“I don’t love my crush anymore, but I want someone else to give them their love,” says message on Kyoto container.
recycling (Page 2)
New project makes the popular chain the first of its kind to utilize 100 percent of the fish they acquire.
Bathe in the warm glow of owning something recycled, and a light bulb, with these magic cardboard lamps.
Manga author relates the depressing tale of seeing the ignoble fate of his leftover comics.
How would you like a lovely one-of-a-kind parasol made with material from an authentic kimono?
Sure, the toys are cool, but it turns out their cases can be pretty useful too.
Short on cookware or want to minimize clean-up time after dinner? Skip the recycling center and use your old bottles to whip up something good!
The Japanese are rather enthusiastic when it comes to recycling. In most Japanese cities, domestic waste has to be separated into a minimum of three categories: combustable “raw” garbage, recyclable plastic and recyclable paper. Some areas have their residents splitting their trash into as many as 10 categories.
Even with that said, there’s probably no place in Japan more outreach than Kyoto when it comes to recycling plastic, as they’ve had a little magical help from a handsome new mascot: Gomi no Yousei (Fairy of the Garbage). Check out the bizarre recycling enthusiast after the break!
Is Japan’s recycling system the most complicated in the world? It sure feels like it sometimes. Household waste must of course be separated into burnable and non-burnable, but after that there’s a dizzying array of recycling categories to break your non-burnables into. Since Japan is a relatively small country without masses of land to use for burying waste, the vast majority of waste used to be incinerated. However, with increasing ecological awareness in the 1990s came new legislation to minimise the amount of waste being burnt, and promote recycling.
Public awareness of the need to recycle is high, but the system can be baffling for new foreign residents. The problem lies not only in the array of recycling categories, but also in the apparent overlap between them: the grey areas. Is an empty pizza box considered recycled paper? Or is it burnable? Paper packages? “Other”? And if a bottle is made of a different type of plastic to the standard PET, is still a “pet bottle”, or is it just “plastic”?
Today we bring you six reasons to learn what goes in what box, and a few hints for getting it right along the way.
Remember all of those umbrellas that were abandoned in train stations in October and November this year during the typhoon season? Well at least one station in Tokyo definitely does, but thankfully they’re putting a few of them to good use: by turning them into surprisingly pretty Christmas trees!
During these sweltering summer days it’s not unusual to down more than a few plastic bottles of water, pop, or juice. And surely with all that drinking you’re bound to accumulate a pile of empty plastic bottles.
Burden by all of these bottles, collapsing them to a convenient size for recycling can be an energy and time draining chore. That’s why the folks at Yahoo! R25 wanted to share an effortless way to break your plastic bottles down to size.
Okay, we have good news for wine lovers who feel guilty about creating lots of trash by opening all of those wine bottles. See the picture above? Yes, you guessed it – used wine bottles are now being made into beautiful glassware! Isn’t this a great, eco-friendly way to recycle wine bottles? I, for one, definitely wouldn’t mind having such nice looking plates at home. Read More















Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
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Universal Studios Japan requiring consent form for adults-only horror attraction
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New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Japanese convenience store releases Japanese convenience store-flavor fried chicken
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Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
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Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home
Japanese Coo-Che becomes a viral sensation, and everyone wants a taste
Dance with demons in Kyoto at this Edo-period Japanese Halloween festival
Universal Studios Japan requiring consent form for adults-only horror attraction
Why is Taco Bell failing in Japan, even as the country falls in love with tacos?
Kodama Shinkansen trains on popular Japan route get a whole new look this winter
Which country’s foreign tourists spend the most money per-person in Japan? Hint: Not the U..S. or China
Eight great words for talking about summer in Japan in Japanese
Studio Ghibli releases Japanese curry shirts in honour of anime about the studio’s staff
Starbucks Japan adds a new summer Frappuccino to the menu, but is it as refreshing as it looks?
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
“We want to be Japan’s best cheap restaurant” says new (but also not new) Akihabara noodle joint
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]