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This paper aims to introduce Seikatsu Rinsho, a values-based approach to supporting recovery based on identifying service user values and aspirations that have been developed since 1958 in Japan where mental health services are still hospital-based and user involvement is not well-developed. This paper believes this will be of great implications for future practices around the world.

Hope is essential to recovery and that hope is dependent on identifying what service users really want for themselves (aspirations) and then ensuring that these are communicated to – and supported by – professionals and carers. This is achieved through examining the life events, which are likely to trigger relapse for a specific individual, the important choices that the person has made throughout his/her life course and the reasons behind them. Through a process of “co-production”, an attempt is made to understand the values expressed in these choices in the context of family history over several generations.

The attempt to examine both life events throughout the life course and family history over generations was found to be an effective way to understand a service user and his/her family and then support recovery. The cases where even people with severe and persistent mental health problems have successfully achieved full recovery have been accumulated.

The limitations of the approach in the context of Japanese mental health services, and the necessity of additional evidence are acknowledged and some thoughts shall be given to future development.

Seikatsu Rinsho approach can provide a new angle to understand service users and family and a new way to support recovery.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cooling effect of these features. Japanese traditional buildings have many features, which are effective for cooling the interior of the building. Design/methodology/approach – This paper first of all describes the characteristics of indoor thermal environment and the cooling effect of four traditional buildings, located in the Miyagi Prefecture in the northern area in Japan. The investigated buildings include traditional farmhouses and renovated farmhouses for the improvement of indoor thermal environment. Second, the cooling effect of traditional technologies was studied by the means of computer simulation using a model house, which takes the multi‐zone effects of heat transfer and air flow distribution into consideration. Findings – The paper finds that the cooling technologies of traditional buildings, such as solar shading by thatched roof decreases indoor temperature. The computer simulation revealed that natural ventilation, solar shading by thatched roof and the thermal mass by earthen floor are effective for interior cooling. Practical implications – This paper reveals the cooling effect of traditional technologies quantitatively. From the points of view of energy saving and environment symbiosis based on the understanding of physical principle, it is important to apply these traditional technologies to modern buildings. Originality/value – From the viewpoint of solution of global environmental problems, we can learn a lot from these vernacular technologies inherited from the past. This paper provides valuable information about building based on environmental design methodologies, which promote awareness about sustainable construction.

International comparisons of contractor performance allow contractors in different countries to benchmark their own strengths and weaknesses and improve their competitiveness accordingly. Based on a survey of contractors in Japan, the UK and the USA, contractor quality performance is evaluated and compared. It is found that Japanese contractors complete their construction projects with fewer defects, provide longer defects liability periods and are called upon fewer times during the defects liability period than their UK and US counterparts. UK and US contractors do seek more regular feedback from their clients than Japanese contractors and generally similar levels of client satisfaction are achieved in the three countries (based on quality performance). The somewhat superior performance of Japanese contractors may be attributed to their deep‐rooted quality consciousness, closer working relationships with their subcontractors, and more advanced total quality management systems and quality assurance procedures.