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6.2 Towards Becoming a Nation Self-Sufficient in Resources
6.2.1 Making a Self-Sufficiency Rate of 70% a Reality
with Vision 2050
The Platinum Society is a society wherein people can be proud and shine in life as
well as it being a society that is rich in quality.
One part of the concrete picture of the vision is a nation that is self-sufficient in
resources. Japan is said to be a resource- poor country. Japan depends on imports for
most of its energy and earns foreign currency after importing raw materials, including minerals, processing them and then exporting those processed products.
However, that model has its limitations.
So far just 10% of the world’s population in developed countries has monopolized industry and the remaining 90% in the other countries had no choice but to sell
primary resources. The developed countries bought the primary resources cheaply
and by selling to the world at expensive prices, they were able to achieve economic
growth. However, this structure of relationships is already starting to fall apart. The
countries that depended on exporting primary resources have started up their own
industries. Products are flooding the world and competition over prices is happening, narrowing the gap between resources and products.
As the world is being flooded by yet another industrial revolution, Japan needs to
aim towards becoming a nation that is self-sufficient in resources. Being 100% selfsufficient is ideal but in reality, about 70% would be enough.
As discussed in Chap. 1, energy consumption will decrease from now onwards.
As proposed in Vision 2050, energy utilization efficiency will improve and if natural
energies are expanded, it is possible to reach a rate for energy self-sufficiency of
70% by 2050.
Saturation of man-made objects is also becoming obvious. Technology for recycling is improving and if material recycling systems are better maintained, many
materials such as iron and cement, rare metals and rare earths, can be acquired by
recycling from urban mines. Aiming for a self-sufficiency rate of 70% for mineral
resources is a possibility.
Currently for food, the rate is 40% (on a calorie base) and this too could be
increased to 70%.
In regard to water and timber, achieving a rate of 100% is totally within reach.
Japan has many sources of water and two thirds of the nation is covered in forests
making the potential for timber resources high. Currently, the self-sufficiency rate
for timber resources is low at around 25%. However, if forestry is revived, as an
industry it would generate somewhere in the vicinity of 5 trillion yen.
Looking at the results above, Japan’s self-sufficiency rate for materials would be
greatly increased. In line with Vision 2050, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 70%
for materials is indeed possible by 2050.
6.2 Towards Becoming a Nation Self-Sufficient in Resources
6.2 Towards Becoming a Nation Self-Sufficient in Resources
6.2.1 Making a Self-Sufficiency Rate of 70% a Reality
with Vision 2050
The Platinum Society is a society wherein people can be proud and shine in life as
well as it being a society that is rich in quality.
One part of the concrete picture of the vision is a nation that is self-sufficient in
resources. Japan is said to be a resource- poor country. Japan depends on imports for
most of its energy and earns foreign currency after importing raw materials, including minerals, processing them and then exporting those processed products.
However, that model has its limitations.
So far just 10% of the world’s population in developed countries has monopolized industry and the remaining 90% in the other countries had no choice but to sell
primary resources. The developed countries bought the primary resources cheaply
and by selling to the world at expensive prices, they were able to achieve economic
growth. However, this structure of relationships is already starting to fall apart. The
countries that depended on exporting primary resources have started up their own
industries. Products are flooding the world and competition over prices is happening, narrowing the gap between resources and products.
As the world is being flooded by yet another industrial revolution, Japan needs to
aim towards becoming a nation that is self-sufficient in resources. Being 100% selfsufficient is ideal but in reality, about 70% would be enough.
As discussed in Chap. 1, energy consumption will decrease from now onwards.
As proposed in Vision 2050, energy utilization efficiency will improve and if natural
energies are expanded, it is possible to reach a rate for energy self-sufficiency of
70% by 2050.
Saturation of man-made objects is also becoming obvious. Technology for recycling is improving and if material recycling systems are better maintained, many
materials such as iron and cement, rare metals and rare earths, can be acquired by
recycling from urban mines. Aiming for a self-sufficiency rate of 70% for mineral
resources is a possibility.
Currently for food, the rate is 40% (on a calorie base) and this too could be
increased to 70%.
In regard to water and timber, achieving a rate of 100% is totally within reach.
Japan has many sources of water and two thirds of the nation is covered in forests
making the potential for timber resources high. Currently, the self-sufficiency rate
for timber resources is low at around 25%. However, if forestry is revived, as an
industry it would generate somewhere in the vicinity of 5 trillion yen.
Looking at the results above, Japan’s self-sufficiency rate for materials would be
greatly increased. In line with Vision 2050, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 70%
for materials is indeed possible by 2050.
6.2 Towards Becoming a Nation Self-Sufficient in Resources