One of the first things I noticed while in Japan was the cleanliness of the country. The streets were so clean with absolutely no litter in sight. Not even on roadways, grassy areas, or even in the city. This was very peculiar to me because trash cans were even harder to come by in the country. Another thing I noticed on my early morning walks to the convenience store is that people sweep the streets around their property. This is not something I’ve seen anyone do in the United States, but it is a common practice in West Africa. I even saw a similar straw broom being used. That was a fun little connection I made between Japan and my ethnic background.

What I learned very quickly is that the Japanese are very particular about their trash. Trash in Japan has to be sorted in a very specific way so that it complies with the waste management system in the country. At home, in stores, and throughout cities, trash is always separated into categories of combustible waste, incombustible waste, recyclables, and large waste. I’ve also seen some trash cans that are only specifically for bottles, further sorted into plastic or glass and cans.

On two separate occasions, one in Hiroshima and one in Tokyo, we visited incineration plants to learn more about this unique method of waste management. Usually in the United States, all trash, unsorted and all is sent to the landfill. However, due to overall lack of space and densely populated areas, this is not an option for many Japanese prefectures. For them, incineration is the best option. We learned that in Tokyo, there are 22 incineration plants between the 23 cities.

At the Suginami Incineration Plant, we saw the whole process of combustible waste incineration.  First, we saw the trucks deliver the trash to the facility. The whole process of delivery is often automatic. Drivers in the big garbage truck don’t have to get out of the truck to do anything. After their trash is dumped, they drive away to collect more. Then we saw the big claws which are responsible for mixing the pulverizing the trash. The trash is then burned into bottom ash and filtered for incombustible remains. Incombustible waste is sent to the two Waste processing centers in Tokyo either by land transfer or boat transfer. Any large-sized waste is sent to the Large -sized waste Pulverization center.

Something cool that happens at these incineration plants is the heat energy generated from the waste is used to power the facility in some capacities and excess energy is sold to power companies, who can then use it to power households, schools, and other facilities.  Hot water generated from the plants is also used for heated pools, botanical gardens, and other public places free of charge. This process is also apparently environmentally conscious. Toxic substances that are generated are highly controlled and reduced before releasing into the air. This method also prevents the spread of bacteria, pests, and odor in the country, contributing to a cleaner and more hygienic environment. Finally, incineration significantly reduces the volume of waste. Incinerated waste produces bottom ash, and this substance can be recycled, it can be used to make cement, burnt sand, or cooled slag. Not only have the Japanese found an innovative way to deal with waste production. They’ve also found a solution that doesn’t harm the environment, but instead can be used to enrich the live of others. By doing so, this method of waste managements contributes to fostering good health of those living in populated prefectures. and Japan as a whole.

Like any other country, Japan has its own cuisine, popular dishes, and staple foods. Part of this Unique food culture is eating raw meat. During our first week in Japan, we had the great opportunity of trying all types of good food. One cool restaurant that I visited was a sushi restaurant in the Harajuku area. This restaurant was unique in that instead of a waiter bringing the food, you ordered via iPad and received your food from a mechanical train. At the restaurant, I had a very delicious sushi roll. I also got the chance to try Sashimi, a raw fish dish, for the fish time. I was a little hesitant about eating that big of a chunk of raw fish, so I asked the top to be seared. I didn’t like it because the texture was not something I could get past, but it was worth trying for the experience.

While visiting Azabu University in Kanagawa, Japan, we engaged with students and professors to learn more about the unique food culture that exists in Japan. We received a presentation from Dr. Yukio Morita about Food Hygiene in Japan. In his presentations, he mentioned that the Japanese rarely consumed meat, especially beef or pork, before the end of the Edo Period (1603-1868). However, with the influx of foreigners and settlers after the end of Japanese Isolationism, a shift in the food culture followed. The Japanese were now tasked with meeting the demand and supplying beef for their foreign residents. Fast forward to the Meiji Period, when eating beef in dishes like Sukiyaki and Gyudon was popular among the Japanese upper class. The main source of protein became fresh fish and Japanese Black Cattle, or wagyu, was slaughtered for its meat. Today, meat is present in almost all Japanese dishes, whether raw or cooked. Dr. Morita also talked about the various bacteria and food-borne illnesses that can come from consuming raw meat. Various agar plates of bacteria colonies were placed on the table to show how food-borne illnesses can arise.

