Chapter 10
Japanese Law and Policy on Marine
Environment Protection: The Recent
Activation of Ministry of Environment
Makoto Seta
10.1 Introduction
As Chap. 4 (contributed by Prof. Tsuruta) indicates, the Headquarters for Ocean
Policy in the Cabinet was established in 2007, and it is now expected to play a central
role in ocean policies in Japan, and this also includes measures to protect and conserve
the marine environment. However, the Headquarters seems to have insufficient
capacity to do so, and even after its establishment, each ministry and agency still plays
a crucial role in ocean policies. Currently, in Japan, there are fourteen ministries,
1 and
most are involved in ocean policy decision-making processes and adopting measures
to realise these policies. For example, the Ministry of Defence engages in protecting
maritime security and polices maritime crimes that the Japan Coast Guard under
the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) manages.
2
Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has introduced
several vital measures on maritime activities. The Agency for Natural Resources
and Energy under the METI supports the development of offshore wind energy in
Japan,
3 and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), which
1 Cabinet Office, Outline of Duties 2014, p. 1, available at https://www.cao.go.jp/en/pmf/about_
pmf_index.pdf (last visited 21 May 2019).
2 For example, in order to police Somali pirates, officers of the Japan Coast Guard were deployed
on board navy vessels from the Maritime Self Defense Force.
3 New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, ‘NeoWins-Offshore Wind
Information System (National Version)’, available at https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/news/AA5en_
100201.html (last visited 21 May 2019).
M. Seta (B)
Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
e-mail: seta@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
© Kobe University 2021
D. Tamada and K. Zou (eds.), Implementation of the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea, Kobe University Monograph Series in Social Science Research,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6954-2_10
179
Japanese Law and Policy on Marine
Environment Protection: The Recent
Activation of Ministry of Environment
Makoto Seta
10.1 Introduction
As Chap. 4 (contributed by Prof. Tsuruta) indicates, the Headquarters for Ocean
Policy in the Cabinet was established in 2007, and it is now expected to play a central
role in ocean policies in Japan, and this also includes measures to protect and conserve
the marine environment. However, the Headquarters seems to have insufficient
capacity to do so, and even after its establishment, each ministry and agency still plays
a crucial role in ocean policies. Currently, in Japan, there are fourteen ministries,
1 and
most are involved in ocean policy decision-making processes and adopting measures
to realise these policies. For example, the Ministry of Defence engages in protecting
maritime security and polices maritime crimes that the Japan Coast Guard under
the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) manages.
2
Recently, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has introduced
several vital measures on maritime activities. The Agency for Natural Resources
and Energy under the METI supports the development of offshore wind energy in
Japan,
3 and the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), which
1 Cabinet Office, Outline of Duties 2014, p. 1, available at https://www.cao.go.jp/en/pmf/about_
pmf_index.pdf (last visited 21 May 2019).
2 For example, in order to police Somali pirates, officers of the Japan Coast Guard were deployed
on board navy vessels from the Maritime Self Defense Force.
3 New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, ‘NeoWins-Offshore Wind
Information System (National Version)’, available at https://www.nedo.go.jp/english/news/AA5en_
100201.html (last visited 21 May 2019).
M. Seta (B)
Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
e-mail: seta@yokohama-cu.ac.jp
© Kobe University 2021
D. Tamada and K. Zou (eds.), Implementation of the United Nations Convention
on the Law of the Sea, Kobe University Monograph Series in Social Science Research,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-6954-2_10
179