CHOSHI, Chiba Pref. — About a 2 1/2-hour drive east of central Tokyo, on the edge of the Kanto plain, stands one of the closest wind farms to the capital, whirring away as it generates up to 25,500 kw of clean electricity.

Here in the fishing port of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, warm and cold currents meet offshore in the Pacific Ocean, creating strong winds that feed about 30 of the 1,400 windmills erected nationwide.

Wind power is drawing increased attention as carbon dioxide emissions accelerate global warming. Japan, however, is far behind Europe and the United States in generating wind energy because of geographical and meteorological factors, experts said.