Major countries in the world are venturing out into the formulation and implementation of ocean policies to deal with the international ocean order which is centered around the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.To rectify the negative effects of compartmentalized decision-making process which is the underlying cause of Japan's highly visible delay and to conceive an administrative agency structure for planned and integrated decision making, a Japanese basic policy has to be developed based on the idea of ocean governance.This article introduces major points of the Ocean Policy Research Foundation's (OPRF) recent recommendations.
Selected Papers No.8(p.24)

Today, in the early 21st century, and in the ocean which determines the fate of maritime Japan, ocean order and policy frameworks that address natural resource, environment, safety, and peace issues are undergoing major changes and all the countries of the world are thinking of a new international framework while steadily advancing ocean governance initiatives. When it comes to comprehensive ocean management, Japan lags behind. Aiming for the promotion of effective management of Japan's expanded sea area, this article recommends the prompt establisment of policies and organizations such as an ocean policy framework and Basic Ocean Law, and the appointment of an ocean minister.
Selected Papers No.8(p.26)

The Comprehensive National Development Plan which has gained high results since the term of rapid economic growth ,such as decentralization of industry, narrowing the income disparity between regions, has been reformed to The National Land Sustainable Plan.This article describes the relation of the national and regional planning system and the ocean and the coastal area which has been newly placed as a planned issue in The National Land Sustainable Plan Act.We would like to ask for opinions and recommendations from all levels of the Japanese society, and to be participated in creating a new vision of a sustainable national land of 10 to 15 years ahead, the use and maintenance of the ocean in particular.

Japan is an island country. Various floating objects from the four seas are washed ashore. Waste casually cast out by people who live with the sea. Illegal factory waste. It is pointed out that waste drifting on the sea largely affect the ocean ecosystem.How can we get a clean sea and an idyllic coastline back?