Sloping canopies of lush green leaves are slowly spreading their tendrils across Japan as a campaign to encourage homeowners to cultivate midori no ka-ten (green curtains) gathers pace. Though the Midori no Ka-ten NPO was founded back in December 2006, the energy crisis has encouraged a sudden growth spurt.
The idea, which dates back to the Edo Period, is simple: Simply plant goya (bitter melon) or Japanese morning glory seeds in pots on your balcony, then train them up a net to form a natural green shade that significantly cuts down on the amount of heat entering the building. With a green curtain on the veranda, you'll be a lot less likely to turn on the air con.
A quick search of Twitter revealed a number of tweeters enthusiastic about the campaign. @you_like_beer comments, “Goya is not only a green curtain but you can also eat (it) … wonderful.” The bitter tasting goya, a key ingredient in the Okinawan dish goya chanpuru, is not exactly to everyone’s taste, but it seems to be the favorite of the green curtain options.