Lewis & Clark Around the World

Programs associated with Lewis & Clark College, Portland OR

  • About
    • About Lewis & Clark Around the World
    • Contact Information
  • Programs
    • Featured Overseas Programs
    • View All Overseas Programs
    • View All Program Sites
  • Participants
    • Posts
      • Featured Student Posts
      • View All Posts
    • Projects
      • Featured Student Projects
      • View All Student Projects
      • Map of All Projects
  • Help
    • Participant Orientation
    • Post Reminders
    • Your Dashboard
    • Your Overseas Project
    • Setting Up a New Program

Heating up Japan’s Geothermal Debate: The Role of Onsen in a Changing Energy Culture

Participant(s):
 Keith Morency 

Program(s):
 Fuji Summer 2014 

Related resources: view

I plan on collecting a combination of quantitative and qualitative data from several different sources that could potentially offer valuable insight into changing narratives surrounding geothermal energy development. I expect my primary source of data to come from the Onsen resorts themselves, as I have discovered a handful of sites that are already engaged in binary geothermal energy projects or are pushing an “eco-friendly” aesthetic. The Tsuchiyu Onsen in Fukushima Prefecture and the Matsunoyama Onsen in Tokamachi, Niigata have both installed geothermal binary power generation systems. At these two locations I hope to interview the owners/managers, specifically looking for information regarding their decision to generate energy using hot spring water as well as what they might see as potential pros and cons of this approach. Time permitting, I also hope to travel to the Hoshinoya Karuizawa Onsen, as this facility is heavily promoting itself as a model for sustainable development (i.e. zero waste production, using hot spring water to heat buildings, etc.). By interviewing the proprietors of this establishment I hope to gain some insight into whether or not this model has grown in popularity post-Fukushima. I would also like to survey guests at this onsen (upon permission from the owners) to see what attracts them about the sustainability model and whether or not they believe geothermal development can coexist alongisde established Onsen culture and traditions.

Featured Programs

  • Fuji Summer 2017
  • Morocco Spring 2017
  • Cuba Spring 2017
  • Germany: Berlin Fall 2015
  • India Fall 2015
  • Fuji Summer 2014

Recent Posts

Diving Deeper into Coral Reef Ecology at Lady Elliot Island

Diving Deeper into Coral Reef Ecology at Lady Elliot Island

Another day in paradise. Today marked our third day on Lady Elliot Island, and it’s easy to see that we’re all getting used to this. Waking up early isn’t a challenge with the bright sun and the cacophony of seabirds, but for once no one is upset, as our first activity is a quick snorkel […]

Journey to the top of Queensland – 5/4/18

Journey to the top of Queensland – 5/4/18

Today marked our last day at Carnarvon, with our next stop to be the Great Barrier Reef. Although we’ve stayed at Carnarvon Gorge longer than expected due to the cyclone off the eastern coast, it allowed us to explore even more of the beautiful park. We were woken again by the sounds of Laughing Kookaburras, […]

Great Times at Great Kepple

Great Times at Great Kepple

April 7, 2018 Our first full day on Great Kepple Island! We spent the morning in lecture learning about coral, coral reefs (there’s a difference!), conservation and the general weather trends that can dictate the biogeography of the ocean. While some had come into this program with invertebrate knowledge from classes at Lewis and Clark, […]

Planes, trains, automobiles and the amazing reef!

Planes, trains, automobiles and the amazing reef!

On April 10th I woke up to the sound of the train wheels clacking. It was 5:30 in the morning. I was so tired but also so thrilled to be traveling to a new destination. Soon after we woke from the comfy and unique accommodation of the train, we all gathered our belongings and hopped […]

Under the Milky Way Tonight

Under the Milky Way Tonight

  On April 3, 2018 we stayed at the Takarakka bush resort in Carnarvon Gorge. One of the many highlights of Carnarvon George is the sky. Specifically, the entire Milky Way. Which, as our tutor brought up, used to be a sight that everyone could see. It is because of our cities light pollution that […]

Digital Scholarship Multisite © 2018 · Lewis & Clark College · Log in

/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Projects Single - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Projects Single - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */