Japan's approach to the sustainable development goals

Japan’s response to the United Nations’ call to take up the SDGs has been enthusiastic. Looking beyond the profusion of SDGs badges and various awareness promotion campaigns however, this chapter argues that Japan’s strong support of the SDGs stems from (1) Japan’s having played an instrumental role in their creation based upon Japan’s concept of “human security,” (2) the positioning of the SDGs at the core of government policy as a “nation with advanced issue solutions,” (3) linking the SDGs within the concept of Society 5.0 as a means of identifying innovation as systemic transformation and defining it as both the source of business growth, competitive capability and social value creation for the future by industry, and (4) placing the SDGs at the core of sweeping educational reforms to promote the development of future generations equipped with attitudes conducive to inclusive collaboration, critical thinking and independent thought necessary to identify and solve the problems of the future. This chapter will explore these themes using a historical review of both government policy and industrial initiatives that both shape and constitute Japan’s approach to the implementation of the SDGs and their pursuit.