Atsuko Hanashima

Exploring Japan’s approach to environmental education, particularly in the context of waste management, offers valuable insights into the intersection of education and sustainability. Environmental education, implemented over an extended period, has played a pivotal role in shaping societal values toward sustainability. In Japan, such activities have been ongoing since the 1930s, yet the long-term impacts on societal behavior and policy development remain underexplored. This study presents an overview of Japan’s educational framework, focusing on quantitative trends based on a nationwide survey of waste incineration facilities conducted in 2010, reflecting data from fiscal year 2009. The survey achieved a 94% response rate (731/775 facilities) and revealed that in fiscal year 2009, approximately 1.28 million people visited waste incineration facilities, with 69% being fourth-grade students participating in curriculum-based field trips. Extrapolating from these data, it is estimated that 44% (55 million) of Japan’s current population has experienced environmental education through such visits during their elementary school years. This widespread participation underscores the extensive reach and societal impact of these initiatives in fostering awareness of waste management. By integrating the Sustainable Approach, which ensures intergenerational equity, with the Capability Approach, which empowers individuals for sustainable well-being, this study illustrates the potential of Japan’s long-standing environmental education practices, particularly in fostering sustainable behaviors and policy innovations, to serve as a global model for sustainability efforts.