Institute for Studies in Happiness, Economy and Society (ISHES)

25/12/2024

Toward a Society Where Everyone Can Move Around Safely: Results of a Survey of Railroad Companies by the For Future Youth Team

Survey Overview

In November 2024, the For Future Youth Team (Secretariat: For Future Company (Miraisozobu), President Junko Edahiro, Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan) announced the results of its “Survey on Railroad Companies' Accommodations for People with Disabilities.” This survey was inspired by the experiences of members with visual impairments and aimed to help create a society where people with disabilities can travel with greater confidence. Questionnaires were sent to 36 railroad companies across Japan, with eight companies responding.

Focus of the Survey

A distinctive feature of this survey was its focus not only on station and onboard accommodations but also on the foundational measures that support services for people with disabilities. These measures included “human rights respect policies,” “training,” and “manuals.” The questionnaire also incorporated feedback from visually impaired individuals, such as a desire for systems that make it easier for passengers to request assistance.

Key Findings

Although the limited number of respondents prevents drawing broad conclusions about trends among railroad companies, the results highlighted several issues:
• Companies with a clearly stated policy of respecting human rights (3 out of the 8 respondents) tended to provide more comprehensive training and manuals for supporting people with disabilities.
• None of the responding companies included guidance in their manuals encouraging mutual assistance among passengers.
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Recommendations
Based on these findings, the For Future Youth Team recommends that railroad companies:
1. Clearly state their human rights policies.
2. Promote mutual assistance among passengers.
The team hopes the survey results will inform future efforts by railroad companies to enhance their services.

Japanese article:
https://www.ishes.org/happy_news/2024/hpy_id003605.html

Press Release Link
Please find the press release (in Japanese) available for your review here:
https://mirai-sozo.work/topics/013192.html
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About the For Future Youth Team
https://www.miraisozo-youth.com/

Our Mission
The For Future Youth Team (Secretariat: For Future Company, President Junko Edahiro) is a voluntary organization that conducts workshops to equip young people with the skills needed to drive social transformation. Their focus is on addressing sustainability challenges such as climate change, poverty, and regional revitalization in Japan and around the world.

Our Activities
Since April 2022, the team has been hosting monthly seminars to provide young people with opportunities to connect with others working on social issues and to expand their networks. To date, a total of 214 participants, including elementary school students, have joined the program across its six terms, spanning from April 2022 to the current term (October 2024–March 2025).

(Naoko Niitsu)

未来創造ユースチーム（静岡県熱海市　代表：枝廣淳子）は、2024年11月、「鉄道会社の障がいを持つ方への対応に関するアンケート調査」の結果を発表しました。本調査は、視覚障がいを持つメンバーの声をきっか...

15/11/2024

Survey on Environmental Crisis Awareness among the General Public: Climate Change Remains the Greatest Concern for Five Consecutive Years

The Asahi Glass Foundation announced the results of the 5th Survey on the Awareness of Environmental Issues Among the General Public in Japan on September 4, 2024. The survey aimed to understand awareness and action regarding environmental issues. It covered 1,092 men and women in their teens to 60s across Japan.

The main findings are as follows:

The respondents rated “climate change” as the most critical domestic environmental issue for the fifth consecutive year, at 45.5%. This is more than 30 points ahead of the second rank, “population” at 13.3%.

The Asahi Glass Foundation's Environmental Doomsday Clock® (environmental crisis awareness time), from 0:01 to 12:00, indicated a result of 6:59, meaning "fairly concerned." Meanwhile, the survey targeting Japanese experts showed a result of 9:37, meaning "extremely concerned," reflecting a gap of over two hours.

In response to the "era of global boiling," a national average of 74.5% of respondents reported taking some form of personal action. Additionally, 22.5% were taking more proactive steps, such as "switching to renewable energy" and "donating to environmental organizations."

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that respondents thought will have the highest level of realization by 2030 were "Zero Hunger," followed by "Clean Water and Sanitation for All" in second place, and "No Poverty" in third. The lowest level of realization was "No Poverty" in first, "Gender Equality" in second, and "Decent Work and Economic Growth" in third.

