Tokyo, March 2 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to promote offshore wind power generation under its next basic ocean policy as part of efforts for realizing a decarbonized society, informed sources said Thursday.     The government will emphasize the creation of a sustainable ocean under the new five-year policy starting in April, in addition to the comprehensive maritime security, the main feature of the existing policy, according to the sources.     Specifically, it plans to introduce legislation to allow offshore wind power….Read more

TOKYO — Japan will launch a project to encourage global hotel operators to open luxury properties in national parks as early as in 2024, Nikkei has learned, as part of plans to bring in more tourists post-COVID.   The government wants tourists to consider Japan as a nature destination, and it is working with local municipalities and enterprises to offer….Read more

Japanese ports are adopting “blue carbon” programs to grow algae and other marine plants to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). Major Japanese companies are cooperating with relevant local parties to develop seaweed beds. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has begun surveys at ports across the country and will consider setting up mechanisms for increasing the number of….Read more

Asahi front-paged a “rough draft” of a G7 joint statement that the GOJ has prepared for issuance upon conclusion of the climate, energy, and environmental ministerial in Sapporo in mid-April, highlighting its language on Japan’s planned discharge into the ocean of treated water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. “The members welcome the transparent process for release,” the draft reads.….Read more

NHK reported online that in response to the detection of PFOS and other organic fluorine compounds in rivers and groundwater near U.S. bases in Japan, the Ministry of Environment is planning to establish early in fiscal 2023 a method to measure the amount of chemicals that have flowed out of soil into water. The network said that in response to….Read more

Tokyo, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority on Wednesday effectively approved a Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. <9501> plan to monitor treated radioactive water to be released from its disaster-stricken nuclear plant into the ocean.   The approval of the plan, which includes standards for the amounts of radioactive materials contained in the water, is expected to become….Read more

Monday’s Okinawa Times front-paged a report claiming that it has learned from a Pentagon source that tanks storing foam extinguisher containing PFAS and other chemicals harmful to human health will be removed from U.S. Army oil storage facilities at six locations in the city of Uruma and the town of Chatan in Okinawa by 2026. The paper wrote that according….Read more

On Feb. 16, like-minded lawmakers inside the Liberal Democratic Party inaugurated a parliamentarians’ league for the promotion of the introduction of offshore wind power and other renewable energy sources. As Prime Minister Kishida Fumio (LDP president) and LDP Vice-President Aso Taro take part in the group as founding members, speculation is growing that the administration is looking to solidify the….Read more

SHIORI GOSO, Nikkei staff writer   TOKYO — Leading Japanese financial institutions are investing in businesses expanding into fields such as decarbonization and digital technology, offering more active support in lieu of passive cross-shareholdings.   Mizuho Bank told investors Thursday that it is creating a new framework for investments to “co-create value.” These investments, expected to run into the millions….Read more