Virtual Water
　Many people believe that Japan is rich in water resources.// The average rainfall in Japan is about twice as great as that of other countries.// Yet, Japan is said to be the largest importer of water.// How can that be?// Japan is importing “virtual water” and not drinking water.// Virtual water is an estimate of how much water a country that imports food would need if it were to produce that food instead.// For example, it takes 1,800 liters of irrigation water to produce one kilogram of corn.// Hence, by importing food from overseas, Japan does not have to use as much of its own water.//
　Japan’s food self-sufficiency rate is approximately 40%.// This means we are consuming a lot of water that was used to produce food outside Japan.// Now, you can imagine why problems such as water shortages and water pollution in other countries could affect our lives as well.// According to UNICEF, approximately 663 million people do not have access to safe water worldwide.// It is estimated that access to safe water could prevent as many as 1.7 million water-related deaths per year.// In addition, 800 million people around the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition due to lack of access to water for agriculture.// That’s why reducing the use of virtual water in Japan would save many people’s lives internationally.//