Marked changes that affect the arctic zone are taking place in the global environment. The First International Symposium on Arctic Research�E�ESAR-1�E�Ewas held in 2008 to address the theme "Drastic Change in the Arctic under Global Warming, Eallowing a deepening of comprehensive discussion on Arctic zone science. Japanese research and observation in the Arctic is not considered a national project, as with Antarctica, but it is hoped that the Symposium will serve as a catalyst for a new era in Arctic research.

Piracy has increased dramatically in the Gulf of Aden on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and in the waters off Somalia, to the point of becoming an issue of urgency for international maritime safety. Japan is already lagging in its response, as more than ten states and bodies, including NATO, the EU, India, and Russia, have dispatched naval ships to the area. Based on existing law, the Japanese government should immediately order the Maritime Self-Defense Force to respond to piracy in the area but also decide on a clear policy towards creation of new legislation to address the piracy problem.

The practice of applying the MSC "marine ecolabel Eon seafood, signifying that it was obtained from sustainable fisheries, is becoming increasingly popular around the world. Although originating in Europe and America, it has spread rapidly in Japan since its launch by large-scale retailers. As the spread of the MSC ecolabel in a seafood consumer superpower such as Japan could make great contributions toward sustainable use of the world's marine resources, further efforts to raise awareness of the ecolabel are being called for.

By examining the driftage washed up on our seashores, we can find evidence of marine animals as well as changes in the marine environment. The ocean that produces the coastal driftage and brings it onto beaches all around the Japanese archipelago, is, however, facing the dangers of global warming and marine pollution. The interface between the land and sea serves as the front line for reading the changes taking place in the ocean.