Japan Video Topics 2008/05
Mixing Up a Super Fuel
Ever since the oil crisis of the 1970s, scientists and industry worldwide have been searching for ways to use oil more efficiently. A major goal has been to make fuel from an emulsion of oil and water, but all attempts at a practical solution failed since the mixture would always slowly separate into the original two fluids. Now a Japanese scientist has solved this problem, using nanotechnology to create super emulsion fuel, a stable mixture that provides all the power of regular diesel but with greater fuel efficiency, less polluting emissions and fewer greenhouse gases. This is another case of Japan's government, industry and scientific institutions collaborating on a successful project to benefit the global environment.
01 (Sugar cane)
By developing alternative fuels like bioethanol from sugar cane, nations around the world are trying to reduce dependence on oil and counter the causes of climate change. Although Japan has few natural resources, its advanced technology is making a major contribution to this effort.
02 (Emulsion in mixing vessel)
And now Japanese scientists have developed the world's first practical method for making fuel from a mixture of water and oil. The new technology has been named super emulsion fuel.
03 (Filling glass jug - telop: "super emulsion fuel")
The oil crisis of the 1970s spurred worldwide research efforts into saving fuel by mixing water with oil. However, many problems stood in the way of a practical solution.
04 (Close-up: man and microscope)
Professor Tajima of Kanagawa University succeeded in overcoming these problems using nano-technology. His super emulsion fuel has already been awarded international patents.
05 (Interview (M) Prof. Tajima)
We needed to make the oil drops as small as possible. Why? Consider this example. It's hard to burn a whole book in one piece, but if you tear out the pages, each page will burn easily.
06 (Man in lab)
Researchers in this field have tried to mix oil and water using chemicals called surfactants, but no-one managed to produce a practical fuel by this method.
The mixture always eventually separated back into oil and water.
07 (Labeled glass jars)
This was the problem that Professor Tajima solved. The key was his development of an emulsifier based on castor oil.
08 (B/W photo of oil and water)
In super emulsion fuel, the surface of each oil drop is coated with castor oil. This prevents the oil drops from merging together, which stops the oil and water from separating.
09 (Jar with "9 month" telop)
The new fuel is a stable emulsion that doesn't separate into oil and water even when kept for a long period.
10 (Truck starting)
When the super emulsion fuel was tested on this truck, it produced an engine output exactly the same as regular diesel.
11 (Truck passes rocks - telop)
The big difference is in fuel efficiency - this was improved by 10 to 15 percent.
12 (Removing exhaust pipes)
And a look at the exhaust pipes clearly shows a difference in emissions.
13 (Two sets of exhaust pipes on ground)
The exhaust pipes on the right are blackened from regular diesel fuel.
The clean exhaust pipes on the left are the result of using super emulsion fuel.
14 (PM chart)
This is because the new fuel contains fewer of the particles that cause black smoke.
15 (Truck in field)
The new fuel also emits fewer nitrogen oxide, one of the gases responsible for climate change.
16 (Interview (M) Prof. Tajima)
Our hope is that widespread use of this new technology will make an effective contribution to solving the biggest issue facing the world today - the problem of global climate change.
17 (Men in blue helmets)
The development of this new fuel is just one example of the way Japan's government, industry and scientific institutions are working closely together to contribute to solving the issues threatening the global environment.
Hokkaido Horse-trekking
The northern island of Hokkaido covers over 20% of Japan's land mass, and contains some of its most beautiful and unspoiled scenery. It's also the home of an ancient breed of Japanese horse called the dosanko. A strong animal able to carry great loads and very stable on hillside trails due to its short legs, the dosanko played a significant historical role in the development of Hokkaido's agriculture. After having become somewhat rare in recent times , the dosanko is now seeing a revival due to the popularity of horse-trekking tours. This docile, stable mount can be ridden easily even by complete novices, and is the perfect way to explore the magnificently varied landscape of Hokkaido.
01 (Map and coastline)
Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido is ringed by the Sea of Japan, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.
Comprising over 20 percent of the nation's land area, it is also Japan's largest expanse of unspoiled natural scenery.
02 (Looking down on buildings in a valley)
An excellent way to experience the Hokkaido countryside is a tour with the Hakodate Horse-trekking Enthusiasts Club.
You'll be riding an ancient Japanese breed of horse known as dosanko.
These versatile, powerful animals played an important role in the development of Hokkaido and the growth of its agriculture.
03 (Zoom in on photo of horse and dismounted rider)
Compared to most breeds of horse, the dosanko has a long body and short, sturdy legs. This means it is very stable and can easily climb steep slopes.
It can carry loads as heavy as 200 kilograms.
On a dosanko, even inexperienced riders can just relax and enjoy their ride.
04 (Interview - F - continues after face shot)
These horses will carry you safely and securely along the roughest of trails.
They are safe for complete beginners and for people with disabilities. Even without any training at all, you can get straight out there and enjoy riding the mountain trails.
05 (Interview - M)
This is my first time on a horse. It's a great feeling to be able to ride so fast and still feel completely safe. Horseback is certainly the best way to see these beautiful forests.
06 (Riders)
Horse trekking through Hokkaido can mean so many different things.
Each season on this island has its own special beauty.
Hokkaido offers an enormous variety of flowers, trees and wildlife, with trekking trails through mountains and forests, along rivers and across wide plains.
The pure air and lush countryside of Hokkaido make an ideal break from city life.
07 (Wide shot of line of riders moving R)
The dosanko horse is now rather rare. These treks are not only a fine way to explore the unique landscape of Hokkaido, you'll also be helping to preserve one of the world's unique working horses.
