What are the political, economic, ecological, and cultural implications of utilizing woody biomass for biofuel production in Japan?
After the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011 and Kyoto Protocol regulations of 1997, Japan has been searching for alternative sources of energy. Since forest cover constitutes 67% of Japanese land, one potential option is to produce cellulosic (woody) biofuels. Although first generation biofuels have been criticized to threaten food production, waste resources, and yield a very low energy output compared to the amount of land used, new second generation biofuels are becoming a viable option due to more cost effective technologies and improved chemical processes. Second generation biofuels are made from lignocellulosic biomass, eliminating the food vs. fuel problem of the past.
The movement towards harnessing energy from biofuels in Japan would have a variety of different impacts on the country. Trees have a 
cultural significance in Japan, as indicated by the vast number of characters used to describe trees and forests. Forests in Japan are increasingly attracting more visitors, and these visitors have reported a preference towards thinned, “airier” forests. Conveniently, biomass from thinned forests has been harnessed for bioenergy, so there are not only ecological benefits, but also economic and social benefits because thinning jobs are created, forests are more attractive to visitors, and bioenergy is produced. Nearly all of Japan’s nuclear reactors are now shut down now, and Japan’s government is reviewing new energy policies that would involve less risk in the face of another disaster.
This relates to broader environmental issues because Japan has been importing wood from abroad, leading to deforestation and habitat fragmentation. There have been studies that show that if Japan doesn’t produce its own biofuels, it will import them from Brazil, potentially raising global sugar prices. The whole issue of lowering carbon emissions has an effect on the globe as well, because if Japan can’t control its emissions, everyone will suffer the consequences. It’s a global effort, so each country needs to come up with a plan that works for them.
By utilizing the thinned biomass from Japan’s extensive forests, Japan is creating forestry jobs, cutting carbon emissions, making their forests more desirable for tourism, and revitalizing important ecosystem functions. Unfortunately, there is a lack of policy promoting research and implementation of this plan; with appropriate tax cuts, financial incentives, and subsidies, Japan’s forests can become an important part of the renewable energy market.