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From Monday, September 22nd to Sunday, September 28th, “Osaka Week” was held, focusing on the current state of Osaka Bay’s fishing industry, marine debris issues, and the sustainability of marine resources. Various public and private organizations hosted lectures and talk sessions. On Tuesday, September 23rd, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura took the stage and discussed the future of Osaka Bay with children participating in the session.
Creating a Marine Debris Vein! The Japan Blue Ocean Project
Starting at 1:00 PM on Monday, September 22nd, a presentation and panel discussion were held on the current state of the marine debris problem and the “Japan Blue Ocean Project,” which aims to solve it. The speakers were Masayuki Terai, representative of Garbage School; Masahiko Ito, of the Resource Recycling Division, Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department, Osaka Prefecture; and Masanori Yasumoto, of Wakakusa Co., Ltd.’s Corporate Planning Department. They introduced the current state of marine litter in Japan, Osaka Prefecture’s efforts to combat marine plastic litter, and efforts to pelletize and recycle marine litter.
The panel discussion delved deeper into the Japan Blue Ocean Project and discussed the possibility of separating plastics by resin.
Considering the true meaning of hosting the “National Conference for Creating a Rich Ocean” from the perspective of the “Dotonbori Eel.”
Starting at 3:00 PM on Monday the 22nd, a talk show was held with MBS fish expert Go Ozaki and Yoshihiko Yamamoto, senior researcher at the Research Institute of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Osaka Prefecture, in preparation for the first-ever “National Conference for Creating a Rich Ocean,” to be held in Osaka Prefecture next year.
The talk session focused on the endangered Japanese eel, discovered in the Dotonbori River, and discussed the connections between forests, villages, cities, rivers, and the sea, as well as environmental conservation through the lens of non-edible fish, providing an opportunity to consider “creating a bountiful ocean.” The event also announced the “Uoniwa Sea Festival,” a one-year pre-event for the “National Bountiful Ocean Conference” to be held on Sunday, October 26th.
Listen, Listen, Governor Yoshimura! Interesting Stories about Rivers and the Sea! ~A Talk Session with Governor Yoshimura and Children about Osaka Bay~
On Tuesday, the 23rd, a talk session was held between Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and children engaged in aquatic environmental conservation activities. The participating children, from two groups, the “MIZUBE Caravan” and the “Kaizuka City Katsuragi Green Boys’ Club,” introduced their respective activities, including efforts to address marine debris and projects to recycle resources from the sea and mountains.
Following the event, children were invited to ask Yoshimura a question and a talk session. Based on data showing that Osaka residents rarely visit Osaka Bay, participants exchanged ideas on how to encourage them to visit the bay.
Finally, Yoshimura introduced specific Osaka Prefecture initiatives, such as the “Osaka Blue Ocean Vision,” to realize a rich ocean.
The event concluded with Yoshimura introducing these initiatives.
The Future of the Fisheries Begins in Osaka Bay
On Wednesday, the 24th, young fishermen from Osaka Prefecture gathered to discuss the current state of fishing in Osaka Bay and what efforts are needed to ensure Osaka’s future prosperity as a sustainable maritime city.
Osaka boasts the highest per-unit catch volume in the Seto Inland Sea, with over 359 species of fish landed. However, the lecture explained that catch volumes are declining year by year, and a video was used to clearly explain initiatives aimed at changing this situation. The message conveyed was that as long as young fishermen continue to innovate and adopt environmentally friendly fishing methods, the fishing industry in Osaka Bay will continue to thrive.
MOBA! Experience Osaka Bay’s Blue Carbon Ecosystem!
On Friday the 26th, speakers from various sectors, including government, private companies, fishing cooperatives, and universities, gave presentations on the importance and efforts of the blue carbon ecosystem in Osaka Bay. A blue carbon ecosystem is an ecosystem in which seaweed and other marine plants photosynthesize, absorb carbon dioxide from seawater, and accumulate carbon on the seabed even after they die. It is expected to contribute to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
The presentation was divided into two parts: Osaka Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture. A virtual video experience was also held, allowing participants to experience the ecosystem nurturing in actual seaweed beds in the ocean.
Creating the Future of the Sky and Sea: Toward a Recycling-Based Society in SAF and Osaka Bay
On Saturday the 27th, at 1:00 PM, a talk session was held on efforts to realize a recycling-based society, focusing on “SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel)” in the sky and “Environmental Restoration of Osaka Bay” in the sea. As for marine activities, the event introduced the conservation, restoration, and creation of blue carbon ecosystems in Osaka Bay, as well as the marine resource conservation efforts of FOOD & LIFE COMPANIES, the operator of the conveyor-belt sushi chain Sushiro.
As for air activities, the event introduced the “FRY to FLY Project,” which uses used frying oil to fly, and noted that 261 companies, local governments, and organizations are currently participating.
