the low lying major urban centers of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nogaya, putting approximately 4 million people at risk.  Second, Japan will bear the brunt of increased rainfall and flooding from typhoons. Thrid, biodiversity loss in Japan's forests will affect the bluming of the cherry blossom.  Estimates show that an increase in annual temperature could threaten 90 percent of Japan's forests may be gone by the end of the century.  One of the largest affects would be a significant decrease in rice crop.  Rice crop could be reduced by 40 percent as a result of rising temperatures and extreme conditions.  Rice is a major component in the diets of Japanese and the rest of Asia.  A significant reduction in rice yields will lead to widespread starvation in a region that is already suffering.  In 2009 Prime Minister Taro Aso have pledged to fight climate change even during the recent recession.  Aso has proposed a stimulus package that includes reducing or even eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.  Japan has pledged to reduce their emissions by 80 percent by 2050.

Whaling Industry

In 1982 the International Whaling Comission placed a moratorium on commerical whaling worldwide.  The Japanese government officially objected the moratorium until the U.S. threatened to reduce Japanese fishing quota's in American fisheries.  Despite the moratorium, Japan has begun whaling on a scientific basis to study the dynamics of whale populations.

But in reality:

The research program is a front for commerical whaling, both for whale meat and to protect fishing resources by controlling the whale population.

Many countries including Australia have driven Japanese vessels away from Antarctica.  Environmental advocacy groups have harassed Japanese research vessels by throwing raw fish at workers on deck.  Whaling is neither sustainable nor ethical and should be ended immediately.

Sources

www.japan-guide.com/e/e2099.html

search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070920a9.html