A very technical heavy book, that talks in quiet technical terms about how japan is doing in terms of environmental footprints and changes to help the environment overall.
While this book is defiantly interesting and a good read for everyone seriously interested in learning more about changes that can be made, have been made and should be made to help the environment, try to slow down the climate change and all of that, its not a book for people that are not used to non-fiction reading or a bit of technical jargon.
Its an interesting book but not for everyone.

Caught between the rapid industrialization policies pursued after the end of WWII, the peculiarity of resources and the pressures towards creating sustainable green policies, Japan functions as a well oiled engine with many different speeds. A well documented inquiry into the 'environmental technologies, innovation policies and the pursuit of green growth', this book covers a large area of domains, from new technologies to urban planning and development.
'Japan views climate change in the context of a nation that lives with remarkable levels of incertainty and vulnerability - including access to energy and exposure to environmental shifts, but starting with a long and tragic history of natural disasters that long ago affirmed the supremacy of the environment over human beings'. The green policies in this country are a complex web made of different directions, including national policies, private sector initiatives, academic researches and societal commitment. The policy instruments do receive political endorsement through various regulations adopted by institutions, financial support from the business sector and the academic background provided by the scholars in the field. 'The Japanese experience demonstrates that the appropriate application of subsidies, governmental investment, and local strategies can produce substantial environmental savings'. However the circle is not complete and accidents as the case of the Fukushima nuclear plant keep outlining the need of a dramatic upgrade and as for now, the pursuit of prosperity still prevails over the environmental concerns.
The book offers an interesting evaluation of various policies and decisions and although it has a relatively limited focus on the political aspects of the environmental programs - including the actual commitment from various parties to green policies -, it dedicates a generous space to the content of the policies and its day by day implementation.
A recommended lecture to those interested in comparative studies of various green policies, as well as in the Japan society and its approach to environmental challenges nowadays.

This was an incredibly complex book to read which limited my enjoyment of it to an extent. It was really good at showing the important of Japan and their role in green energy and the green movement in general. I found it really interesting.

This book comes from the same press and forum as the book "Austerity", and it shows a similar perspective on the concept of green with Japan as a show case example. It is fantastic to read this book at the first place. The book offers a wide range of coverage on the aspects Japan proudly doing well in the world stage. Especially when Trump America quit the Paris Accord, this book is one of the most important reflections in the current academic sphere. I would recommend this book to my fellow academics.

By far too complex for the "normal reader", still it gave me interesting information about one of my favorite country.

Di gran lunga troppo complesso per il "lettore medio" mi ha comunque fornito molte interessanti informazioni sul mio paese straniero preferito.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!