Japanese pride in leading energy-saving efforts and rebuilding from last year's major disaster were highlighted at the Japan Pavilion near the main venue of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio+20.
Pavilions of major countries and areas were big draws for attendees of the conference.
At the Japan Pavilion, some 30 organizations, including companies, local governments and think tanks, operated booths and showcased advanced Japanese environmental technology and nature conservation efforts.
As products that symbolize conservation, creation and storage of energy, Panasonic Corp. exhibited refrigerators and air conditioners that drastically cut down on electricity use, solar panels with high-energy conversion efficiency and an actual lithium-ion power storage system for home use. It also used models and videos to showcase its Smart Town project that links these technologies to manage energy use for an entire community.
Mitsui Corp., which owns slightly more than 40,000 hectares of forests across Japan, used panels to showcase its project to supply lumber to areas struck by last year’s Great East Japan Earthquake and organization of forestry workshops designed for parents and children.
The Asahi Glass Foundation, which internationally supports academic research with the Blue Planet Prize and other programs, put on display the “Environmental Doomsday Clock” based on a survey of environmental experts. By showing the hands of the clock for every year since 1992, it warned that the global environment has been in “extremely concerned” levels for more than 10 years.
Japan Evening, which was held in the Japan Pavilion on June 20, educated visitors on how Japan has been on a path to recovery from the massive earthquake and tsunami. Images of people cleaning up debris, the Tohoku Rokkon Festival and other events were shown on a screen. The organizers also served sake and dishes of the Tohoku region to visitors.
Japanese-Brazilians also supported Japan’s recovery with a performance of Japanese "wadaiko" drums. Some 300 people, including government representatives of various countries, took part in the event.
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