Professor Norichika Kanie of Keio University Graduate School, who supervised this survey, stated that now that public awareness is rising, it is essential to steer that awareness toward systemic change.

(Naoko NIitsu)
https://www.ishes.org/happy_news/2024/hpy_id003594.html

Source (in Japanese)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000022.000046771.html

公益財団法人旭硝子財団は、2024年９月４日、「第5回生活者の環境危機意識調査」の結果を発表しました。これは環境問題への危機意識および行動について把握するために、全国各地10～60代の男女1,092名...

12/07/2024

Regional Gender Disparities Revealed: Prefectural Gender Gap Index in Japan

A group of researchers, committed to enhancing gender equality in communities across Japan, released the Prefectural Gender Gap Index on March 8, 2024, coinciding with International Women's Day. This index measures disparities between men and women across four sectors—politics, administration, education, and economy—at the prefectural level. This release marks the third annual publication of the index.

Japan's gender equality ranks among the lowest globally, according to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index. Despite improvements in other G7 countries, Japan has continued to perform poorly since the index's inception in 2006.

Against this backdrop, Japan's Prefectural Gender Gap Index was created. It compiles about 30 types of statistical data to provide detailed information on the gender gap by prefecture.

The 2024 results highlight the top performers in each sector: Tokyo for politics (score of 0.352), Tottori for administration (0.440), Hiroshima for education (0.680), and Tottori again for the economy (0.452).

A score of "1" indicates complete equality in numbers between men and women. Therefore, even Tokyo's leading score of 0.352 in politics shows a significant gap from true gender equality. The website also allows users to view scores and rankings for each indicator, such as "In Tokyo, the ratio of the number of years in office by male and female governors is 0.101, ranked 7th."

Having such detailed information helps identify specific challenges at the prefectural level that are not visible in the national gender gap index, making it easier to devise targeted strategies.

(Original article was written in Japanese by Naoko Niitsu)

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地域からジェンダー平等研究会は、2024年３月８日の国際女性デーに、「都道府県版ジェンダー・ギャップ指数」を公表しました。これは政治・行政・教育・経済の４分野について、都道府県別の男女差を示すもので、...

12/04/2024

Japan's Green Purchasing Network Launches 'Mitsu Pack' Database to Promote Eco-Friendly Packaging

This new resource is designed to support consumers and businesses in making environmentally responsible choices by providing comprehensive information on food products that utilize eco-friendly packaging.

The 'Mitsu Pack' database aims to be a cornerstone for change in the Japanese market, encouraging manufacturers to adopt greener packaging methods and offering buyers easily accessible data on sustainable options. This initiative not only promotes environmental consciousness but also aligns with global efforts to reduce the ecological footprint of packaging waste.

The Green Purchasing Network (GPN) Japan, launched a database called 'Mitsu Pack' on March 7th, 2024. GPN is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the ideas and practices of green purchasing in Japan. This database compiles information about food products that are packaged in environmentally considerate containers and packaging.

This database was created to increase the awareness of business operators and individual consumers about environmentally designed food products, and to encourage consumer behavior (green purchasing) that selects such products.

As of March 2024, the 'Mitsu Pack' website lists about 100 products. These include products with reduced packaging weight, and those that use bioplastics, recycled plastics, and forest-certified paper, as well as products designed with easily removable labels.

The database allows users to filter products based on criteria such as whether the packaging is designed for recycling or uses recycled materials, and to search by business name or product category.

Additionally, the database provides not only information about containers and packaging, but also about a variety of other topics, such as reducing the environmental impact during transportation of raw materials, energy conservation during cultivation and breeding, reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the use of genetically modified crops.

Original information is available in Japanese only.

https://www.ishes.org/happy_news/2024/hpy_id003519.html

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企業・行政・民間団体などによる緩やかなネットワーク組織「グリーン購入ネットワーク（GPN）」は2024年３月７日、環境配慮設計された容器包装の食品に関する情報をまとめたデータベース「見つパック」を開設...

