The Nippon Foundation’s Setouchi Oceans X Project Wins 2025 NIKKEI Blue Ocean AwardNamed winner of 2025 Resource Circulation Category

In announcing the award, Nikkei cited the fact that the Setouchi Oceans X project is being carried out with the cooperation and participation of four prefectures bordering the Seto Inland Sea as well as private-sector companies, academia, and fisheries associations to survey the actual state of ocean debris in the relatively closed Seto Inland Sea and establish proven methods for collecting ocean debris. It noted that the project is being pursued across organizations and over a large geographical area, with the highly unique goal of disseminating a “Setouchi model” internationally. This model shows potential for adaptation in other regions, as well as for promoting recycling using ocean debris as a resource and for further activities going forward.

The awards are sponsored by Nikkei Inc., publisher of Japan’s major business-oriented daily newspaper, and Nikkei Business Publications to recognize companies, organizations, and individuals who are proactively engaged in protecting marine environments and promoting the appropriate use of marine resources.

The Setouchi Oceans X project was launched in December 2020 by four prefectures bordering the Seto Inland Sea (Okayama, Hiroshima, Kagawa, and Ehime) and The Nippon Foundation as a comprehensive project to address ocean debris. Using the Seto Inland Sea, which is semi-enclosed and therefore receives relatively little inflow of outside ocean debris, as its field of operations, the project has four main components: (1) Surveys and research; (2) Coordination between companies and local communities; (3) Raising awareness, education, and activities; and (4) Policymaking.