The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
NIKKEI Blue Ocean Forum
NIKKEI, NIKKEI BP
The world's oceans are in a critical state. Coastal areas are littered with marine plastic waste, and fish stocks are declining due to global warming. Meanwhile, efforts to protect the oceans are increasing across Japan. At this forum, experts and corporate representatives will discuss the future of the oceans. Let's work together to preserve our blue oceans for future generations.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Marine pollution
- Biodiversity
- Climate change
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Agenda2025
Participation Programme
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Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.09.26[Fri]
10:30 ~ 12:30
(Venue Open 10:00)
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- Venue
- Theme Weeks Studio
Programme details
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audio.
The world's oceans are in a critical state. Coastal areas
are seeing large amounts of marine plastic waste washing
ashore, crossing national borders. Global warming is making
fish harder to catch, and seaweed and algae are disappearing,
leading to the degradation of rocky shores. Meanwhile,
activities to protect the oceans are increasing throughout
Japan.
The Nikkei Group has launched the “NIKKEI Blue Ocean Forum”
aiming for ocean conservation and the appropriate utilization
of marine resources. An expert committee comprising marine
specialists and corporate representatives has deliberated over
two years. We have now compiled these discussions into
proposals and released them domestically and
internationally.
Part 1 of this event focuses on the themes of “Resource
Circulation” and “Fisheries Resources.” We will carefully
introduce the state of the world's oceans, Japan's
role, the deliberation process, the spirit behind the
proposals, and the latest examples of marine conservation
activities. Let's think together about how to pass on
blue oceans to our children.
【Program】
10:30–11:20 Session 1: Resource Circulation
Mr. Masaki Ishikawa (Vice President, Dean of the Faculty of
Social System Design, Specially Appointed Professor, Eikei
University / Representative Director, NPO Gomijapan)
Mr. Yusuke Saraya (2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Blue Ocean Dome
Honorary Director (ZERI JAPAN) / President and CEO of Saraya
Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Taku Furuta (Rengo Senior Managing Executive Officer, Head
of Research & Development and Environmental Management
Promotion Division)
Mr. Shunichi Honda (Program Officer, United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP))
<Moderator>
Mr. Shinichi Aoki (Editorial Writer and Editorial Board
Member, The Nikkei)
11:20–12:10 Session 2 Theme: Marine Resources
Mr. Michio Kondo (Professor, Graduate School of Life Sciences,
Tohoku University / WPI-AIMEC)
Mr. Akihiko Nishi (General Manager, Sustainability Promotion
Department, Nissui)
Mr. Kazuo Hanaoka (President and CEO, Seafood Legacy)
Ms. Yoko Maki (General Manager, Social Impact Department,
McDonald's Japan / Part-time Lecturer, Hitotsubashi
University)
<Moderator>
Ms. Kaori Fujita (Senior Editor, Nikkei ESG / Professor,
Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University / Green
Future Creation Organization)
12:10–12:30 Special Dialogue :Beyond EXPO 2025: Actions
Connecting the Ocean to the Future
Mr. Yusuke Saraya (2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Blue Ocean Dome
Honorary Director (ZERI JAPAN) / President and CEO of Saraya
Co., Ltd.)
Mr. Monty Simas (Global Director, Public Affairs, Policy &
Blue Finance, The Ocean Cleanup)
Reports
【Reflection】
The Nikkei Group has launched the "Nikkei Blue Ocean
Forum" with the aim of preserving the oceans and
promoting the sustainable use of marine resources. Over the
past two years, an advisory board composed of experts in
marine science and corporate representatives has engaged in
extensive discussions. Recently, we compiled these discussions
into a proposal, which we have presented both domestically and
internationally. In the first section of this event, we
focused on the themes of “Resource Circulation” and “Fishery
Resources.” We discussed the current state of the world’s
oceans, Japan’s role in this context, the thought processes
behind our discussions, and the latest examples of marine
conservation activities.
You can read the full text of the recommendations introduced
in this project
here:https://bizgate.nikkei.com/images/projects/blueocean/BOFProposal_en.pdf
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
The "Nikkei Blue Ocean Forum" will continue its
activities in the coming terms to protect the future of our
oceans and contribute to achieving SDG 14, "Conserve and
sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for
sustainable development." By leveraging the media
resources of the Nikkei Group, we aim to raise awareness about
our proposed recommendations and encourage participation from
companies, individuals, and organizations both domestically
and internationally.
To ensure that as many people as possible recognize the
critical state of our oceans as a personal concern, we will
involve urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka, as well as regional
municipalities, expanding our efforts broadly.
Cast
Moderator
Shinichi Aoki
Nikkei Inc. Editorial Writer and Editorial Board Member
Graduated from the Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya University in 1991 and joined the Nikkei Inc. Worked in the Industry Department, Nikkei Computer (Nikkei BP), the Science and Technology Department, and Nikkei Science. Appointed Head of the Science and Technology Department in 2019, Editorial Board Member in 2021, and concurrently Editorial Writer from 2022.
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Kaori Fujita
Nikkei ESG Senior Editor / Professor, Green Future Creation Organization and Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University
Born in Uozu City, Toyama Prefecture. Graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Tokyo. Joined Nikkei BP, serving as a reporter for Nikkei Electronics, deputy editor-in-chief of National Geographic Japan (covering nature and culture), editorial board member of the environmental management magazine Nikkei Ecology, and producer of the Nikkei ESG Management Forum. Currently serves concurrently as Senior Editor of Nikkei ESG and Professor at Tohoku University.
