If the Edo Period Had SDGs

"SDGs." The "Sustainable Development Goals" set forth by the United Nations.
It is a major goal of modern society, aiming for a world where poverty and hunger are eliminated, the global environment is protected, and everyone can live in peace.

Would you be surprised if someone told you that "the Edo period also had SDGs"?
In fact, even without being conscious of it, the people of the Edo period built a sustainable society through wonderful wisdom and ingenuity that align with modern SDGs.

SDGs is an abbreviation for Sustainable Development Goals, which is translated into Japanese as "Jizoku Kanou na Kaihatsu Mokuhyou."
Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, it consists of 17 goals to be achieved by 2030 and 169 targets that give them concrete form.

The reason these goals were created is that modern society faces various problems such as global warming, poverty, and conflict, and there is a sense of crisis that the Earth will not last if things continue this way.
It is easy to understand if you think of it as a compass common to all humanity, pledging to "leave no one behind" on Earth and aiming for a better world from the three perspectives of economy, society, and the environment.

Now, let's take a look at life in the Edo period from the perspective of these SDGs. You should find a surprising number of commonalities.

1. No Poverty
(No Poverty)

There were poor people in the Edo period, too. However, they were not completely abandoned.

・Five-man and Ten-man group system
There was a concept called "Sou-hyakusho" (all farmers) where people in the community helped each other. The entire village would support poor families, and wealthy households would share food during famines, helping one another in a spirit of mutual aid.

・Encouragement of frugality
The shogunate and feudal domains prohibited luxury and encouraged thrift and frugality. This was also a policy to prevent wealth from concentrating too much in one place and to curb the widening gap between rich and poor.

2. Zero Hunger
(Zero Hunger)

There were many ingenious ways to avoid wasting food and to ensure stable production.

・Circular agriculture
There were no chemical fertilizers in the Edo period. Instead, organic fertilizers such as "shimogoe" (night soil), which utilized human and livestock waste and plant ash, were developed. This allowed crops to be grown sustainably while maintaining soil nutrients. It was truly a cycle of nature's bounty.

・Stockpiling emergency food
Famines could happen at any time. Therefore, each domain and wealthy farmer had a habit of storing rice and dried foods in preparation for emergencies. This can be said to be a form of preparedness that aligns with modern disaster prevention awareness.

3. Good Health and Well-being
(Good Health and Well-being)

Although there was no medical system like the one we have today, there was wisdom for maintaining health.

・Spread of Japanese-Chinese medicine
When people became ill, herbal medicines, acupuncture, and moxibustion were widely used. Medicines were formulated according to the individual's constitution and symptoms, focusing not only on treating illnesses but also on prevention.

・Public health awareness
In the towns of Edo, efforts were made to maintain cleanliness. For example, sewage systems were developed, and a system was established to regularly collect excrement and reuse it as fertilizer for farmland. It is said that this was exceptionally hygienic, even by the standards of the world at that time.

4. Quality Education
(Quality Education)

Education was not just for a select few.

・Spread of Terakoya (Temple Schools)
Not only the children of samurai and wealthy merchants, but also the children of commoners were able to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic at "Terakoya." Because there was an environment where anyone could learn regardless of social status, it is said that Japan's literacy rate at the time was among the highest in the world.

・Specialized Education at Domain Schools
Each domain had a "Hankō" (domain school) that taught academics, martial arts, and Confucianism, primarily to the children of samurai. This played an important role in cultivating human resources to support society.

5. Achieve Gender Equality
(Gender Equality)

Although in a different form from modern times, women also played important roles in society.

・Diverse Ways for Women to Work
Women were important workers in various fields, not just in housework and childcare, but also in agriculture, commerce, and handicrafts. Especially in rural areas, men and women worked together to cultivate fields and support their families' livelihoods.

・Women's Education
For women of samurai families, education and etiquette for protecting the home were valued. Also, there were opportunities for boys and girls to learn together at Terakoya, and many women acquired basic reading and writing skills.

6. Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All
(Clean Water and Sanitation)

Clean water is the foundation of life.

