Tanaka Shozo’s concept of “True civilization” as a basis for Japan’s sustainable future

Nowadays the concept of sustainable development has become a central principle in addressing global environmental, social and economic challenges. This approach was formalized in the international agenda only in the second half of the 20th century, however its principles lie deep in various cultures. One of precursors to the concept of sustainable development was the idea of “true civilization”, proposed by the Japanese social activist Tanaka Shozo in the late 19th century. The history of Japan since the Meiji Restoration demonstrated a unique modernization experience, in which old cultural traditions interacted with new economic and political realities. It is in this context that ideas emerged, which can be considered as predecessors of the contemporary global ethical concepts, including sustainable development. The article analyzes the development of the Ashio incident and its impact on the formation of ecological thought in Japan. The concept of “true civilization” is contrasted with the idea of infinite economic growth and is presented as an ethical and environmental alternative, which focuses on the need for the harmony between humans and nature, social justice, and responsibility toward future generations.