Harm and Harmony—Concepts of Nature and Environmental Practice in Japan

Japan is often surrounded by the myth of featuring a unique “love for nature”, and its traditional culture lifestyle as having been “in harmony with nature” before it was corrupted modernization Westernization. In this paper, I employ three examples to delineate images nature in different times Japanese history point out discrepancy between discourse on physical engagement nature. argue that environmental destruction peaked Meiji period (1868–1912) not primarily derived from new, dualistic Euro-American understanding Rather, demonstrate harm already inherent premodern reconcilable respective concepts Therefore, industrialization adoption Western technology solely released potential large-scale impact.