In Saitama Prefecture, there have been reports of bullying against Kurdish pupils. The bullying has gotten so bad that some students have resorted to staying home to learn and to avoid classmates.
The Ainu people are the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido and are an ethnic group that not many – even Japan itself – know much about. Life was harsh for the Ainu people as they have suffered the effects of a policy of forced assimilation. As a result, the Ainu people have struggled to keep the language and the traditions of their culture alive.
In Wakayama Prefecture, dolphin and whale fishery is an important traditional industry. Even though this is a part of the Japanese culture, it has been frowned upon by many as thousands of whales and dolphins are killed every year.
In Okinawa Prefecture, about 75% of all U.S. military personnel are stationed in Japan. The U.S. presence thus remains a divisive issue.
In Mie Prefecture, air pollution caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emissions led to a rapid increase in the number of people suffering from asthma and bronchitis.
The Akita Prefecture has the oldest population in the country and more than one-third of its residents are over the age of 65. As a result of the younger generation moving into the city and not producing children, there is not a chance for a family tree to continue growing for the people that live in Akita.
In Tokyo Prefecture, it is currently facing an unusual property problem where there are more homes than people to live in them. As young people leave rural areas for city jobs, the area has become more haunted by deserted “ghost” houses.
Nara is a popular tourist spot home to over 1200 free-roaming deers. Sadly, the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation said they have found huge masses of plastic bags and food wrappers in the stomachs of the deers that have died between March and June. If this prevails on, deers will no longer be around and perhaps, the only way to experience these precious deers in Nara is through VR sets or holograms.
The More You Know
“The More You Know” will explore how some of the most well-known Japanese prefectures are ridden with problems that are affecting itself and in turn, Japan as a whole.
