When I lived in Japan as an exchange student in 1997, I remember reporting back to Australian friends as to how advanced Japan was with all of the recycling rules and hacks. I mean, have you SEEN the ‘How to fold your milk carton’ diagram? Hang on … let me just find it….
But then as I was older and started working in Japan is started hearing about ‘My Baggu’ (as in ‘My Bag’ as in.. bringing your own non-plastic bag to the supermarket ) and other environmentally progressive ideas but then… in my opinion … I feel like there’s been a stop. It’s all come to a halt. And.. fast forward to now? Japan … you’re so way behind with the whole ‘zero waste’ movement. I mean, you know what to DO with the waste but what about how to prevent it accumulating in the first place?
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For people who haven’t lived in Japan before, this might seem easier said than done. But this is the land of convenience and comfort ( and, don’t get me wrong for a second.. I do LOVE that about Japan ) but it often is at the environment’s expense.
Even if you’ve visited Japan you’ll have noticed that even your plastic bag will often get a plastic bag!! Seriously.
So… I’m a terrible hypocrite here because I’m still working on my own methods of even beginning to reduce waste… but everyone needs to start somewhere, right? But I wanted to share some ways and other people who may inspire you to refuse extra waste or make the most of what you have – coz my hat is always off to people who are still willing to put in the effort and ESPECIALLY in a whole different language.
First off though, I would like to ask that everyone be very kind as you go about trying to communicate your concern.
If you’ve come from a country that is way more progressive when it comes to the Zero Waste approach – it may seem that people who have no idea about what you are trying to do are just trying to make your stance so much more difficult …but actually? … here? .. lots of people have no idea just why or how you are trying to do what you do.
Japan, as long as I’ve known ‘Japan,’ has always been about ‘the customer first.’ And its brilliant -and its tip-free . It’s just to make the customer more comfortable.
That extra plastic bag around my tofu, or chicken breast or strawberries that then goes inside a plastic bag isn’t put there just to piss you off. It’s intended to make sure that product doesn’t spill or squish and contaminate your other groceries. It’s meant with love, service, care – and also, let’s be honest?… because their manager told them to do so. So …the Uni student at the register might be a bit ( actually..who am I kidding? This is the land of service protocol!!!??!! soooo…. might be A LOT) afraid to break the rules and not double wrap your gyoza , ok?
JAPANESE PHRASES RELATED TO ZERO WASTE
So here are some Japanese phrases that may help ? (and please do contact me if you have ideas for more?)
I have included the phrases in written Japanese so you could point if you don’t feel confident trying to say it out loud in Japanese.
Also, if you’ve read my other posts, you’ll have noticed that -while I’m comfortable being ‘straight to the point’ I’m not comfy being rude …. so ,… my suggestions are always polite and mostly kind so … if you want a more aggressivee approach … it might be best to ask a Japanese buddy for tips…..
*I’ve written it in Japanese so you can just point – and I’ve included the way it is pronounced in case you want to practice and try it for yourself*
Suggestion 1:
Order your drink ..Eg. クランベリージュース下さい Kuranberii jyuusu kudasai ( Cranberry Juice please)
Then, to ask for no straw … you can say
ストロー はいりません Sutoroo wa irimasen (I don’t need a straw)
or
ストローなし Sutoroo nashi (No straw) *The only reason I don’t suggest this first is because the intonation for STRAW in Japanese is tricky so it’s sometimes hard to catch if you’re intonation still needs a little bit of work. I know it sounds mental BUT ask a Japanese friend to practice saying STRAW with you… its harder than you think!*
Suggestion 2:
I live in Tokyo so some of the major inner-city supermarkets have a little laminated card you can pop in your basket or shopping cart when you don’t want more extra plastic but .. not everyone is this far ahead so… if it was me and these cards weren’t readily available?… I’d say
すみませんが、プラスチックを使わないようにしているので、マイバッグを使わせて下さい Sumimasen ga, purasuchikku o tsukawaranai youni shiteiru node, mai baggu o tsukawasette kudasai (Excuse me but I’m trying to not use plastic so please allow me to use my own bag)
A shorter version?
プラスチックを使いたくない Purasuchikku o tsukaitakunai (I dont want to use plastic)
And if they still try to sneak a bag around a product to go into you your bag?
