Japan
Capital:
Tokyo
Land Area:
364,485km²
Inland Water Area:
13,430km²
Length of Coastline:
29,020km
In Japan, the Basic Act on Ocean Policy was established on 20 April 2007 and enacted on 20 July 2007. This act served as an overarching and cross-cutting policy framework for oceans and coastal areas. Based on the act, the Headquarters for Ocean Policy, which is comprised of a multi-ministry body headed by the Director-General, was established in the Cabinet. The Secretariat of Headquarters for Ocean Policy consists of staff from 8 related ministries. In March 2008, the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy was established in line with the Act. The Plan stipulates 12 major measures that the government should take comprehensively and systematically with regard to the sea. One of the 12 major measures is the comprehensive management of the coastal zones, with includes three major areas of focus:
- Management of coastal zones carried out in an integrated manner with land areas;
- Coordination of activities in the coastal zones; and
Establishment of a coordination system concerning coastal zone management.
All the projects related to the Basic Act on Ocean Act have been collated by the headquarters for the promotion of integrated information management among all concerned ministries. The budget for the various measures under the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy for the 2009 fiscal year amounts to 2.17 trillion Japanese Yen.
In 2013 the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy was revised. On 15 May 2018, the Third Basic Plan on Ocean Policy was adopted by the Cabinet. Key principles for ICM underlined in the Act and the Plan are to promote: ICM by considering local characteristics and assisting local governments; ICM in tandem with terrestrial management; ICM in enclosed coastal sea and; coordinating the use of coastal areas. Since 1958, Japan has also adopted a series of environmental legislation to tackle its worsening water pollution problems. The country introduced numerical targets for reducing the pollutant effluent in designated watershed and coastal areas, with those targets revised every five years since 1984. Significant reductions were achieved in Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and Setonaikai adjacent to the megapolis of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. Other sustainable efforts by Japan include coastal spatial planning, adopting local plans on ocean policy and implementing local initiatives for ICM.
Focal Points:
Mr. Hiroyuki IWAKI
Vice Director-General, Policy Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)
Mr. Atsuki Ito (Operational Focal Point)
Director for International Ocean Affairs, Ocean Policy Division
Policy Bureau, MLIT
Mr. Yasushi Mochizuki
Coordinator for International Ocean Affairs, Ocean Policy Division
Policy Bureau, MLIT
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
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Xiamen Ministerial Declaration 2024
The Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, adopted by PEMSEA country partners in November 2024, strengthens regional commitments for sustainable ocean governance in East Asian Seas. The declaration emphasizes 10 synergistic actions across effective governance, ocean health, blue economy, and food security, while advancing the SDS-SEA Implementation Plan 2023-2027 and PEMSEA 2030 Roadmap through collaborative partnerships.
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PEMSEA eBulletin - November 2024
Dear PEMSEA community,
That’s a wrap for East Asian Seas Congress (EASC) 2024!
As we close the successful EASC 2024 held in Xiamen, China, we look back at inspiring discussions, collaborations, and groundbreaking initiatives that helped achieve our collective commitment to a sustainable and resilient future!
This month, we extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who made EASC 2024 a success. Check out the key takeaways from the Xiamen Ministerial Declaration, discover how the EASC Exhibition celebrated 30 years of regional cooperation, and revisit the many highlights of this landmark event.
A Heartfelt Thank You!
To all delegates, convenors, sponsors, exhibitors, speakers, and ocean leaders, we extend our deepest gratitude for your exceptional contributions to the success of the EASC 2024!
This year’s Congress brought together 855 participants from 20 countries, a potent pool of ideas and experiences. From 171 speakers leading 35 sessions, the creativity and enthusiasm of our 50 exhibitors, and the support of our nine sponsors, every milestone of the Congress was filled with collaboration, learning and the essence of partnerships.
We explored important themes through our plenary sessions, including:
- Ocean Innovations and Financing
- Ocean Science, Policy, and Practice
- Global Challenges, Local Solutions
Parallel sessions took a closer look into selected topics like climate action, biodiversity and sustainable development, while our exhibits showcased cutting-edge solutions and technologies for ocean sustainability.
With representation from 20 countries, 88 IGOs and NGOs, 42 local host institutions, 47 academic institutions, 22 local governments, 6 donor agencies and foundations, 15 business organizations, and over 200 youth participating as speakers, delegates, and dedicated volunteers, the Congress truly reflected a “whole of society” approach.
Your contributions and engagement made this Congress a celebration of “Blue Synergy for a Shared Future: One Sustainable and Resilient Ocean.” Together, we tackled the big questions, shared ideas and built lasting partnerships to protect our coastal communities and our shared ocean.
See you at the 9th EAS Congress in 2027!
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The Guidebook on the State of the River Basin (SORB) Reporting System
The Guidebook on the State of the River Basin (SORB) Reporting System is intended for local governments and/or river basinorganizations in the East Asian Seas region currently or planning to implement integrated river basin management (IRBM)/integratedwater resources management (IWRM) programs. It provides guidance in establishing a regular monitoring, evaluation (M&E) and reporting mechanism, and discusses the requirements, the basis and importance of implementing and sustaining the SORB reporting system.