Green Mondays #12: The Business of Sustainability for SMEs and NPOs in Japan

The theme for Green Mondays #12 is the Business of Sustainability for SMEs and NPOs in Japan. We will be hearing presentations from leaders at two ground-breaking organizations here in Japan: Japan for Sustainability (NPO) and Ecotwaza.

Venue: Anaheim University/Akio Morita School of Business/Kisho Kurokawa Green Institute, Minami Aoyama, Tokyo

Map & Directions: http://www.anaheim.edu/images/pdf/auofficee_mapraykay.pdf

Date & Time: Monday July 27, 7pm-10pm

Cost: 3,000 yen including light finger food and 1-2 drinks per person.

1) The Business of Green NPOs in Japan (Japan for Sustainability (JFS))

Kazunori Kobayashi, Manager of JFS and CEO, EcoNetworks Inc., will discuss the challenges and opportunities encountered while establishing and running a sustainability-related NPO in Japan.

Japan for Sustainability (JFS), established in 2002, is a non-profit organization providing information on developments and activities in Japan that lead toward sustainability in both English and Japanese.

Kazunori Kobayashi (Mr.)
Manager, Japan for Sustainability
CEO, EcoNetworks Inc.

Born in Tokyo in 1976. At age of 19, travelled to the United States to study at the State University of New York, then the University of California (Berkeley), graduating in environmental economics and policy studies from its College of Natural Resources.

After working at a consulting company, became CEO of EcoNetworks in 2005. Is concurrently a manager at the NGO "Japan for Sustainability," and a part-time lecturer at the University of Tokyo (Department of Systems Innovation, Faculty of Engineering).

Currently lives with his family in the mountain farming community of Fujino near Tokyo.

Junko Edahiro, the founder of JFS, has translated several books on the environment and sustainability, including Revolution for Eco Economy by Lester Brown, Limits to Growth: The 30 Year Update by Donnela Meadows, et al., Believing in Casandra by Alan Atkisson, and An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore.

Her company, e's Inc., also runs the Daily Ondanka (Climate Change) featuring international news translated into Japanese and disseminated through their website.

2) Eco Business Opportunities for SMEs in Japan (Ecotwaza)

Reina Otsuka will discuss Japan's unique cultural and historical background, about living in harmony with nature, and give examples of some local SMEs with interesting products. She will also discuss business opportunities for companies that are looking to promote and/or market eco-products from Japan in their home countries and vice versa (eg environmentally friendly wall materials made from recycled milk cartons or long-lasting cast-iron pots with anti-bacterial properties).

Ecotwaza publishes a bilingual magazine "eco+waza" showcasing Japanese SMEs with unique environmental products, and also a website "eco+waza web" (www.eco-friendly-japan.com). The company works as a bridge between Japanese SMEs and overseas retail/small businesses to promote inspiring eco-products from Japan.

Reina Otsuka is Founder and Chief Editor of Ecotwaza Co., Ltd. Born in 1980. Raised in NY until 10 years old. After graduating from the Faculty of Law of Hitotsubashi University in 2004, worked at Recruit Co., ltd. in sales, management and business planning. Suffering from asthma during childhood and through the experience of 911 at the International House dormitory during the one year study-abroad-program at University of California, Berkeley, became aware of environmental issues and international cooperation. Founded Ecotwaza in 2006.

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Comment by Noriko Sakamoto on July 28, 2009 at 3:17pm

Thank you very much for inviting Japan for Sustainability to your event last evening. All the participating guests were very warm, Kazunori Kobayashi-san and I enjoyed talking with you all.

For those whom I haven't talked, and if you are interested in Japan for Sustainability e-mail news, please subscribe from the following link.
http://www.japanfs.org/en/mailmagazine/

I'm editting JFS Weekly Digest (released every Tuesday), and will release in this evening, I say after 18:00.

I'd love to keep in touch with you, if you have any other comments, feedback, questions, anything, please contact me any time.

Comment by Nathaniel Green on July 16, 2009 at 9:47pm

I would love to go... but will be visiting family back in the States at that time.