In this first episode, we introduce 4 ideas to save the world. Traditional wisdom on using our water resources carefully without polluting them, cutting-edge technology to support agriculture, efforts to link EVs with renewable energy, and people working to build partnerships between foreigners and Japanese living in the same community.
Idea numbers 5 to 8 are based on the theme of creating societies through earnest cooperation. An application for wheelchair users, a farmer who teaches foreign trainees more than just farming skills, turning adversity into opportunity in the restaurant industry hit by the pandemic, and a school that produces well-rounded students through a unique food education program.
Four ideas for a greener future. What if there were takeout containers made of perpetually recyclable materials? What if planes flew around the world on biofuel? The environment would be much cleaner than it is now. Also featured is a woman who aims to create a sustainable community by using local forestry to generate energy, and an appearance by a family in California who save energy using an innovative app. These are hints for a future that we can shape through our own choices.
In this fourth episode, we introduce 4 ideas about leaving no one behind in society, in terms of poverty, education and welfare. A pastor who's been helping the homeless for over 30 years has plans in the works to make an even bigger impact. An art studio where people with disabilities can let their talent flourish. E-learning that provides equal opportunities for children around the world, and a traveling salon that provides hairstyling services and improved quality of life for the elderly.
Four ideas based around Mottainai, the now widely embraced environmental concept. Kintsugi is an age-old technique to repair broken pottery. A service that allows people to live in multiple locations for about $400 a month addresses the problem of vacant houses in Japan. A night bakery that sells bread bound for the waste bin is simultaneously solving the problems of food loss and employment. We also introduce a town with an 80% recycling rate. "Garbage is not garbage, it is a resource."
Our 6th episode is all about regional renewal, with 4 ideas for upping local appeal while protecting the environment. On a remote Taiwanese island, they're offering free rentals of stainless-steel cups to help keep the seas free of plastic. In Tokyo, architect Kuma Kengo is proposing a new kind of park for a new kind of city. A town in Iwate Prefecture is using geothermal energy and IoT farm management to revitalize the region. And in Kyoto Prefecture, preserving traditional houses is key to the city's future appeal.
Our 7th installment is all about women's empowerment, bringing you 4 great ways women are helping to change the world. See what ostomate doctor, Emma, is doing to spread awareness of her condition in Japan. We also meet a Japanese woman working to find jobs for asylum seekers, a UAE soccer coach bringing soccer to women in the Middle East, and Malaysian women working to protect sea turtle habitats.
Four ideas about creating unexpected value from things that have seemingly outlived their purpose. A recycling company's stoic quest to make useful resources from waste. Waste from oranges squeezed for juice is turned into food for fish farming. People and a local railway company band together to revitalize their depopulated town into an attractive tourist destination. And the story of a German architect who has brought new residents to depopulated areas by renovating vacant old houses into beautiful buildings.
In this ninth episode, we introduce 4 ideas about joining hands and the power of community. A baseball team for children with different forms of developmental disabilities. A woman raised by hearing-impaired parents who is developing a system to take sign language to a new level. A Pakistani director of a mosque in Tokyo who is influencing Japanese youth to expand their circle of goodwill. And the story of an entrepreneur using fashion to tackle poverty-related issues in Africa.
In this tenth episode, buckle up for 4 new ideas about efforts focused on reducing environmental impact. One California grower is practicing no-till agriculture, a potential farming method of the future. A university in Japan where students are taking the initiative to become the first in the country to achieve 100% renewable energy, an idea to stop the disposal of the ubiquitous plastic umbrella in Japan and a story of a volunteer who is breathing new life into old toys.
In this 11th episode, 4 ideas about overcoming adversity through cooperation. Twin brothers who have an older sibling with a disability promote art by people with disabilities and change people's preconceptions. A unique piece of technology that improves the care and quality of life of the elderly. A woman who reads books to nomadic children in Mongolia who have limited access to books. And in Japan, ongoing grassroots support Myanmar, which has experienced turmoil since the coup d'état.
