Clean coal day

September 5th annually is "Clean Coal Day" in Japan. The date was chosen as a pun on 9/5. Nine can be read as "ku" in Japanese and five as "ko". In Japanese katakana is used; "ku (9) rian ko (5) ru" (clean coal). Things have changed greatly in the coal industry since the date was first registered in 1992. For one, as far as I am aware Japan has no active coalmines and no longer produces its own coal. But there is also some other interesting titbits about this anniversary, outlined below. 

Unusually, this anniversary came about at the request of a ministry - the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). At their request eight organizations, including the Japan Iron and Steel Federation, the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, and the Japan Coal Association, established "clean coal day" . I worked in the industry, in my home country, in 1996 and already at that time, it was quite clear there was little future left in coal. I presume that when this anniversary was established in Japan, they were worried about the future of the industry. 

The aim of establishing "Clean Coal Day" was to promote the image of coal as an energy source and to promote the development of technology to make coal, which produces more carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels, into clean energy. Another interesting thing about this anniversary is that they open thermal power plants to the public on this day. I would like to see how a thermal power plant operates some day. Have you ever visited one during your time in Japan?