hello!
This is the eighth installment of the Yamagata Life Footprints series.
The theme is life, but the thoughts and ideas that are relatively in my head are
This is a column that is often written out.
I'm just writing casually,
That's to be expected.
As the writer, my lifestyle and life are closely related,
Thoughts and ideas that question how we live our lives are ultimately linked to our daily lives.
I think that kind of complicatedness is what makes me who I am.
I am extremely grateful to everyone who has followed me through to the eighth installment.
This time, I'd like to talk about something a little more than everyday life.
But it's a bit sentimental for me personally.
The theme is,
Living environmentally friendly.
I'm sure this topic is a hot topic right now,
I think there are a lot of columns and talks in various places.
Convenience stores have finally started charging for plastic bags!
The times are moving towards SDGs, and Japan, a developed country that is lagging behind,
More and more companies are trying to gradually spread this culture.
I'm happy that there are changes coming with the Reiwa era.
My home and my daily attitude are also changing, just a little.
・Don't buy plastic bags. Always bring an eco-bag.
Of course, I also give my husband an eco-bag for his business bag.
- Whenever possible, buy vegetables at a market-style greengrocer.
As a result, it's fresher and sometimes cheaper than the supermarket!
・Carry a tumbler with you. If possible, buy a paper carton!
・Replace plastic wrap with beeswax wrap!
・Buy synthetic leather products instead of leather products!
Some more conscious people take strict measures such as not buying plastic bottles or sweets individually wrapped in plastic.
I know someone who no longer buys animal products and has completely changed his diet to vegan.
In addition, we pick up trash in the Shonan sea every weekend,
Some people make accessories using sea glass they find.
Without forcing anyone,
I choose these as my way of life and lifestyle.
The reason I wanted to incorporate this idea into my life, even if just a little, was because of one woman.
She and I used to work at the same place, and after spending some hectic days together, she changed jobs.
Originally living in America and married to an American chef, she was a passionate environmental activist who expressed her opinions and thoughts directly.
Even after she changed jobs to allow more freedom in her activities, I loved her straightforwardness and continued to attend her occasional workshops.
It's a beeswax wrap workshop.
Wraps are often used at home,
It's portable, inexpensive, and helps extend the life of leftover food.
There are also major drawbacks: they contribute to plastic pollution and are difficult to recycle.
In addition, because they are made from chemical substances that are known to be harmful, it is said that the impact could be significant, especially if they decompose in the environment.
The information I found was surprising, as it turns out that the wrap we use so casually is...
On the other hand, beeswax wrap is
This food wrap is made from natural fabrics such as organic cotton, and is made with beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin that are sustainably sourced without the use of any chemicals.It fits any shape and can be reused over and over again.
Her activities that I wanted to support were making these wraps and cooking delicious vegan meals with her chef husband.
It was very beautiful to see her advocate a completely plastic-free lifestyle and a kind-hearted way of life.
I thought it would be fun and environmentally friendly, so I participated and listened to what she had to say, but one day, I received some sad news.
it is,
The news was that she had suddenly died at home.
The exact reason is unknown, only that his life ended at the young age of 35.
In this column,
I don't want to talk about this sudden sadness.
I will continue by talking about what I thought and felt afterwards, rather than the reasons or what happened afterwards.
What was the beautiful world she saw when she was alive?
People who think about society, the environment, and the Earth through their lifestyles,
What kind of world was he aiming for?
Thinking about this, I felt that I wanted to carry on her will and bring us even a little closer to the world she envisioned.
In fact, until then,
Although I was using beeswax wrap, plastic bags were still free, so I unconsciously took them as a given.
I used plastic wrap and plastic bottles.
I used to live without feeling any particular discomfort with the over-packaged products in the supermarket.
It's only when I have a precious friend's life that my behavior changes. I honestly thought to myself, "I was slow to act." I was disappointed in my own shallowness, but still, not turning zero into one would only make me hate myself more. So I decided to start with what I could do.
Start with something that you feel like you want to do.
With this in mind, I have begun to work on some ways of living that are filled with gratitude for what she taught me.
The end
Yuka Yamagata
After working as a textile designer, she was in charge of planning, sales and design of carpets and rugs, and is now an art director focusing on spatial design. One of her responsibilities at work is managing designers. She started writing serials under the name "Yamagata Yuka." In her private life, she lives a relaxed life with her pet dog and a very ordinary husband. She loves Natsuo Giniro's books.