Resources, Energy and Industry

Few resources, so trade is the key

A resource is something from nature that people use, like coal, oil, gas, water, forests, fish and soil. Japan is mostly mountains and has very little oil, coal and gas under the ground. But it has a large population and many factories that need a lot of energy and raw materials.

So Japan imports (buys from other countries) most of its fuel and metals. It exports (sells to other countries) finished goods such as cars, machines and electronics. This way of earning money is called processing trade: buy raw, make something worth more, sell.

Where does Japan's energy come from?

Energy is what makes light, heat, movement and electricity. Count 10 blocks of energy that Japan uses. About 8 blocks come from fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas), and most of them arrive by ship from other countries. About 1 block is nuclear power, and about 1 block is renewable: water (hydro), sun, wind and heat from inside the earth. These shares change from year to year, so treat them as a rough picture.

Burning fossil fuels puts carbon dioxide in the air, which warms the planet, so many countries now try to save energy and use more renewable sources. Japan has some of the most energy-saving machines, like efficient trains, lights and fridges. Nuclear power does not make carbon dioxide while running, but it has the risk of accidents and leaves waste that must be stored safely, so people keep debating its place.

Farms, fisheries, factories and services

Work is grouped into three sectors. Primary: taking things from nature, such as farming, fishing and forestry. Secondary: making things in factories. Tertiary (services): helping people, such as shops, schools, hospitals, banks, transport and tourism.

Out of 20 workers in Japan, only about 1 works in the primary sector, about 5 in the secondary sector, and about 14 in services. Farms are small and mostly grow rice, vegetables and fruit on the narrow flat land. Fishing is important because the sea is close, but many fish are also brought from other countries. Big factory areas lie along the coast where ships can easily carry raw materials in and goods out. Services are the biggest sector, and it keeps growing.

Environmental issues and how they are tackled

When factories grew fast, smoke and waste water harmed air, rivers and people's health in several cities. Later the country made strict rules, built filters and treatment plants, and moved some heavy factories to cleaner designs.

Today's issues include carbon dioxide from burning fuels, too much waste on a small land, and losing farmland as people leave villages. Answers include cleaner technology, careful sorting and recycling of waste, and saving energy. In the 3D, more output makes more smoke, but cleaner technology removes it: you can grow and still be clean.

Try it: count your own energy blocks

Look at your home today. Write down five things that need energy, like the light, fan, fridge, cooking gas and phone charger. Which of them use electricity and which use fuel? Then pick one and find a way to use it less for one day. That is how a whole country saves energy: millions of small choices.

Key formulas and definitions

• Import = buy from another country; Export = sell to another country
• Primary = nature (farm, fish); Secondary = factory; Tertiary = services
• Energy mix: fossil + nuclear + renewable = 100%
• Smoke = output × (1 − clean technology)
• Processing trade = import raw materials, export finished goods

Worked examples

Common mistakes

• Thinking Japan is rich in coal and oil. It imports most of its fuel.
• Mixing up the sectors: a farmer is primary, a factory worker is secondary, a teacher is tertiary.
• Believing nuclear power makes no problems at all. It has no smoke while running, but it has accident risk and waste.
• Reading the numbers as exact. The energy mix and job shares change every year, so they are rough pictures.