Finally, we talked about the various measures Japan takes to make sure raw meat is safe for consumption. We talked about the mechanization of slaughterhouses and automatic bone remover devices which are being tested for use. Such advancements in technology would make it easier to improve the safety of meat and extend expiration dates. I learned that in Japan, not only do slaughterhouses have to  meet international standards, but also all restaurants, stores, and companies that prepare or sell raw meat must be licensed. There is even a special license for preparing specific delicacies, like horse sashimi and fugu, a puffer fish dish.

After learning all about food hygiene it was time to dissect! We had the opportunity to dissect dead fish for parasites to make them “safe” for possible consumption. I loved this activity because I’m a huge fan of dissections. It was cool to see both the parasites with the naked eye and under the microscope. After extracting as many parasites as we could, we placed them in the various solutions of saline, wasabi, soy sauce, and whisky to see which one would effectively kill the parasites. We found whisky to be the most effective agent in killing the parasites.

Overall, it was interesting learning about the food culture and food hygiene practices in Japan. Because they eat so much raw meat, they have the responsibility to make sure all the meat they eat is safe for consumption. Many efforts are taken on a national governmental and municipal level to ensure that people have safe food to eat.

As Ohioans, we’re accustomed to any major natural disasters. The most 
we worry about are snowstorms, tornadoes, and the after-effects of Hurricanes from other states. I was nowhere near ready to witness the scale, magnitude, and impact of Natural Disasters in Japan. Something really cool happened during the first week we were there. I experienced my first ever earthquake. It happened early in the morning. I first woke up to the loud alarm from my phone warning of the earthquake. Moments later, the earthquake came, shaking my bed and the table next to me. After a few seconds it was over. After seeing that a tsunami would not follow, I went back to sleep. Fortunate for us, the earthquake was non-damaging, but it was still surreal feeling the movement of the building.

Later in the week we visited the Honjo Life Safety and Learning Center, managed by the Tokyo Fire Department. My time there was unforgettable because of all the simulations available to learn from. First, we went through an earthquake simulation. Our tour guides instructed us on the proper position for earthquake safety. What was unique about this simulation was that it mimicked the scale and feel of real earthquakes that occurred in the past. Next was the smoke safety section. Here we learned how to navigate buildings and escape during a smoke emergency. We split into two different groups to go through the simulation. While navigating the dark, smoke-filled room, we had to demonstrate the proper stance of crouching as low to ground as possible, with one hand covering our mouth and nose and the other hand touching the wall to help us navigate. This was a fun experience to do with the group. Next, we ventured on to the Rainstorm and typhoon simulation section. We were dressed in heavy duty rain boots and coats to avoid getting drenched. While in the simulation, we were hit with tons of water and strong winds to give us the real typhoon experience.

Lastly, we headed over to the Urban flood section to experience heavy water pressure from floods. We were tasked with pushing open a regular door and a car door obstructed by flood water. It was definitely more difficult that it looked. Even the lowest setting for flood made it very hard to open the door. My time spent as this disaster prevention facility was incredibly eye opening and educational. We saw first-hand the importance of natural disaster prevention education, especially for people who are at risk for major disasters. Countless lives are saved when people receive this type of education.

Because of the prevalence of tsunamis and typhoons in Japan, the Japanese have no choice but to be super creative when exploring solutions to rid the city of flooding. While in Suginami, Tokyo, we received a tour of the Kanda River/ Loop Road No. 7 underground reservoir. The facility serves an invaluable purpose for the area. It takes the flood water from rivers and guides it this massive underground tunnel. The construction of this system was split into two projects. The first part was the completion of a 2,000 m tunnel and the second project was the addition of a 2, 500 m tunnel. Municipal Government officials also approved the widening of nearby river channels and deepened riverbed to prevent flooding as part of the projects. Pictured is a complete replica of the collecting and storing system.

This project has profound benefits in regulating nearby reservoirs and reducing flood damage in downstream basins. We were giving the opportunity to go down into the tunnel. I was not ready for how large it would be. It also seemed to go on forever. There was a section of the tunnel that had a cute mural on it. Future plans include building more underground reservoirs to collect the water. Eventually government officials plan to divert some of the collected water back into the ocean with the addition of more tunnels. Overall, the Japan continue to explore innovative ways to manage natural disasters and ensure the safety and wellbeing of its citizens.