Perceptions of Climate Change in Japan

Abstract

We intend to bolster the work of the Climate Stories Project by exploring the social understanding of climate change of Japanese residents. Through background research, we identified the quantifiable ramifications of the shifting climate in Japan. We then interviewed long-term residents to discover their perceptions of climate change, what they thought attributed to climate change, as well as actions they are taking to minimize their footprint. With these personal narratives, we produced multiple videos to post on Instagram and the Climate Stories Project’s website to spread awareness of the issue. Supplementary studies within Japan should be conducted, especially in the Hokkaido and Fukuoka areas, due to their different climate and potential for different perspectives.