・Development of Water Supply Systems
In the town of Edo, water supply systems such as the "Tamagawa Josui," which drew water from the Tama River, were developed. This allowed people to use safe water for their daily needs.

・Recycling Human Waste as Fertilizer
Human waste discharged in urban areas was not discarded as filth, but transported to rural areas and reused as valuable fertilizer. This was a brilliant resource circulation system that maintained urban hygiene while increasing the productivity of farmland.

7. Ensure Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy for All
(Affordable and Clean Energy)

In the Edo period, there was no concept of fossil fuels.

・Utilization of Renewable Energy
Firewood and charcoal obtained from forests, and rapeseed oil extracted from plants, were truly renewable energy sources. People utilized the blessings of nature without waste and used them as energy for their daily lives.

・Human and Animal Power
Unlike modern times where factories and machines are powered by other means, the main power sources were human labor and animal power, such as oxen and horses. Because of this, carbon dioxide emissions were kept low, and the burden on the environment was extremely small.

8. Promote Sustained, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth, Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All
(Decent Work and Economic Growth)

It was a society where the skills of artisans shone.

・Transmission of Artisan Skills
There was an "apprenticeship system" in traditional crafts, architecture, and various other fields where skills were passed down from master to apprentice over generations. This protected and developed high-level techniques, supporting high-quality "monozukuri" (manufacturing).

・Development of Regional Economies
Unique local specialties were created in various places, and post towns and wholesale districts flourished, leading to the development of economies with distinct regional characteristics. This could be called a model for regional revitalization.

9. Build Resilient Infrastructure, Promote Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialization and Foster Innovation
(Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

Although there were no large-scale industries like those of today, the development of the underlying infrastructure was steadily progressing.

・Infrastructure Development
To facilitate the movement of goods and people, the "Five Routes" connecting Edo to various regions and "Ichirizuka" (milestone mounds) that served as signposts were established. These can be considered the foundation of modern transportation infrastructure.

・Development of Traditional Crafts
Traditional techniques supporting Japan's rich culture, such as ceramics, dyeing, and lacquerware, were developed, and their beauty became known to the world.

10. Reduced Inequalities
(Reduced Inequalities)

Although there was a class system, there were aspects that could not be explained by that alone.

・Success Beyond Social Status
While there was a class system consisting of samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants, some merchants became very wealthy and even helped samurai. Furthermore, in the fields of academics and the arts, talent was sometimes recognized regardless of social status.

・Spirit of Mutual Aid
As seen in the aforementioned "Gonin-gumi" (five-household group) system, a spirit of mutual aid—helping those in need—was deeply rooted within local communities.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
(Sustainable Cities and Communities)

The city of Edo was truly a sustainable city.

・Compact Urban Structure
In Edo, a structure where workplaces and residences were close together was common. Many people traveled on foot or by boat, resulting in low energy consumption.

・Recycling Society
Because the spirit of "mottainai" (waste not) was deeply rooted, it was standard practice to repair items and use them for a long time rather than throwing them away. There were many businesses specializing in regenerating items, such as second-hand clothing stores, waste paper collection, and geta (wooden clog) repair shops.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production
(Responsible Consumption and Production)

This may be the point we modern people should learn from the most.

・The Spirit of "Mottainai"
This term is a beautiful part of Japanese culture passed down from the Edo period. The mindset of not wasting things, using them completely, repairing them, and reusing them was deeply embedded in daily life.

・Resource Circulation
For example, used oil was used as fuel for lanterns, and ash was used as fertilizer; everything was passed on to the next use and thoroughly recycled. A lifestyle that reduced waste and cherished resources was being practiced.

13. Climate Action
(Climate Action)

Although there was no concept of global warming like there is today, they valued harmony with nature.

・Coexistence with Nature
In the Edo period, there were no factory emissions or car exhaust fumes like there are today. People lived within the cycles of nature, utilizing the power of the sun, wind, and water. A lifestyle not dependent on fossil fuels served, as a result, as a measure against climate change.

14. Life Below Water
(Life Below Water)

There was wisdom in connecting the blessings of the sea to the future.

