2020 should prove to be an unprecedented year for ocean related fields in Japan. A variety of international conferences are scheduled, including the UN Ocean Conference and the Convention on Biological Diversity / Conference of the Parties (CBD/COP). As a once in a decade opportunity to decide on the post-Aichi Targets to 2030, CBD-COP is especially important. The problems of ocean space are closely interrelated. There are high hopes that progress can be made during this Ocean Super Year in the international debate on the problems of sustainable development in the ocean.