Berkley Center

December may not be the coldest month of the year in Nagoya, but for a Houstonian like me, I might as well be studying abroad in Siberia. Further exacerbating the bone-chilling cold is the 20 minute trek that I have to make from the bus station to my host family's apartment. Although gloves may partially subdue the freezing sensation in my fingers, I find that drinking a warm can of coffee purchased from a nearby vending machine helps to keep the frostbite away. The only problem is, since there are no trash cans on the street, I often end up having to carry the empty can all the way back home. One may find it strange that a country with such a large number of street-side vending machines would have a paucity of trash cans, but it in fact is logical given Japan's relationship with the environment.

Aside from discouraging eating or drinking while walking (which is seen as rude), having fewer garbage cans in the street also discourages people from littering. It may sound counter-intuitive, but Japan's reverence towards nature makes it so that people would much rather bear with the inconvenience of carrying their garbage than to litter. The inclination towards conservation is apparent especially in my day-to-day life in Japan. For example, as the subway is part of my daily commute to class, I noticed that the escalators would turn off when not in use, starting only when its motion detectors sensed a person nearby. Buses, when stopping in front of a red light, would automatically shut off the engine to reduce gas usage. Even at home, although it is the middle of winter, there is no heater in my room in order to conserve electricity. Furthermore, recycling is such a strict process that it might take several minutes to figure out which compartment to throw your garbage into (even if you can read Japanese). These measures to protect the environment, which often face considerable backlash in the United States, are considered common sense, if not imperative in Japan.

I believe that this mindset stems from Japan's shamanistic past. Central to Japanese spirituality is the belief in kami or god. In contrast to the Judeo-Christian notion of a singular, omnipresent, all-powerful God, kami are countless, and usually only have power over small areas. Trees, mountains, rivers, and even sacred inanimate objects are said to be inhabited by a kami. As they are nature spirits, like nature, kami can be temperamental and wreak havoc on humans. Thus, in order to appease the kami, Japanese people provide offerings and throw festivals to show their respect. Although Japan today may not be a primarily shamanistic country, the belief and reverence towards kamis have been preserved and continue to hold significant influence in Japanese society. This attitude, along with other political and economic reasons, has been a major factor in the adoption of environmentally conscious practices.

Although at times it may be inconvenient, conserving natural resources and protecting the environment is a cross that people are willing to bear in Japan. In order to respect their past and preserve their future, Japanese people are making small sacrifices in the present. My first walk back home straddling the empty can of coffee in my pockets may have been an annoyance, but I can't help but feel like it gets heavier and heavier during my subsequent commutes these past few weeks. It may be because of the kami, but I'm starting to understand the weight of that empty can.