Wisdom Lying in the Snow: Abandoned Tunnels and Brown Rice, the Quiet Challenge of Sawauchi Village, Iwate Prefecture (May 2003)

Wisdom Lying in the Snow: Abandoned Tunnels and Brown Rice, the Quiet Challenge of Sawauchi Village, Iwate Prefecture (May 2003)

In May 2003, in Sawauchi Village, Iwate Prefecture, Japan, an attempt was underway to reuse an abandoned tunnel to store snow as a "natural refrigerator. This project to store large amounts of snow and use the cool air to store brown rice at low temperatures is an example of sustainable living that uses little or no electricity and makes full use of natural energy. The underground tunnels provide excellent insulation, allowing the snow to remain over the summer, maintaining a stable low-temperature environment. This prevents insect damage and mold during the summer and provides a stable means of storage for farmers. Furthermore, in Numata Town, Hokkaido, biomass materials such as rice husks and bark chips are used for insulation, enabling long-term storage of snow. These moves showed a will to pave the way for coexistence with nature by reevaluating what is available in the region, rather than relying on large-scale facilities. The philosophy of "making use of the old" is the
foundation of a sustainable society, and this quiet challenge by the local community is a sure light for the future.