Environment News in Japan

How a ‘Miracle’ Vine from Japan Became an Invasive Species 100 Years Ago After American Farmers Were Paid $8 Per Acre to Plant It

During the Great Depression, the government paid farmers to plant it to prevent soil erosion

Hitachi eyes small nuclear reactors in Japan as power costs rise

Small modular reactors, having capacity of 300 megawatts or less, are increasingly seen as a way to decarbonize energy.

Osaka grapples with severely aging water and sewage systems

Even if replacement work moves forward, completing it quickly is seen as nearly impossible primarily due to staffing and financial constraints.

El Niño 2026: Tokyo Records 35 Days Of Rain As Chile’s Atacama Desert Bursts Into Bloom

The Global Diesel Crisis, Explained

How did the world reach a tipping point, and who holds the leverage?

Weather-roiling El Nino hits record strength, Japan weather agency says

Sea temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean were 4C above normal as of September, the highest in records going back to 1949, the JMA said.

Extreme rain is testing Japan’s flood defences

More intense rain is overwhelming flood defenses and reaching places outside predicted risk zones, leaving residents to confront unexpected dangers.

Western Pacific sees rare trio of storms

The Japan Weather Association said it was the first time in five years that three systems have existed at the same time in the month of October.

Japan has a surprising answer to ancient trees blocking construction: Months of root preparation, then a careful move instead of the chainsaw

Some prized trees in Japan get months of root preparation, then a careful move instead of the chainsaw. Studies show it can work, but not always.

‘Act before it’s too late’: Tokyo residents fight for more trees

As Japan experiences ever more frequent extreme heat, tree cover that can help lower temperatures is shrinking rather than growing in Tokyo.

A former Hollywood haunt, nuclear disaster zone and James Bond island: Abandoned places reclaimed by nature - are YOU brave enough to visit?

Namibian desert homes filled with sand. Japanese islands overtaken by greenery. These may sound like fiction, but are just some of the abandoned places on earth consumed by nature.

Tokyo’s record streak of rain comes to an end

Friday's showers capped the city's longest stretch of rainy days since records began in 1886.

As wind power momentum slows in Japan, can tech help the industry get back on track?

Concerns from environmentalists have played a role in the slow buildup of Japan's offshore wind industry. The latest tech could provide a solution.

The Illicit World of Sea Cucumbers

How a rare delicacy in Asia drives crime oceans away.

City in Ibaraki accepts first stage survey for nuclear waste site

Hitachiomiya is the fifth site in the country and the first in Honshu to accept a literature survey.

Suntory’s collaborative approach to water stewardship

The region comprising the city of Kumamoto and 10 surrounding municipalities is a rare example of an area where the tap water for approximately 1 million residents is sourced al...

Tokyo sets a new record with 34 straight days of rain

The rainy-day streak is the longest since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records in 1886.

Government eyes supporting use of AI and drones to manage bear population

Environment Minister Hiroyoshi Sasagawa emphasized that prompt action regarding bears will give "a sense of security" to the public.

A 1960 aquarium gift left Japan's future emperor with 15 bluegill; their descendants spread across the country

A Chicago mayor's 1960 gift of 15 bluegill to Japan's future emperor spiraled into an invasive species crisis of roughly 25 million fish

Japan has no space for solar farms apart from old golf courses

Solar farms need good sunlight, access to the power grid and to be fairly close to residential areas. Many golf courses tick those boxes.