そのプラスチックもいりません Sono purasuchikku mo irimasen ( I also don’t need that plastic)
Suggestion 3:
If you just want to take a product ‘ as it is’
このまま、マイバッグに入れちゃいますね Konomama, maibaggu ni irechaimasu ne (I’m going to put this in my bag as it is , alright?)
or
このままで結構です konomama de kekkou desu I’ll take it as is
Suggestion 4:
フォークはいりません Foo-ku wa irimasen (I don’t need a fork)
割りばしはいりません Waribashi wa irimasen (I don’ t need disposable chopsticks)
Suggestion 5:
使い捨て食べ物の容器の代わりに自分の物を持参してきました Tsukaitsute tabemono no youki no kawari ni jibun no mono o jisannshite kimashita (Instead of disposable containers, I brought my own)
Suggestion 6:
マイカップを使ってもいいですか？Mai kappu o tsukatte mo ii desu ka? (May I use my own cup?)
Suggestion 7:
私が持参したナイフとフォークを使ってもいいですか？ Watashi ga jisan shita naifu to forku o tsukatte mo ii desu ka? （May I use my own knife and fork?）
Suggestion 8:
レシートはいりません reshiito wa irimasen I don’t need a receipt
Other handy vocab
使い捨て tsukatsute disposable items
もったいない mottainai It’s a waste/ It’s wasteful
結構です kekko desu No, Thank you
プラスチック袋 purasuchikku bukuro plastic bag (although some older people may be more used to it being called a ビニール袋 biniiru bukuro
SOMETIMES YOU’LL JUST GET A LOVELY SURPRISE
If you see a company in Japan that is doing their bit – then be sure to share an applaud them on social media , of course? !
Like this park in Ibaraki, their served their fish and duck food in these cone/wafer cases that the animals also love to nibble on ! So clever and cute. (See my Ibaraki with kids post to find out where.)
TOKYO-BASED BUSINESSES WHO ARE DOING THEIR BIT TO PROMOTE THE ZERO WASTE MOVEMENT
I recently purchased these reuseable beeswax food wraps (as an alternative to cling wrap / saran wrap). They are from Tokyo -based small business Eco Hachi. To order and see what they have , I recommend following @ecohachiliving on instagram or sending an email to ecohachiliving@gmail.com
They also have Japanese fabrics too (see below) ! So cute.
They sell stainless steel straws.
Bikudesigns ( you’ve no-doubt already seen her beautiful work if you’ve taken a look at my ‘Love from Tokyo Gift Suggestions’ post here) uses no plastic in her packaging at all and , in fact, her customers are also invited to opt for recycled magazine envelopes as packaging. Check out her website here.
SOME OTHER WAYS YOU CAN DO YOUR BIT IN TOKYO
Donate unused items to the Salvation Army in Tokyo (if you book ahead they will even collect the items from your home- all the information is here or put them up for free on facebook group Mottainai Japan.
Carry your own cup, water bottle, straws etc (and practice your Japanese phrases above so you’re ready to ask to use them)
Take your own bags to the supermarket or reuse the packing from last time for wrapping gifts etc.
Choose vegan food options where possible
Refuse receipts when possible
Print out this phrase チラシ投函拒否 (No junk mail) and put it on your letterbox
Buy 10 bamboo toothbrushes for 999 yen
Politely refusing plastic oshibori (the plastic wet wipes often given in restaurants.)
PEOPLE TO FOLLOW FOR INSPIRATION
These are my favourite Tokyo-based instagrammers that are really inspiring as they are going out of their way to produce as little waste as possible.
@eco.de.iko
Katie lives in Tokyo has made the most beautiful instagram account with her tips and tricks for a zero waste, package free lifestyle in Japan.
@bikudesigns
Victoria of Bikudesigns is trying to reduce plastic consumption at home and her business follows suit!
@ecohachiliving
Eco Hachi creates sell beeswax food covers and also sells stainless steel straws. Their instagram feed is just so pretty.
@noplasticjapan
Mona has started a small business movement and is definitely one to watch !
You can also join the facebook group ‘No Plastic Japan‘
ALSO CHECK OUT…
Sho Farm, in Kanagawa
The Zero Waste Brewery Rise & Win Brewery
Did you know there is a town in town in Setouchi called Kamikatsu that is Japan’s first zero waste town?
If you like my language tips I think you’d also enjoy my language shortcuts.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
