Atelier Non-Electric


Last month I was able to go to Hayama to visit the studio of a wonderful
inventor I’ve come to know, Dr. Yasuyuki Fujimura. I’ve been holed up in
the studio working lately and felt pretty worn out, but the short half-day
trip to Zushi and Hayama with my great friends turned into a fun, natural
time.

What differentiates Fujimura’s inventions from the rest is, in a word, “
non-electric.” This is a word he coined that means trying to opt out of a
lifestyle that is dependant on large amounts of electricity and chemical
substances. To that end, he has invented all kinds of electronic appliances
that don’t use electricity (?) like refrigerators, washing machines,
dehumidifiers, vacuum cleaners, etc.

His workshop, “Atelier Non-Electric,” is in an amazing location by the
ocean in Shounan where you can see both Mt. Fuji and the imperial villa. It’
s quite a place. I’m really interested in and support his inventions, and
the studio was full of them. It’s also a treasure house of old, much-loved
objects and mechanical tools that don’t use electricity like a 100-year-old
gramophone, a 200-year-old Grandfather clock from Germany, irons that run on
coal, and a really beautiful old kerosene lamp. It just proves that if you
choose to not use electricity there are a myriad of things out there that
will still work and make daily life possible. I bought a non-electric
dehumidifier meant for semi permanent use. Humidity is the enemy of musical
instruments so it’s something I’ll really use. I also wanted the
refrigerator and vacuum, but apparently they’re not ready for sale yet (ToT)
…

I really respect the work that Fujimura is doing. He’s spent many years
providing the nomadic people of Mongolia with non-electric refrigerators. To
people who are used to a life of poverty where they must travel far to find
work and have no electricity or running water, a refrigerator they can use is
an amazing blessing.

I was also really moved by what Fujimura is doing for the children of
Nigeria. Drawing on the technology used to make fully solar-powered cookware,
he invented a non-electric water sterilization machine. This is an important
innovation because 200,000 children die every year in Nigeria from drinking
germ and bacteria-ridden water. Nigeria lies in the equatorial zone and
because of the heat is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Most people
there are so poor that they can’t even afford the $1 a day cost of living,
let alone bottled water or water purifiers, so many small children die from
lack of clean water.

To help solve this problem, Fujimura created a simple water purification
machine that costs less than 300 yen to construct and yet is entirely
effective. Doesn’t it make you almost cry to hear such an inspiring story? I
want so badly for these machines to be available to all the poor people of
the world.

It’s amazing that water purifiers that filter chlorine and other chemicals
out of tap water and all the other non-electric appliances are so much more
efficient than the versions that use electricity. But because of the great
need for such devices, if you don't make a reservation they won’t be brought
into mass production. I want to spread the word! …partly because I really
want some for myself! (^_^;)

In any case, I truly respect what goes on at “Atelier Non-Electric.”
 Musicians can’t make music without electricity, and specifically because of
that, I want to try to shift to non-electric appliances wherever possible. If
everybody did the same, the cost of electricity would drop drastically and
nuclear power would likely become much less necessary. Government policy
would start to focus more on green, natural energy. I also want to try to
make music using pure energy made by green methods. I hope for all of this
from the bottom of my heart.

Dr. Fujimura is wonderful inventor and person. Please take a look at the “
Atelier Non-Electric” website to learn more about what he does, and make
sure to share the information with others (…because I really want one of his
water purifiers!!)

http://www.hidenka.net


SUGIZO

Posted by SUGIZO : July 4, 2006 05:21 AM