・Management of Fishery Resources
Depending on the region, voluntary rules were established, such as limiting catch amounts to prevent overfishing or prohibiting fishing during certain periods. Through this, they were careful to ensure that marine resources would not be depleted.

15. Life on Land
(Life on Land)

Forests and mountains were also protected as precious resources.

・Forest Management
Wood was an essential resource for daily life, used for building houses and as firewood for fuel. Therefore, the perspective of not just logging, but also systematically planting trees and nurturing forests was highly valued.

・The Concept of Satoyama and Satoumi
Environments like "Satoyama" (managed woodlands) and "Satoumi" (managed coastal areas), where human interaction and maintenance actually helped maintain rich ecosystems, existed throughout Japan.

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
(Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

Peace continued for about 260 years without any major civil wars.

・Maintaining Peace through National Isolation
The Tokugawa Shogunate adopted a policy of "Sakoku" (national isolation) to avoid external conflicts. This allowed for long-term domestic stability and peace.

・Governance by Town Magistrates and Local Officials
In Edo, "Town Magistrates" (Machi-bugyo), and in the provinces, "Local Officials" (Daikan), governed fairly based on the law and maintained public order.

17. Partnerships for the Goals
(Partnerships for the Goals)

Ties within local communities were extremely strong.

・Cooperation in Local Communities
In villages and neighborhoods, local people supported each other's lives by working together on festivals, communal tasks, and helping one another in times of need. This provides hints for modern regional revitalization and disaster prevention.

・Exchanges through Sankin-kotai
The "Sankin-kotai" (alternate attendance) system, where daimyo traveled between Edo and their own domains, served as a catalyst for the exchange of local specialties, culture, and information from across the country. This also played a role in forming a network for all of Japan.

What did you think? Even without knowing the term SDGs, the people of the Edo period breathed that spirit into their daily lives and built a sustainable society. Their wisdom and ingenuity offer us many insights for living in the modern age.

In today's society of mass production and mass consumption, perhaps we need to re-examine the "Mottainai" (waste-not) spirit of the Edo period, the wisdom of recycling resources, and the idea of living in harmony with nature.
Learning from the Edo period is by no means just about being nostalgic for the past. Rather, I believe it holds great potential for us to apply the good old wisdom of Japan to modern challenges, in order to better our future and reconstruct our own lives and society.

To pass on a richer Earth and society to future generations, why not start doing what you can today, keeping the wisdom of Edo in your heart?

By the way, it is said that the Earth's temperature during the Edo period was low enough to be called the "Little Ice Age."
It seems it wasn't "global warming" in the first place, but well, let's pretend we didn't hear that...

・Learning Eco-Living from Edo (Paperback) – 2011/2/19
By Azby Brown, Translated by Sachiko Ikushima
CE Media House (2011/2/19)
An American researcher captivated by the beauty of Japanese architecture and design has turned his attention to Edo life, which realized a sustainable society.
Farmers living self-sufficiently, townspeople who realized the ultimate recycling society, and samurai who valued simple beauty. They must have faced the same energy and resource problems as we do, yet they overcame most of them and built a vibrant society.
(※ Book descriptions are generally based on the descriptions at the link (Amazon). Please refer to the link for detailed content.)

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・Learn with Character Illustrations! Edo Life and Culture Pictorial Book [Learn with Character Illustrations! Pictorial Book Series] Kindle Edition
By Mitsuru Ito (Illustration), Hitomi Chiba (Other), Yoshikazu Ito (Supervision)
Subarusya (2024/11/8)
★Over 150,000 copies in the series! Learn all about the Edo period with this popular illustrated guide!
The 2025 Taiga drama "Berabo" will feature Tsutaya Juzaburo, who ran a bookstore in Edo and produced ukiyo-e prints by Kitagawa Utamaro and Sharaku.
In line with this, this book uses cute character illustrations drawn by the very popular illustrator for elementary school students, Mitsuru Ito, to explain various aspects of Edo period culture and customs, people's lifestyles, and the formation of Edo, which was the largest city in the world at the time, in an easy-to-understand way.
(※ Book descriptions are generally based on the descriptions at the link (Amazon). Please refer to the link for detailed content.)

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