Following the seven previous posts, this will be our final Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Symposium report. In this last report we will provide a summary of the wrap up sessions as well as highlights from the reception. With Tokyo Olympics 2020 less than two years away, we heard discussions from the perspectives of a Olympics Organizing Committee member, past Olympian athlete, business representative and government officials.
総括：2020年に向け、サステナブルシーフードを主流化
Wakao Hanaoka
CEO, Seafood Legacy Co., Ltd.
“This year’s Symposium had the largest number of speakers, contributors and registered participants in its history. This success is not about the growing scale of the Symposium; rather, it’s proof that the intention to make Japan and Asia’s oceans sustainable is permeating further into society. Only one more Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Symposium remain before the Tokyo Olympics. Let’s accelerate this movement even more now, welcome the world to Japan with pride in 2020 and build a legacy for the future.”
“I find management with IoT technology developed in-house by each company or by other industries interesting. I think it’s a good idea to involve retailers and regional banks into the information disclosure regarding ESG investment.”
Masanori Miyahara
President, Fisheries Research & Education Agency
Special Adviser, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for International Affairs
“What’s important right now is that there is a growing interest for what ingredients are being used in products that are distributed domestically. Technology already exists. That should not be forced upon by the government. Instead, everyone including producers and consumers should incorporate it.”
Yuki Arata
Senior Director of Sustainability, The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games
“We need to create something that will become a legacy for the hosting country and city. I hope to contribute to developing a sustainable society by changing the public awareness through procurement codes that takes sustainability into consideration. I would also like the 110,000 volunteers to deepen their understanding through training because they will be a source for information as well.”
Shintaro Ikeda
Beijing and London Olympic Badminton Player for Japan
Senior Consultant, FH Sports & Entertainment Sector, Fleishman Hillard Japan K.K.
“Athletes will spend three months living in the Olympics Athlete Village, including those focusing on their game and those that have lost. It is important to consider how to enlighten and inspire them under those circumstances. Just showing them is not sufficient; we need to create touchpoint experiences. In regard to the relationship to society, sports can be influenced by the flow of society, as well as connecting public opinion to environmental literacy through sports.”
“These problems need to be recognized as part of goods procurement, not a CSR matter. We are aware that our role as a retailer include sourcing sustainable raw materials as well as becoming more sustainable through our products. It is necessary for product managers to grasp what is happening in the world and implement as soon as possible. Currently we have procurement standards for our private brand. However, in the future we should create a movement in Japan to set standards for non-private brands as well.”
Mariko Kawaguchi
Chief Researcher, Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd.
“ESG investors are not yet looking at Japanese seafood industry because companies do not disclose information. If companies consider the Olympics as an opportunity they should make public the work they’re doing that is related to that. However, that work should not end when the Olympics game end. Companies need to present a vision that looks ahead to the years 2030, 2050 and beyond. Doing so will not only appeal to the sustainability of the seafood industry but the entire food industry.”