26/03/2024

Japan's Food Self-Sufficiency Rate Relies on Imports for Over 60%
Japan's food self-sufficiency rate is low, standing at 38% in 2021, meaning that 62% of its food needs are met through imports. This figure is considerably lower compared to food-exporting nations such as Canada and Australia. The decline from 73% in 1965 can be attributed to changes in the industrial structure and a decrease in the number of agricultural workers, who are also aging. Against the backdrop of global risks such as climate change and conflicts, which are increasing food prices, Japan's heavy reliance on imports underscores the urgency of boosting domestic food production to enhance self-sufficiency.

Original information is available in Japanese only.
https://www.es-inc.jp/graphs/2023/grh_id012736.html

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食料品の値上げの理由に、海外で起きた長雨や干ばつ、戦争・内戦の影響による「原材料の高騰」があげられることがあります。日本国内で生産される食料が少なければ、それだけ海外の値上げの影響を深刻に受けることに...

07/03/2024

On February 5, 2024, the publisher Toyo Keizai Inc. announced the results of the 18th Toyo Keizai CSR Rankings.

The Toyo Keizai CSR Rankings evaluate 1,714 companies, examining their performance in various CSR aspects including "human resource utilization," "environmental practices," "corporate governance and social responsibility," and "financial performance" (profitability, safety, and scale).

In the overall rankings, Mitsui & Co. became the first trading company to rank first. The company established its Sustainability Policy in 2021 and has been advancing its initiatives based on five materiality areas. Japan To***co Inc. (JT) ranked second, and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) ranked third.

In this survey, the percentage of companies answering "yes" to the question of "gender pay gap (whether there is a wage gap between male and female employees)" increased by 13.1 points from the previous survey, reaching 20.9%. As the number of companies responding to this question increased, the situation of the wage gap became clearer.

Regarding "scenario analysis on climate change," the percentage of companies answering "yes" increased by 11.3 points from the previous survey to 62.3%. Both are related to disclosure items in securities reports.

https://www.ishes.org/happy_news/2024/hpy_id003512.html?fbclid=IwAR1fChNKSrmkf6dDQ3whS2IWci_YBOi50tgC1vJYRy6kHksriKDmx7H5i0k

2024年2月5日 、株式会社東洋経済新報社は、第18回「CSR企業ランキング」の結果を発表しました。 「CSR企業ランキング」は『CSR企業総覧（雇用・人材活用編）（ESG編）』2024年版に掲載さ...

14/02/2024

Happy Valentine's Day!
On Valentine's Day in Japan, a person gives chocolate to someone they like.

ISHES shares an article about the "Chocolate Scorecard," which evaluates and ranks chocolate-related companies based on how they are addressing sustainability issues.

The survey for the performance chart is a collaborative effort involving 37 NGOs, 25 experts, and three universities, surveying 71 companies. These include manufacturers, cocoa trading companies, processors, and retailers, whose products account for 95% of the world's chocolate products.

The survey assesses six areas: "Traceability & Transparency," "Child Labor," and "Deforestation & Climate," using a five-point scale. We hope you enjoy reading.

https://www.ishes.org/happy_news/2023/hpy_id003425.html

世界のチョコレート関連大手企業の調達方針やサステナビリティ課題への取り組みを評価し、ランク付けした『世界チョコレート成績表』の第４版が2023年３月28日に発表されました。 この「成績表」の調査は、3...

08/02/2024

A new article has been posted in e's website's 'Reading Data' series.

"Where is our food produced?"

The low self-sufficiency rate of food in Japan indicates a heavy reliance on food imports from other countries. The following data introduces from which countries Japan imports agricultural and marine products and what kind of food it imports. The main importing countries include the United States, China, Australia, Thailand, and Canada, with particularly notable imports from the United States and China. Among the imported foods are corn used as livestock feed, which also affects the food self-sufficiency rate. Additionally, resources such as water and petroleum are necessary for food production and are also "virtually" imported from overseas. It is necessary to consider the risks and sustainability of relying on food imports.
*Original information is available in Japanese only.

https://www.es-inc.jp/graphs/2024/grh_id012917.html

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前回の「データを読む：60％以上を海外に依存　日本の食料自給率」では、2021年の日本の食料自給率がカロリーベースで38％しかないことを紹介しました。食料自給率が低いということは、それだけ他国から食料を輸入して....

