Japan's Energy Future Amid Political Changes and Climate Concerns

Welcome! I am Hiroyasu Ichikawa, ichi, and this is issue 124 of the "Japan Climate Curation" newsletter?? The newsletter has been curating Japan-related climate news content weekly since the spring of 2022 and has over 2,540 subscribers. You can subscribe by clicking on the LinkedIn page or the substack link.

I hope you find the articles below beneficial for reading (or skimming)!

Found this week's insights valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene????

*note 1: "Climate Curation" newsletter in ???? Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin / note / theLetter. It curates Japan and global climate-tech trends. I hope you like it.

*Disclaimer: Generative AI tools such as Claude Sonet 3.5 have been used for summary and translation assistance ??

Update: I was on a TV program discussing climate change and media the other day. The archive video is available here on FOD. Please take a look :) ????

[????????Japan Climate News Headlines]

【1】Japan's scandal-hit ruling party picks next PM [9/27 BBC]

• Ishiba Shigeru's election as Japan's next PM signals potential domestic and foreign policy shifts. His focus on rural revitalization and regaining public trust, coupled with his maverick stance on defense, could reshape Japan's political landscape and its role in global security.

【2】A party’s seven-decade dominance raises concerns for Japan’s democracy - The Liberal Democratic Party has ruled Japan for all but four of the past 69 years, leading some to ask whether its parliament is truly representative. [9/30 Washington Post]

• Japan's LDP has ruled for 69 of the last 73 years, raising concerns about democratic health. Despite regular elections, critics argue the party's dominance and weak opposition hinder true democracy. Voter apathy, especially among youth, and the prevalence of hereditary politicians further complicate the issue.

【3】AI is fuelling an Asia grid investment boom - Energy storage solutions will become increasingly lucrative as renewable capacity continues to grow [9/30 Financial Times]

The rapid growth of renewable energy and AI-driven power demand is spurring investment in power grid infrastructure, creating opportunities for equipment suppliers and emphasizing the need for improved grid integration and energy storage solutions.

【4】Opinion | Japan is leading Asia's renewables revolution - Tokyo driving shift to net zero through policy frameworks, corporate partnerships [9/27 Nikkei Asia]

• Japan spearheads Asia's renewable energy revolution through ambitious targets, innovative projects, and public-private collaborations. As AI and data center growth drive energy demand, Japan's focus on carbon-free power and corporate PPAs sets a model for regional decarbonization efforts.

【5】Solar Panels: Promote Decarbonization through Thorough Recycling [10/1 The Japan News]

• As solar power usage grows to meet decarbonization goals, the issue of disposing of aging panels emerges. The government aims to mandate recycling and promote technological innovations to ensure sustainable solar power expansion, addressing environmental concerns and resource efficiency.

【6】Japan's Ajinomoto and Danone team up to cut dairy cow emissions - Japanese firm creates supplement with potential to slash industry's carbon footprint [9/29 Nikkei Asia]

• Japanese food giant Ajinomoto collaborates with France's Danone to combat climate change in the dairy industry. Their innovative amino acid supplement reduces cow emissions by 10% while cutting feed costs. This partnership aims to decrease the dairy supply chain's environmental impact significantly.

【7】Japan Gas Lobby Urges Government to Help With Open Contracts - Association chairman says destination clauses limit options Japanese firms haven’t signed new supply agreements with Qatar [10/1 Bloomberg]

Japan's LNG buyers need help with inflexible supply contracts, mainly due to destination clauses restricting reselling. The Japan Gas Association's chairman, Takashi Uchida, emphasizes the need for government support in negotiating better terms. Due to these restrictions, Japanese utilities have hesitated to sign new contracts with Qatar, a major LNG producer. Japan, a significant player in global LNG trade, has been diversifying its supply sources. While the country currently resells about one-third of its LNG purchases, forecasts suggest potential increased electricity demand due to AI and data centers, highlighting the continued importance of LNG in Japan's energy mix.

【8】Japan’s Economic Revival Is Failing to Save Its Vanishing Towns [9/25 Bloomberg?? / ??Gift URL]

• Japan's economic revival, exemplified by the TSMC semiconductor plant in Kumamoto, contrasts sharply with the continued decline of rural areas like Misato. While the chip industry boom creates jobs and economic growth in some regions, many small towns face depopulation and economic stagnation. The next Prime Minister faces the challenge of ensuring broad, lasting recovery across the nation. Despite positive economic indicators and increased global investment, Japan struggles with low productivity, demographic decline, and a widening urban-rural divide.

【9】Lessons from Japan’s fight against floods as the climate changes - Ishikawa disaster shows that a new strategy to prepare for the next deluge is needed [9/30 The Japan Times]

As climate change escalates flood risks worldwide, Japan's recent disaster underscores the need for holistic flood management. Combining technology, infrastructure upgrades, and nature-based solutions with community engagement is crucial for enhancing resilience against increasingly severe weather events.

【10】Japan: Rescuers race to locate survivors after severe flooding and mudfalls [9/24 DW news]

• Rescuers are racing to locate potential survivors over the weekend after record rainfall unleashed severe flooding and mudslides in central Japan. At least seven people have been killed. After heavy rains, the river on the Noto Peninsula busted its banks, sweeping away homes and forcing residents to flee to safety. Thousands of homes are without power. The region is still recovering from a powerful earthquake in January that killed at least 236 people.

??That's all for this week! Thank you for reading(or skimming) ??. I hope you will have a wonderful week ahead!

Found this week's news topics valuable? Please give it a quick "like" or "share" on LinkedIn – you never know who else in your network might benefit from staying in the loop on Japan's climate scene????

*note: "Climate Curation" newsletter in ???? Japanese (every Saturday) is available on Linkedin / note / theLetter. It curates Japan and global climate-tech trends. I hope you like it.

• Please feel free to email me?at hiroyasu.Ichikawa [@]socialcompany.org if you have any research/consulting needs for your business or just want to have a coffee chat?.
• My personal Twitter(X) account (in ????Japanese) @SocialCompany

ichi (Hiroyasu Ichikawa)