Let’s Uchimizu!
August 23rd, 2006
For the fourth year in a row, thousands of Japanese citizens will participate in the revived ritual of uchimizu, the sprinkling of water on streets and gardens, in order to combat the effects of the summer heat. Led by the Japanese government and the non-profit Japan Water Forum, the “Let’s Uchimizu!” campaign hopes to reduce urban temperatures by at least two degrees Celsius by cooling the nation’s concrete and asphalt with secondary water.
Each degree means more than just personal comfort; by lowering the demand for electricity, Japanese officials hope uchimizu can reduce carbon emissions from power plants overburdened by millions of air conditioners. The Japan Water Forum sees uchimizu as a form of collective action against the heat, encouraging participants to meet their neighbors over a bucket and ladle to discuss environmental issues.
Last year, over 750,000 people participated in uchimizu and whether or not their actions affected the local temperature is open to debate. Perhaps more importantly, nearly a million people took time out of their day to reflect on the local consequences of their built environment and global warming.
Japan Water Forum (in English)
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August 23rd, 2006 at 2:32 pm
This reminds me of something similiar we have in the Bay Area: Spare the Air, where public transportation is made free to the public on days where air pollution levels are expected to be particularly high. Local media pitches in to advertise the days as they become announced and everyone tries to make an effort to use alternative means of transportation. This year we’ve already had 9 Spare the Air days.