A look at the decokatsu concept for money + time saving in Japan

A while ago here on City-Cost there was a sustainability-focused blog theme, and I really enjoyed reading about what fellow expats were doing to try and be friendlier to the environment while living here. I recently read an article via the Japan Times on a topic called decokatsu (a combo of the words decarbonization, eco-friendly, and katsudo, or activity), and it's a concept that encourages people to adopt greener habits that are both practical and cost-effective. I thought it might also interest some of the community here!

The whole principle of decokatsu is to shift people toward lower-carbon lifestyles without making it feel like a burden, which I think is a great thing. Everyone's lives these days are super busy, so I think anything that makes eco-friendliness achievable is a winner. Simple actions like buying secondhand, working remotely (if you have the option to!), reducing food waste, or choosing locally grown produce all count.

Buying local produce is ideal (even better if it's not wrapped or cased in plastic!)

According to Japan's Ministry of Environment, these small choices could save you up to ¥36,000 a month and give you back an hour of free time each day. As someone trying to save money while living here, and also someone juggling work and kids, both the financial aspect and the time aspect are very appealing to me.

I think it's really interesting that the movement deliberately avoids anything that feels too restrictive. For example, eating less meat isn't officially labeled a decokatsu action (even though it can significantly reduce your carbon footprint) since the idea is to encourage change through comfort and ease instead of sacrifice. I have to believe that mindset makes the decokatsu concepts easier to stick to!

There's more about decokatsu on the Ministry of Environment website here.

Had you heard of the decokatsu concept before it was featured in the Japan Times?