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Speakers
Masanobu Ishikawa
Eikei University Vice President Dean, Faculty of Social System Design Specially Appointed Professor Representative Director, NPO Gomijapan
Graduated from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo in 1978; Doctor of Engineering. Served as Associate Professor in the Department of Food Engineering at Tokyo University of Fisheries before becoming Professor at the Graduate School of Economics, Kobe University in 2003. Retired in 2019 and is currently Professor Emeritus at Kobe University. Appointed Specially Appointed Professor at Eikei University in 2020. Appointed Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Social System Design at Eikei University in 2025.
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Yusuke Saraya
2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo Blue Ocean Dome Honorary Director (ZERI JAPAN) / President and CEO of Saraya Co., Ltd.
Born in 1951. Graduated from Osaka University's Faculty of Engineering in 1974. Completed a master's degree in Sanitary Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley in 1975. Joined Saraya Co., Ltd. in 1976. Appointed President and Representative Director in 1998, a position he holds to this day. Has served as Chairman of the Japan Junior Chamber and Chairman of the Global Citizens Foundation. Currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Eco Design Network (NPO) and Chairman of Zeri Japan.
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Taku Furuta
Rengo Senior Managing Executive Officer, Head of Research & Development and Environmental Management Promotion Division
1986 Joined Rengo Co., Ltd.
2013 General Manager, Packaging Development
Department
2017 Director, Head of Central Research Institute,
Research & Technology Development Division
2021 Executive Officer, Head of Central Research
Institute, Research & Development and
Environmental Management Promotion Division
Concurrently in charge of Environmental Management
Promotion Department
2023 Managing Executive Officer, Same
2024 Senior Managing Executive Officer, Same
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Shunichi Honda
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Program Officer
After earning a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Shizuoka Prefectural University Graduate School, he served as a postdoctoral researcher at Tsinghua University's School of Environmental Science and Engineering, a researcher at the National Minamata Disease Research Center under Japan's Ministry of the Environment, and an International Waste Management and Negotiations Officer in the Waste and Recycling Management Division of the Ministry of the Environment. He has been affiliated with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since May 2015.
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Michio Kondo
Professor, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University · WPI-AIMEC
Professor at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University. Specializes in ecology. Graduated from the Faculty of Science, Kyoto University in 1996; earned a Ph.D. (Science) from the Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University in 2001. Served as a visiting researcher in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for two years starting in 2001. Appointed Lecturer at Ryukoku University in 2004, Associate Professor in 2008, and Professor in 2014. Assumed current position in 2018. Founding Representative Director of the Environmental DNA Society.
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Akihiko Nishi
Nissui Director of Sustainability Promotion
April 1993 Joined Nippon Suisan Co., Ltd.
March 2007 Frozen Foods Section Manager, Household
Foods Division, Nippon Suisan Co., Ltd.
March 2012 Section Manager, Sales Planning I, Sales
Planning Office, Nippon Suisan Co., Ltd.
October 2013 Frozen Foods Section Manager,
Metropolitan Household Sales Department, Wide Area
Sales Headquarters, Nippon Suisan Co., Ltd.
March 2020: Nissui Co., Ltd. - CSR Department, CSR
Section Manager
March 2021: Nissui Co., Ltd. - CSR Department
Manager
March 2022: Nissui Co., Ltd. - Sustainability
Promotion Department Manager
December 2022: Nissui Co., Ltd. - Sustainability
Promotion Department Manager
(Due to company name change)
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Wakao Hanaoka
Seafood Legacy President and CEO
After working in marine conservation projects and international environmental NGOs, he founded Seafood Legacy in 2015. He connects diverse stakeholders—including the fisheries industry, financial institutions, government agencies, and the civic sector—across Asia to mainstream sustainable seafood and drive systemic change.
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Yoko Maki
McDonald's Japan Social Impact Department Manager / Hitotsubashi University Part-time Lecturer
Graduated from Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Commerce. Studied at HEC Paris Graduate School of Management. Holds an MBA from Paris Dauphine University and Sorbonne. Previously worked at Nomura Research Institute, Management Co-creation Foundation, A.T. Kearney, Pernod Ricard, and MHD Moët Hennessy Diageo. Currently serves as Director of the Sustainability & ESG Department and Social Impact Department at McDonald's Japan since January 2023.
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Monty Simus
Global Director of Public Affairs, Policy, and Blue Finance The Ocean Cleanup
A graduate of Yale University and holder of a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University, Monty Simus spent several decades at the nexus of impact investing, catalytic philanthropy, and innovative social finance, building and scaling high-growth, purpose-driven, commercial and philanthropic initiatives that served millions in the Global South. Internationally recognized, he has contributed a range of papers on environmental issues and joined The Ocean Cleanup in 2024 to lead the Global Public Affairs and Blue Finance team’s work with governments and international organizations to rid our rivers and oceans of plastic pollution.
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The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
NIKKEI Blue Ocean Forum
The world's oceans are in a critical state. Coastal areas are littered with marine plastic waste, and fish stocks are declining due to global warming. Meanwhile, efforts to protect the oceans are increasing across Japan. At this forum, experts and corporate representatives will discuss the future of the oceans. Let's work together to preserve our blue oceans for future generations.
-
2025.09.26[Fri]
10:30~12:30
(Venue Open 10:00)
- Theme Weeks Studio
画像提供:日経ナショナル ジオグラフィック
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Earth and Biodiversity Week
