The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) will host Blue Economy Week from Monday, June 2 to Sunday, June 8 at the Blue Ocean Dome pavilion of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. Over the course of seven days, a series of events will be held under the theme of “realizing a peaceful world through the ocean.” Experts and local government officials at the forefront of the blue economy will come together for panel discussions, lectures, and symposiums.
A series of symposiums will be held during Blue Economy Week, covering themes such as “The Frontlines of Aquaculture and Its Potential,” “Ocean Ecosystem Restoration and Ocean Visualization,” and “Disappearing Seaweed Forests: Conservation and Restoration Efforts Across Japan.” These special events will feature experts from various fields, local government officials, and researchers from SPF’s Ocean Policy Research Institute. On the final day, singer, actress, and Palau Goodwill Ambassador Minako Tanaka will deliver a special choral performance.
The blue economy refers to an approach that seeks to sustainably develop industries and economies while preserving the ocean environment and ecosystems, ensuring the responsible use of marine resources. This concept is drawing increasing attention both in Japan and globally as a viable solution for balancing ecological protection with economic growth, driven by pressing issues such as ocean warming and acidification caused by climate change, and the growing threat of ocean pollution, including plastic waste. Overfishing has also severely depleted ocean resources, underscoring the urgency of transitioning to more sustainable practices.
The blue economy spans a wide range of activities and industries. In Japan, one example is “Umigyo”—a coastal revitalization initiative said to have originated in Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It combines fisheries with tourism, dining, commerce, and education to boost local economies. Other efforts include the conservation and restoration of marine plants like eelgrass (Zostera), kombu, and wakame, which absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Eelgrass meadows in particular help purify water and increase fish populations. Japan has also introduced a system called J Blue Credit, which monetizes the CO₂ absorbed by eelgrass and allows it to be traded as credits.
This year is being referred as a “Super Year for the Ocean,” with major international conferences on the horizon, including the UN Ocean Conference (June, Nice), the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (August, Yokohama), and COP30 (November, Brazil). Additionally, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, which began in 2021, has reached its midpoint, reinforcing global momentum for ocean-related initiatives.
With its Ocean Policy Research Institute, SPF is committed to building a more peaceful world through ocean-centered solutions. By promoting evidence-based policy and enhancing international collaboration, the foundation supports ocean conservation efforts worldwide. Blue Economy Week at the Blue Ocean Dome pavilion, which highlights the theme “Regeneration of the Ocean,” is a key initiative within this broader mission. We invite you to join us in exploring the future of our planet, ocean, people, and society through this weeklong event.
BLUE ECONOMY WEEK
Dates: Monday, June 2 – Sunday, June 8
Venue: BLUE OCEAN DOME, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai (Konohana Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)
Event Schedule (subject to change):
| Date/Time | Title | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| June 2 (Mon) 13:00–13:40 | Japan's Role in Realizing a Sustainable Society | Ken Shibusawa (Founding Partner and Chairman, Commons Asset Management) |
| June 2 (Mon) 13:40–14:10 | Expectations for Blue Africa |
Ken Shibusawa (Founding Partner and Chairman, Commons Asset Management) Yusuke Saraya (Chairman, NPO ZERI JAPAN) Atsushi Watanabe (Director, SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute) |
| June 3 (Tue) 13:00–16:00 | From "UMIGYO" to the Japanese Blue Economy Model |
Representatives from Miura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Ainan Town, Ehime Prefecture) Takahiro Hamabe (Assistant Manager, Fisheries Agency) Shigeki Takaya (Senior Research Fellow, SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute) |
| June 4 (Wed) 13:00–16:00 | The Frontlines of Aquaculture and Its Potential |
Keitaro Kato (General Director, Kindai University Fisheries Research Institute) Ichiro Nakayama (President, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency) Keisuke Nakayama (Director of Business Development, Proximar) Takakiyo Watari (President, Saraya Aquaculture) Atsushi Watanabe (Director, SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute) Michael Huang (Senior Research Fellow, SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute) |
| June 5 (Thu) 13:00–16:00 | Ocean Ecosystem Restoration and Ocean Visualization |
Masakazu Hori (Director, Coastal Ecosystem Group, Department of Social and Ecosystem Systems, Fisheries Resources Research Center, National Institute of Fisheries Research and Education) Ryosuke Itai (CEO, UMIAIL) Atsushi Watanabe (Director, SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute) |
| June 6 (Fri) 13:00–16:30 | Disappearing Seaweed Forests: Conservation and Restoration Efforts Across Japan |
Asahiro Kuwae (President, Japan Blue Economy Technology Research Association) Tomomi Hasegawa (Film Director) Miho Takakura (Research Fellow, SPF Ocean Policy Research Institute) |
| June 7 (Sat) 13:00–16:00 | Innovation from Seaweed (Pre-World Ocean Day Event) |
Asahiro Kuwae (President, Japan Blue Economy Technology Research Association) Taichi Masu (Assistant Professor, Doshisha University) Alissa Miky (CEO, Aqua Theon) Atsushi Sunami (President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation) |
| June 8 (Sun) 12:00–12:30 | Neo☆Stars Power Chorus @EXPO Arena "Matsuri" | Minako Tanaka (Singer, Actress, and Palau Goodwill Ambassador), among others |
| June 8 (Sun) 15:00–16:00 | World Ocean Day Talk Show @Blue Ocean Dome |
Minako Tanaka (Singer, Actress, and Palau Goodwill Ambassador) Atsushi Sunami (President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation), among others |