Tokyo exhibition showcases fishermen’s ingenuity for a sustainable ocean

UMITO Partners Inc. will host a special exhibition in Tokyo this month highlighting how Japanese coastal fishing communities are responding to environmental change. The event, titled “ウミと、ヒトと。– 海と暮らす、人の工夫 –” (The Sea and the People – Human Ingenuity for Living with the Ocean), runs from August 23–31, 2025 at Shibuya Hikarie’s eighth-floor gallery “aiiima.” Admission is free.

The exhibition addresses pressing issues facing Japan’s coastal waters, including the loss of seaweed beds, rising sea temperatures, declining biodiversity, and reduced fishery resources. Through immersive installations combining video, sound, and explanatory materials, visitors can experience how local fishermen are innovating to secure the ocean’s future.

Regional Initiatives on Display

• Hokkaido (Tomamae): traditional barrel-drift fishing for octopus, a resource-conscious method.
• Okayama (Oku): oyster farming combined with seaweed bed restoration.
• Hokkaido (Yagishiri Island): kelp bed conservation and improvements in sea urchin quality.
• Hokkaido (Hiroo): creative reuse of “drift kelp” and sustainable sardine distribution.

The exhibition is co-organized with P.O.S.T studio, a Tokyo-based creative group dedicated to sustainability across the food sector.

To mark the opening, a ticketed talk session will be held on August 23 from 4:00–5:30 PM at Shibuya Hikarie’s COURT space. Speakers include UMITO Partners CEO Haruni Murakami and Tsuyoshi Sato of Kurkku Fields, who will discuss “Why Choose Sustainable Seafood.” Tickets are priced at ¥1,000 and advance reservation is required via Peatix.

Tokyo-based UMITO Partners provides specialized consulting services, including support for Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification, management of Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs) and Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs), community sustainability initiatives, sustainable finance consulting, business development support and project platforms. Kurkku Fields is a sustainable farm and art park located in Chiba, Japan.

UMITO Partners notes that the goal is to spark reflection on what “sustainable seafood” means, while showing how Japan’s fishing communities are blending tradition and innovation. Further details and updates are available on the organizer’s website: umito-partners.com.