Nurturing Japan’s next generation of coastal protectors

Beyond Mount Fuji, Tokyo thrives on a coastline shaped by centuries of maritime activity. From bustling ports to the iconic Shibuya Crossing, the city’s energy reflects a history intertwined with the sea. Fishing, trade, and festivals have long connected residents to the ocean, which continues to influence culture, cuisine, and daily life. Even in this modern metropolis, there is a vital bond between people and nature, and the importance of protecting ecosystems that have sustained Japan’s economy, traditions, and communities for generations.

Mount Fuji rises as a symbol of balance between land and sea, inspiring Japanese people to protect both. Its presence encourages people to connect with surrounding ecosystems and understand the delicate ways humans and nature coexist. Through hands-on learning and ocean literacy programs, students gain the knowledge and skills to safeguard Japan’s marine treasures. They are discovering that caring for the ocean and land is not only environmental stewardship. It is a way of honoring a cultural and ecological legacy that has shaped their country for centuries.

A gray heron, Ardea cinerea, glides above the coastal waters of Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka Prefecture, a region where rugged shorelines meet the Pacific Ocean. This long‑legged wading bird hunts patiently in tidal flats and shallow waters along estuaries, feeding mainly on fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects, playing a vital role in regulating local aquatic populations. Its presence reflects a healthy coastal ecosystem shaped by marine life and human history. As a visible link between land and sea, the gray heron underscores the interconnectedness of Japan’s natural world.

In the shadow of Mount Fuji, a fisherman casts his nets along Japan’s coast, embodying the satoumi tradition, where humans live in harmony with coastal ecosystems. Satoumi emphasizes stewardship of both land and sea, balancing fishing, agriculture, and nature to sustain marine life and local communities. Across Japan, this deep connection between people and the ocean has endured for generations. Here, culture, work, and ecology intertwine, showing that protecting the sea is a responsibility and a legacy, passed from one generation to the next.

On the rocky shores of Izu Peninsula, Sakana-kun, renowned Japanese ichthyologist [fish specialist], professor and artist, inspires millions of children across Japan to explore and protect the ocean. Through his SD Blue Earth (SDBE) he leads the Sakana-kun Exploration Team, an organization that encourages young people to fall in love with the ocean through hands-on activities, workshops and teaching moments designed to spark curiosity and foster a lifelong connection with the marine environment.

Photojournalist, National Geographic Explorer and SEA BEYONDer, Goodwill Ambassador of the project, Elisabetta Zavoli joins a group of children for a beach cleanup led by Sakana-kun at Yuigahama Beach, about an hour south of Tokyo. Witnessing firsthand the impact of a year-long program dedicated to ocean protection, through hands-on activities, including regular beach cleanups, these young learners explore the importance of marine conservation, learning how individual actions can safeguard ecosystems. Their efforts reflect a broader movement to inspire stewardship of the ocean, showing how education, engagement, and community action can cultivate a lifelong respect for Japan’s coastal and marine environments.

Children on Japan’s beaches carefully pick up plastics, even tiny microplastics, protecting the fragile coastal ecosystems they call home. These shores are also habitats for a variety of mollusks—snails, clams, oysters, and other bivalves—that produce the seashells scattered along the sand. Cone shells, cowries, and countless other species rely on clean, healthy waters to thrive. The children’s small hands make a big difference, and by removing waste they are safeguarding not only the ocean but also the intricate life it supports.

Mari Ito, one of the young participants in the ocean stewardship program, collects a discarded plastic fishing net from the beach. Her actions, part of a year-long initiative to protect Japan’s coasts, help prevent harm to marine life. By removing debris, Mari and her classmates are learning the importance of hands-on conservation, developing a deep respect for the ocean and its ecosystems. Small acts like hers show how the next generation is taking responsibility for the sea, turning curiosity into care to safeguard Japan’s marine ecosystems.

A torii gate stands along the Izu coast, its bright vermillion marking the boundary between land and sea. Traditionally a symbol of sacred space, here it reflects the respect Japan has long held for nature. Across the country, children clean beaches, fishermen uphold satoumi traditions, and educators like Sakana-kun inspire the next generation to protect marine ecosystems. The gate frames the Pacific as both a vital environment and a part of cultural heritage, and symbolizes the enduring relationship between people, land, and ocean.

Find out more about how understanding our ocean can be the very thing to help save it; and more about Prada Group’s work with UNESCO here.