06/02/2024

ISHES shares an article based on "生活定点観測レポート2023," a report to survey people's lifestyle, published by the Urban Lifestyle Research Institute, Tokyo Gas, on January 16, 2024. This piece explores changes in food consumption patterns before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting trends in Japan and internationally. We invite you to consider the insights provided, as they offer a perspective on the relationship between food practices and sustainable living.

Summary of the article:

The Urban Life Research Institute, Tokyo Gas Co., published "生活定点観測レポート2023" (in Japanese) on January 16, 2024. This survey has been conducted every three years since 1990 to understand the current state and changes in the lives, perceptions, and actions of people living inTokyo and its three surrounding prefectures.Key findings related to food habits before and after the COVID-19 pandemic include:

- The proportion of people eating at home daily has remained high since the pandemic: While the percentage of people eating dinner at home every weekday was in the late 50s percent range from 1990 to 2017, it jumped to 69.3% in 2020 and remained almost the same at 67.4% in 2023.

- The frequency of dining out with family once a month or more has stagnated: After increasing from 45.3% in 1990 to 54.8% in 2017, it dropped to 48.8% in 2020 and slightly to 48.6% in 2023.

- The proportion of people preparing dinner every day has decreased: From 65.6% in 1993 to 49.8% in 2017, with a slight increase to 53.0% in 2020, and reaching its lowest at 47.3% in 2023.

The report suggests that while the lifestyle of eating at home has continued into 2023, the trend of cooking dinner daily has shown a decrease from before the pandemic. It indicates that some changes brought by the pandemic have become permanent, while others appear not to have lasted. We hope you enjoy reading it.

https://www.ishes.org/happy_news/2024/hpy_id003502.html

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東京ガス都市生活研究所は、2024年１月16日、『生活定点観測レポート2023』を発行しました。この調査は一都三県に暮らす人々の生活・意識・行動の現状およびその変化を把握するために、1990年から3年...

06/12/2023

The ISHES Newsletter November issue has been released. The theme of this issue is "Food Loss." A lot of food that is still edible and safe for consumption ends up being thrown away as food loss and waste. This is a serious issue today not only in Japan but in many countries around the world. What can be done about it? This issue of the ISHES newsletter has a look at related legislation and initiatives in Japan.
https://www.ishes.org/cgi-bin/acmailer3/backnumber.cgi?id=20231124

16/11/2023

Biochar "From Charcoal Preparation to Charcoal Production - A hands-on experience of charcoal manufacturing, exploring the potential of charcoalization as a measure for global warming"

Miraisozobu/For Future Company is conducting a three-day course starting on November 13 titled "From Charcoal Preparation to Charcoal Production - A hands-on experience of charcoal manufacturing, exploring the potential of charcoalization as a measure for global warming.

Junko Edahiro delivered a comprehensive lecture on carbonization, and participants learned about fundamental knowledge of carbonization, global trends, and topics such as carbon credits at first day in the morning.

And from the afternoon of the first day onwards, at the charcoal production facility, participants has the opportunity to experience hands-on activities such as receiving explanations from Toshihiro Mitsumura about the charcoal kiln, and actively participating in the preparation for charcoal production, including the procedures for loading charcoal and combustion materials, as well as the setup of equipment.
https://www.facebook.com/miraisozowork/posts/pfbid0cgZtpv3ohcB2zhWkR5V2PpR6Gh9gckSqBDbYXqeYfzEtaTmdJd7UoJCrR5zUWHKyl

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09/08/2023

システム思考の世界観を得た人のものの見方や捉え方は独特の特徴があり、どんな分野であれシステム思考の訓練を受けた人が書いた文章はそれとなくわかります。米国にベストセラー作家ジェームズ・クリアーもその一人...