Junko Edahiro is one of the most prominent environmental journalists in Japan and is a major icon for slow movements in Japan. She has translated books by Lester Brown, Al Gore, Dennis Meadows, Donella Meadows, David Suzuki and many others into Japanese, and also writes dozens of books herself on climate change, energy, happiness, systems thinking, and many other sustainability topics. She promotes and facilitates environmental communication and dialogue among governments, corporations and citizens.
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‘Studies in Happiness’: What degrowth in Japan can teach us about wellbeing beyond growth
While in Europe degrowth is often framed as a deliberate choice, Japan’s version is distinctive – and instructive. Japan offers a rare set of living experiments in how communities can actually function, and even thrive, without growth as the organizing goal.
August 28, 2026