In this twelfth episode, we introduce 4 ideas about taking responsibility for the future. One woman upcycles flowers destined for the trash into lasting creations. A wind power generation developer's effort to bring Japan up to speed when it comes to clean energy. We also present one woman's challenge to reduce food waste through a stylish and compact composting system. And the story of Ayu (sweetfish) that inhabit the clear streams of Tokyo and a master Ayu angler.
Technology is opening pathways to the future. Robots being developed to enable participation in society by those with restricted mobility, or as soft and cuddly companions designed to be comforting. In addition, blind technology developer Asakawa Chieko's AI suitcase that breaks down the barrier to mobility for the visually impaired. Finally, many patients in the Philippines are getting their lives back thanks to a team from Japan using 3D printers to deliver prosthetic legs remotely.
Everyone has an interest in or a basic awareness of fashion. This episode's theme is sustainable fashion. This familiar part of our daily lives is said to be the world's second leading cause of pollution. Mass amounts of clothes are produced, only to go unsold and end up discarded. We report on unique undertakings within the industry to save the planet, like reusing and remaking old clothes, and one company that makes clothes using traditional Japanese paper which returns to the soil.
Building an inclusive society is an extremely important component and central principle of the SDGs' pledge of "leaving no one behind." The program introduces ideas to save the world to realize normalization in a variety of contexts, including the world of sports, facilities for people with severe handicaps, job placement for sexual minorities, and the field of therapy.
In this episode, we introduce 4 ideas about making the conscious choice to not throw things away, which correlates to the SDGs of responsible production and consumption. In addition to reducing waste, new value is created through upcycling, and communication fostered by donating things to others in one's community. Using these ideas as a hint, see the impact you might create in your daily life, by making the choice to not throw things away.
Based on the SDGs of sustainable cities and communities, this episode is packed with 4 wonderful ideas. Find out how digital art called NFTs are being used to help revitalize a depopulated village. One Canadian resident of Japan is making the country more accessible and open to people with disabilities. Also, unique services to support the elderly, and how a Japanese engineer is working to improve lives through better infrastructure for toilets overseas.
Have you ever thought about what happens to excess skins after processing of fish, or coffee beans that don't get properly roasted? In this episode, we introduce four short stories about salvaging some most unlikely things like these that were meant for the trash. See how they're upcycled into various items that create new value thanks to ingenious ideas.
In this episode, we focus on Japanese nationals working in Japan and abroad to make the world a better place. For example, protecting people's health in countries with insufficient medical care services, inspiring people in war-torn areas through art, helping visually impaired people from abroad develop their skills, and creating a brighter future for underprivileged communities through gymnastics. Witness how their efforts to solve various problems around the world are having a positive impact.
The wisdom of our ancestors, who lived in harmony with the earth and conserved the available resources, holds many hints for how best to ensure our survival into the future. By revisiting these practices and adding new ideas and inventions with a modern twist, we can ultimately protect the global environment. We introduce four such brilliant ideas.
As human beings, we all have weaknesses, complexes and neuroses. Some of us particularly struggle with our differences from others. In this episode, we introduce the stories of four people who strive to overcome these difficulties and make the world a better place while communicating the importance of diversity.
With about 30% of Japan's population now over the age of 65, problems that come hand in hand with an aging society are becoming more significant year by year. In this episode, we introduce four fascinating stories about people making the world a better place through offering tailored support for and staying present in the lives of the elderly. Their activities could very well provide hints for society and individuals to navigate a path of health and vitality in the future.
The theme of this episode is all about fostering connections between people in local communities. Human connections seem to be fading away nowadays. Working against the tide in such an age, to meet the many challenges that we face, people are joining hands in solidarity, to solve problems and make society a better place to live. Be inspired by four such ideas.
Water is an essential part of our lives. However, with ocean pollution and global water shortages, there is growing concern about water security. This begs the question, what are some choices and actions we can take now to protect the future of our precious water and oceans? In this episode, we'll present four ideas that address these problems.
Building healthier employment environments is a vitally important issue for working people of all generations. When we have more motivated workers, they are more productive in their work, leading ultimately to better lifestyles and a happier society overall. In this episode, we look at a range of ideas being implemented in various sectors and industries.