Osaka Prefectural Misaki High School’s SUP Cleanup Initiative
Starting at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday the 27th, the Pirika Club of Osaka Prefectural Misaki High School introduced their ocean cleanup efforts. They addressed the growing problem of marine debris, warning that if it continues at its current rate, the amount of trash will exceed the amount of fish by 2050. They highlighted the current situation in which marine debris has washed up on Misaki Town, the southernmost tip of Osaka Prefecture, and explained that they are using SUPs (stand-up paddleboards) to collect marine debris before it sinks to the seabed.
As a result of their ongoing efforts, their activities have gained enough recognition to be presented at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo. However, they also learned that the waste that washes up in Misaki Town will not disappear. They left a message urging people to take action, even if only a little, starting with everyday actions, such as putting trash they find on the street in a trash can, in order to make a difference in the future.
Osaka by the Sea – Ocean, Cities, and Sustainability – Symposium
On Sunday, the 28th, a three-part event was held to conclude the seven-day event. In the first part, Masato Morikawa, Director of the Environmental Creation Office, Water and Air Environment Bureau, Ministry of the Environment; Masato Nobutoki, Director of the Japan Blue Economy Technology Research Association; and Yasunori Tanaka, Representative Director of the OSAKA Zero Carbon Smart City Foundation, took the stage to discuss “Oceans, Cities, and Sustainability” from the perspectives of both the public and private sectors.
Presentations and a talk session were held on three themes: “Sustainability of Japan’s Fisheries/Marine Industry, Including Osaka Bay,” “The Significance and Effects of Public-Private Co-creation and Collaboration, Including Satoumi Creation,” and “International Communication and Building Relationships Among Diverse Stakeholders in the wake of the Expo.” The speakers emphasized the importance of first recognizing the problems facing the ocean and then working together to address them.
Légerince “Ocean Development, Urban Development, and People Development” – From the Perspectives of Environment, Landscape, and Community –
In the second part of the event, Keigo Hatanaka, General Affairs Section Chief of the Osaka City Fisheries Cooperative Association; Yoshio Bando, Deputy Director of the 6th Branch of the Osaka Prefecture Association of Architects and Building Companies; and Hideyuki Matsumoto, Regional Revitalization Evangelist and Minamachizukuri Meister of the Cabinet Office, took the stage to share the appeal of the Yodo River estuary and Osaka Bay, as well as to hold a lecture and talk session on the concept of urban development in Konohana Ward, Osaka City. Consumption involves three elements: “doing,” “seeing,” “buying,” “eating,” and “connecting.” The speakers shared their thoughts, stating that business would not be successful without the “connection” element.
Citizen Activities to Value Food and Living Creatures in Konohana Ward
In the third session, Osaka City Council Member Hiroyuki Takechi and Director Mutsumi Nasu of the NPO Osaka Umi Sakura took the stage. Focusing on Konohana Ward, Osaka City, the site of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, they introduced the area’s charms and post-Expo development plans, while raising awareness of the ward’s marine debris problem. The lecture concluded with a skit by Miyakumiyaku Brothers (Earth Protect and Aruta) on marine debris, further highlighting the issue and bringing the seven-day Osaka Week to a close.
▼The event is available to watch on the official BLUE OCEAN DOME YouTube channel. Please check it out.
【#128】Creating a Vena Cava for Marine Debris! Japan Blue Ocean Project (ZERI JAPAN / Osaka Prefecture / Blue Ocean Initiative General Incorporated Association)
【#129】The True Meaning of the National Conference for Creating a Rich Ocean, Considered from the Perspective of Dotonbori Eels (ZERI JAPAN / Osaka Prefecture Executive Committee for the 45th National Conference for Creating a Rich Ocean)
【#130】Listen, Listen, Governor Yoshimura! Interesting Stories about Rivers and the Ocean! (ZERI JAPAN / Osaka Prefecture / Blue Ocean Initiative General Incorporated Association)
【#131】The Future of Fisheries Begins in Osaka Bay (ZERI JAPAN / OSAKA Zero Carbon Smart City Foundation General Incorporated Association)
【#133】MOBA! Experience the Blue Carbon Ecosystem of Osaka Bay! (ZERI JAPAN / Osaka Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, Osaka Bay Blue Carbon Ecosystem Alliance, Hyogo Prefectural Council for Prosperous Ocean Development)
【#135】Creating a Future for the Sky and Sea: Toward a Recycling-Based Society in Osaka Bay with SAF (ZERI JAPAN / Osaka Prefecture / Blue Ocean Initiative)
【#136】Introducing the SUP Ocean Cleanup Initiative by Osaka Prefectural Misaki High School (ZERI JAPAN / Osaka Prefecture / Blue Ocean Initiative)
【#138】Oceans, Cities, and Sustainability (ZERI JAPAN / OSAKA Zero Carbon Smart City Foundation / Blue Ocean Foundation)