Japan's Sagamihara workshop on solar panels attracting people

SAGAMIHARA, Kanagawa - Against rising energy prices due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a workshop that teaches people how to build small-scale solar energy panels is gaining attention.

The workshop is run by Fujino Power, a group based in Sagamihara that informs people about topics such as sustainable energy and disaster management. It started as a workshop on self-sufficient energy systems using batteries and solar panels in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tsunami and meltdown at Fukushima's Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The event has been held in different places throughout the country 262 times. It is hosted about once a month.

The number of people who want to join the workshop has gone up since April 2022, and it has attracted participants from across the country, including Fukuoka and Shimane prefectures. Seats have been booked through the month after next.

Last October, the workshop won the top prize at the Sagamihara SDGs Award 2022, put on by businesses and organizations based in the city to recognize outstanding efforts to meet sustainable development goals SDGs Akihito Shimada, a 51 year old man from West Japan city of Matsue who joined the workshop with his 10 year-old son Kazuma, said Power bills are high, and I joined out of interest in sustainable energy. I want to install the system on my balcony and use it to power appliances and other things. Instructor Shuntaro Suzuki, 54, said that once you learn the fun of living by harnessing the power of nature, it makes life interesting, and he hopes that the workshop will encourage people to review their regular lifestyles.