Fresh Ideas for Mobile Living
Mobile phones are an evolving worldwide phenomenon. In Japan, where 8 out of 10 people own a mobile phone, the pace of change is especially rapid. New technologies and ideas are continually emerging for using this device to make daily life more convenient. Parents keep track of their children using GPS phones, while the trains are full of people emailing, sending text messages or browsing the Internet on their phones. Mobile phones can be used as electronic wallets for e-money, accepted by many stores, public transport and even vending machines in Japan. They are even spurring new cultural developments - people don't just read comics and view movies on their phones, novelists are now first publishing their work on-line. And the excellence of Japanese phone design is winning phones a place in museum collections.
01 (People in street)
The use of mobile phones continues to spread rapidly in every country. Today, 80 percent of all Japanese own a mobile phone.
02 (Zoom in on phone)
And this useful device keeps on evolving. In Japan, many people now think of their mobile phone more as an all-purpose telecommunications terminal.
03 (Mother and child)
This typical Tokyo mother makes sure her child carries his mobile phone each time he leaves home.
04 (Interview - F)
When he's carrying his phone, I know he's safe. It has GPS, so I can always see exactly where he is.
05 (Phone)
The GPS satellite system for pinpointing location is increasingly used to ensure the safety of children and the elderly. This is just one example of how mobile phones are evolving into indispensable all-purpose lifestyle aids.
06 (Inputting email to phone - close up)
One of the most heavily used functions is email. Japanese mobile phones can handle Internet email as well as the popular short mail service between phones.
07 (PC display - zoom back)
Mobile phones can also be used to browse the web.
Many web sites have special mobile versions, designed for easy viewing and navigation on small phone screens.
08 (Woman at vending machine)
Mobile phones can now function as wallets for electronic money, and the e-money infrastructure is rapidly expanding. As well as stores, vending machines now accept payment from mobile phones.
09 (Photo of movie audience)
A crowd of young people at the preview of a new movie. What's new is that this movie is based on a novel first published exclusively to mobile phone users, mainly teenage girls. This new mobile phone culture is spurring a wave of on-line creativity, with contents that are going on to sell as book, movie or DVD products.
10 (Dragon Ball screen)
Japan is unique for the enormous number of people who read manga comic books, and naturally, manga are now being repackaged for easy reading on mobile phone screens.
11 (Display case with 4 phones)
As mobile phone contents diversify, so do the designs of the phones.
12 (Interview - M)
Some customers constantly demand new devices with the very latest technology. Others are happy with today's functions, but want new phone designs, new fashions, phones with unique character or lower prices. We are always diversifying and expanding our range of models to try to provide something to satisfy everyone.
13 (Display case at MoMA)
The leading role of Japanese mobile phone designers led to several Japanese models being selected for the New York Museum of Modern Art collection in 2007.
14 (Street scene)
We now have mobile phones to match your personality, with functions tailored for individual lifestyles. What will they think of next?
New Future for Smallest Room
Japan adopted the flush toilet just 40 years ago, but in that short time it has become the world leader in the industry, refining this essential facility both with high-tech functions and with ecological innovations. The latest Japanese toilets automatically open their lids as you approach and close as you leave, and have advanced washing and drying functions controlled by a wall panel. Today's home designs use less water and don't need paper, but outdoor models are being specifically designed with the environment in mind. These bio-toilets require no water and produce no sewage - everything is recycled using various methods to process the human waste into water and clean fertilizer products. Researchers are now trying to also make them independent of power supplies and even more self-sustaining.
01 (Pan left to public lavatory)
This is one facility we couldn't live without.
02 (Sofa)
The flush toilet became widespread in Japan just 40 years ago.
But over that short period, there have been many remarkable advances in design and functionality.
03 (INAX Design Collections sign)
Japan now leads this field, and has produced many unique new ideas.
04 (Black toilet with closed seat)
For example, lids that open automatically as you approach.
Warm water sprinklers and air blowers for washing and drying minimize the need to use paper.
05 (Control panel)
All these convenient functions are controlled from a high tech panel on the nearby wall.
06 (Interview - F)
It's something the whole family uses every day, so most customers first look for durability and robustness.
07 (Zoom in on white toilet)
Today's advanced flush toilets are designed to use the minimum amount of water possible, but there is no way to completely eliminate the connection to the sewer system.
08 (Outdoor toilet block)
This new design, however, requires no water input or sewer output.
It uses water recycled from the human waste for flushing and cleaning.
A heating and distilling process converts all waste into water, except for a very small residue.
The water it produces is so clean, you could even drink it.
09 (Pan R to double toilet block)
This design uses no water at all, and therefore produces zero sewage.
10 (Man enters)
The secret is sawdust. For the micro-organisms that live in human waste, sawdust provides a perfect environment to grow. When the sawdust mixture is stirred, heated and activated, these micro-organisms decompose naturally by themselves.
This bio-toilet requires absolutely no water.
11 (Zoom in on hand holding sawdust)
And the processed sawdust can be used as fertilizer.
12 (View of two toilets)
Researchers are now trying to make the system even more ecological, developing ways to run it without electricity.
13 (Interview - M)
Our aim is to complete the ecological cycle. We know it's good to eat food produced entirely in the soil of your local region. How much better if we could also use the waste we produce by eating that food to directly nourish the soil it grows in.
14 (Pan L toilet)
It's something we need to do every day, whoever we are.
And in an age of environmental problems, surely we each need to take more responsibility for disposing of the waste our bodies produce every day.
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