"Mottainai!" ("What a waste!")

A way to help prevent conflict over resources

Mariko Shinju is the author and illustrator of "Mottainai Grandma," a series of children's books which have appeared in print since October 2004. In these stories, when children are being wasteful, a stern-looking old woman approaches and tells them "Mottainai," then proceeds to give the children her old-fashioned wisdom.

Ms. Shinju got the idea for the books back in 2003 when her 4-year-old son asked her the meaning of the word "mottainai." She found it hard to explain the idea in words and thought it would be easier to express the concept in a picture book. The book she created became her son's favorite book.

"'Mottainai' is about cherishing life," Ms. Shinju said. She went on to say that the idea is based on the Buddhist belief that all things are endowed with life and so we must treat everything with respect.

One piece of wisdom she would recommend is a remedy to stop itching by soaking "yuzu" seeds (a citrus fruit) in "shochu" (a Japanese liquor). Ms. Shinju said that she hopes to be more like Mottainai Grandma in the future, appreciating nature and being content to use her valued items with care. (Saya Teranishi, 15, and Daichi Ishii, 15)

Kyoko Asano shares with us a potato dish that uses small sweet potatoes cooked with her "Mottainai" spirit. (Photo taken by Daichi Ishii, 15)

Illustration by Sayaka Azechi, 17

A woman in the city of Miyoshi, north of Hiroshima, is pursuing a life of "Mottainai." Housewife Kyoko Asano, now 64, began this way of life after retiring at the age of 54. She wanted to take a hard look at a lifestyle that she was finding overly convenient.

She thought of her mother's words "use water with care" and this led to taking baths over showers and re-using the water for washing rice by washing dishes with it, too. She obtains "yuzu" peel and seeds from a producer of "yuzu" juice and makes jam with the peel and a facial balm with the seeds soaked in "shochu." After eating "umeboshi," she chops the leftover perilla into small pieces and makes a seasoning for sprinkling over rice. She also cuts up the leaves of Japanese radishes and fries them with sesame and dried sardines. "It's important that we eat everything with an appreciation for life," she told us with enthusiasm.

Ms. Asano is the leader of a group focused on local food products and global warming. She is involved in making candles and soap with leftover oil and planting "goya" to create "green curtains" in the summer with elementary school children. Ms. Asano hopes to share the wisdom of her mother and the local elderly with the next generation. (Shiori Ueki, 17, and Yuji Iguchi, 14)

One effort to promote "Mottainai" involves showing appreciation and consideration for possessions. For example, fashionable water bottles, created by popular entertainers and designers, are sold by the "Mottainai Campaign" so that more people will carry their own water bottles instead of buying disposable plastic bottles. Appeals are also made for people to carry their own long-lasting umbrellas, not cheap vinyl ones.

This campaign began in 2005. When Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai visited Japan in February 2005, the organizers of the campaign were impressed with the idea that "Mottainai" involves feelings of respect and consideration for the things we use. As a result, they felt inspired to spread this idea to the world. With support from Japanese companies, the effort was launched.

These "Mottainai" goods use appealing designs and cheerful colors. Fumiko Anbo, 37, who works for the "Mottainai Campaign," said, "We want people to enjoy these products and think about 'Mottainai' in a light-hearted way." She shared with us a tip for living a "Mottainai" life by saying, "When you go shopping, choose things based on whether you think you'll use them for a long time." (Ren Nonaka, 17)