Getting water-wise: how a Japanese philosophy can teach us to protect a precious resource

On Water Wisdom Days, participants take part in activities such as sampling water and observing local wildlife. Photograph: Adie Bush/Getty Images/Image Source

With the climate crisis leading to droughts in some countries and flooding in others, we’re becoming increasingly alert to our symbiotic relationship with water. As Leonardo da Vinci recognised back in the 16th century: “Water is the driving force behind all nature.”

One company that has its own ethos around this precious resource is the global food and beverage company Suntory, which follows the philosophy “mizu to ikiru”, translating to “living with water” – a mantra that has become ever more relevant over time. As more businesses and people strive to live and work in a sustainable manner, this ethos is helping to shape the way the company looks to protect water for future generations.