The "Job Yearbook" is a very unique educational material edited by Asahi Shimbun that provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the unique work of various companies and organizations that represent Japan.
In July of this year, it was distributed to all elementary and junior high schools nationwide, as well as some high schools. Our company introduces ``surprising uses and functions of natural wax'' that are little known to children in our ``Work Yearbook''.
("Job Yearbook 2020" P256, 257, P333) For example, what comes to mind when you hear the word row?
I'm sure many people picture candles on a cake. Among these waxes, those produced mainly by plants and insects are called "natural waxes." ``Natural wax'' is used as a raw material for cosmetics such as hair wax and lipstick, capsules and tablets for health foods, gummy sweets, and other products such as the beard oil for tying hair and the Japanese candles you see on TV historical dramas. It is used for various purposes in discreet places around us, such as gum, dumplings, rice crackers, and even information recording materials such as CDs and copy machine toner.
With the development of convenience stores and mail-order shopping, people have become less interested in things other than how convenient they are to use, and they have become less interested in the original quality and value of things, such as what they are made of and how to handle them properly. There are many things that we don't notice.
Using the example of bamboo shoots, there are now many packs available at supermarkets and convenience stores that are ready to eat as soon as you open the bag, and I think people often buy bamboo shoots because they can be used right away. However, until a while ago, by buying bamboo shoots with their skins covered in soil and preparing and cooking them myself, I was able to experience for the first time the difference in taste and texture between real bamboo shoots and convenient store-bought bamboo shoots that have been processed to make them easier to eat. For the first time, I realized how much work had to be done behind the scenes to get the food ready to eat.
Nowadays, when we are overflowing with convenient things, this "Job Almanac" will give you an opportunity to understand the essence of things around you, become more interested in the things you take for granted, and what you use, and help you understand things that you may not have noticed before. I sincerely hope that the sensibility that people have always had towards nature will continue to grow in their children, just as they will be able to value each and every flower or grass that blooms on the side of the road. I am.
I sincerely hope that the era of natural products manufacturing based on the SDGs, which is kind to people and the earth, will spread step by step to future children around the world.