Japan Goes Green

Leave it to Japan to develop green technology while the rest of the world wrangles at the UN over quotas and carbon offset programs. Meanwhile, Japanese industry has been quietly, yet diligently, improving solar technology, hydrogen batteries, hybrid cars and the list goes on.

Ordinary citizens are turning back to cycling, with even electric powered bicycles ruling the already-crowded roads. For those still requiring 4 wheels, Toyota's Prius has been ruling the roads for a few years now, but Honda and Nissan are not far behind. In fact, Toyota's competition aims to leapfrog past the Prius with completely electric or hydrogen powered vehicles to be on the market in 2010 and 2011.

Sharp has long been the world leader in terms of solar power, even its regional headquarters building near Ogaki is solar-powered as a kind of self fulfilling advertisement for its prowess in solar power.