Standard of Living in Japan

Most of Japan is covered by countryside and consists of 70% mountains including more than 200 volcanoes. Due to rapid industrialization, severe pressure has been imposed on the environment.  With more than 100 million people living in such a small place, environmental issues have occurred.

In Japan, air pollution is a serious environmental problem, especially in urban centres.  The appearance of acid rain throughout the country has been caused by toxic pollutants from power plant emissions. Water pollution is another area of concern in Japan caused by acid rain. Increase in acid levels from industrial pollutants has effected rivers, lakes and the waters surrounding Japan, as well as, human health.  The government was forced to confront pollution by passing aggressive laws to tightly control the environmental issues.

Still a major environmental issue in Japan today is the aftermath of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant disaster. Radioactive water was found leaking into the Pacific Ocean from the plant even after it was disabled.  Politicians are realizing Japan's dependency on nuclear energy and are moving more towards renewable energy by phasing out nuclear energy sources. This was even more highlighted after the earthquake in 2011, which triggered the melt down of three nuclear reactors.

Waste management is something that has to be taken very seriously with limited space.  Japan used to burn high volumes of garbage but air pollution was effected.  Kawasaki has one of Japan's largest solar power plants on a landfill and has been recycling waste.  It also developed wastewater-treatment technology.  Japan has been encouraging it's residents to recycled, reused or compost.