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Episode #1: 100 Years of Water — The Beginning of Something New [12-Part Series]
With a coverage rate of 98%, Japan’s water supply system has grown impressively—always adapting to meet demand. But now, as circumstances shift, the very nature of that demand is changing dramatically. Japan’s water supply system has dev... -
Series Prologue: 100 Years of Water — And the Next Century Ahead Why Now Is the Time to Talk About the Future of Our Water Systems in Japan
We turn on the tap, and safe, clean water flows out—just as it always has. But this everyday convenience is anything but ordinary. It’s made possible by a vast and sophisticated water infrastructure built over generations, and by the tir... -
Is Tokyo’s 4-Month Free Water Charge Really for the People? – A Water Expert Breaks Down 5 Key Issues
The cost of this “free basic water charge” campaign is 3.68 billion yen—enough to replace approximately 90 kilometers of aging water pipes. Instead, Tokyo is spending the same amount to waive basic water charges for just four months this... -
Not Just for Tap Water! 5 Surprising Fields Where Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membranes Are Making a Difference
Reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are the key technology behind seawater desalination, delivering safe drinking water to people around the world. But their applications extend far beyond public water supply systems. From household water pur... -
How Do We Turn Seawater into Tap Water?
— The Cutting Edge of Seawater Desalination: Turning the “Blue Ocean” into Drinkable Water — Roughly 97.5% of the Earth’s water is seawater. Only about 2.5% is freshwater available for human use. Despite this, only 0.8% of the world's to... -
Water as the “Most Vital Basic Infrastructure”: Who Owns It? — Understanding Privatization, International Conflicts, and the Lifeline of Local Communities
The 2019 amendment of Japan's Water Supply Act and the 25-year concession deal in Hamamatsu City have shaken the long-standing assumption that "water is a public good." With a history of water conflicts and the global debate on privatiza... -
How to Efficiently Use Emergency Membrane Water Purifiers!! – A Thorough Guide
"If only I had access to drinkable water on the spot during a disaster..." Many people have had this thought. Nowadays, it's easy to find emergency water purifiers for around 3,000 to 5,000 yen on sites like Amazon. Some of them claim th... -
How to Make Drinking Water at Home During a Disaster!
"Running out of bottled water reserves..." — In such a moment of crisis, these *household water purification techniques* could be your last resort.You don’t need an expensive purifier — with a little creativity, you can make drinkable wa... -
Why Disasters in Major Cities Are Especially Devastating
In recent years, large-scale disasters caused by earthquakes and extreme weather events have occurred frequently. Among them, disasters in major urban areas are said to be particularly devastating due to their scale and far-reaching impa...
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