September 17, 2013

Local Area Research ofGreat East Japan Earthquake Related Marine Driftage
Press Release
JEAN (Japan environmental Action Network) to head research for Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami
related marine driftage in British Columbia, Canada and Washington State of the U.S. This research is
conducted by JEAN who is coordinator of Japan’s ICC (International Coastal Cleanup), and is supported by theJapanese Ministry of Environment (MoE). Please inform relevant organizations/ media outlets about this event.
1. Objective
To prepare for the arrival of large volume tsunami and earthquake related marine driftage, conduct afollow-up survey trip to North America utilizing the relationship built during the visit to the state of Oregon
in 2012 for the same research purpose.

Conduct local area research by dispatching members of Japanese NGOs concurrently with the ICC
effort held every September.

Focus research on the coastal areas of British Columbia, Canada where the research team could notvisit last year.

Build relations and collaborate with Canada and U.S based NGOs to receive information on possible
large tsunami driftage arrival with the aim of informing the Japanese people with up-to-date tsunami
disaster related environmental problems/ news.

2. Content
1. Inspect the beaches and look for driftage materials that may be from the 2011 earthquake andtsunami.
2. Inspect and compare the amount and variety of driftage collected in 2011 with ones collected between
2012 and this year.
3. Conduct hearing meetings with NGOs, state government officials, Japanese-Canadian groups
involved on the status and issues concerning tsunami driftage.
4. Discuss and come up with measures among the NGOs of Canada U.S and Japan on how toeffectively and swiftly handle the driftage problem collaboratively.
5. Collection of tsunami driftage with collaboration and support from local NGOs.
3. Schedule and location:
As stated in the separate document.

Possible press coverage locations and hours (Must obtain an approval from the indigenous community toaccess research area in Washington state, US):th

Hearing meeting at Ucluelet, BC, Canada in the afternoon of September 25 (local time)Coastal cleanup at Ucluelet of September 26 (local time)th*Please secure your our own transportation when coming to the above locations.

4. Research supporter in British Columbia, Canada:	  Title: Environmental & Emergency Services Manager, District of Ucluelet, British Columbia, Canada
Name: Karla Robison
Email: krobison@ucluelet.ca
Tel: +1-250-266-2254

Representative Director of JEAN
Hiroshi Kaneko
JEAN Media Contact:
Azusa Kojima, Secretary and Director of Japan Environmental Action Network (JEAN)
Address: 3-4-12-202 Minamimachi, Kokubunji, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81(0)42-322-0712	 

Website: http://www.jean.jp

Separate document

Japan research members:
Name

Organization

Location

Chairman of Non-Profit Organization Partnership Office,Kazumichi SatoYamagata

CanadaTetsuhiro NagayamaRepresentative of KIDS NOW JAPAN

CanadaShigeru Fujieda

Professor at Faculty of Fisheries of Kagoshima University

Canada and US

Katsuyuki Sugimori

Non-Profit Organization The Oceanic Wildlife Society

CanadaTechnical Official of Office of Marine Environment, Water

Junichiro Noguchi

Environment Division at Ministry of the Environment (MoE)
Representative Director of Japan Environmental Action

Hiroshi Kaneko

Network (JEAN)

Canada and US

CanadaAzusa Kojima

Secretary and Director of JEAN

Canada and US

Rima HosoyamadaInternational liasion of JEAN

Canada and US

Research Schedule as of September --, 2013
Date

Schedule

Tuesday, September 24th

Wednesday, September 25th

Thursday, September 26th

Friday, September 27th

Saturday, September 28th

Sunday, September 29th

Monday, September 30th

Tuesday, October 1stDepart Japan (Narita) at 16:00 on AC004→ Arrive in Vancouver, Canada at 08:50
15:00- Meet with ICC members for information exchange at Vancouver
Aquarium
Stay in Vancouver
Leave for Ucluelet
15:00- Meeting with Ucluelet researchers at Ucluelet
Staty in Ucluelet
08:00- Marine driftage research in Ucluelet
13:30- Research in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and otherlocations
Stay in Ucluelet
08:00- Beach research in Ucluelet, then return to Vancouver
18:00(approx.)-Arrive in Vancouver
Stay in Vancouver
Hearing meeting and or participate in beach cleanup effort (TBD)
Stay in Vancouver
US research team leaves for Washington (Shigeru Fujieda, Junichiro
Noguchi, Azusa Kojima and Rima Hosoyamada)＜Remaining research members＞Return to Japan at 12:10 on AC003→Arrive in Japan (Narita) at 14:20 on September 30th
US research team leaves Seattle for La Push or Forks to conduct beachsurveys in these areas
US research in Washington stateContinue beach surveying in La Push areaBack to Seattle
Return to Japan
Seattle→Vancouver
Depart Vancouver at 11:50 on AC003→ Arrive in Japan (Narita) at 14:20 on October 2nd