Innoqua and MOL Achieve World's First Artificial Flowering of Seagrass 'Phyllospadix japonica' in a Closed Environment

The aquarium that recreates the sea of Oarai, permanently installed at the Oarai Ferry Terminal

Innoqua Inc. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuta Takakura; hereinafter "Innoqua"), a company that uses its proprietary "Environmental Transplant Technology®" to recreate Earth's ecosystems indoors and promote the demonstration and social implementation of Nature Positive initiatives, has successfully achieved the world's first flowering of the seagrass 'Phyllospadix japonica Makino' (Ebi-amamo) in an artificial environment. This milestone was accomplished within the aquarium that recreates the sea of Oarai, permanently installed at the Oarai Ferry Terminal in Ibaraki Prefecture by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Sunflower Ltd. (According to company research).

Female inflorescence of Phyllospadix japonica

Background

The sea off Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a convergence zone where the warm Kuroshio Current and the cold Oyashio Current meet, known for having Japan's richest diversity of seaweed species and an exceptionally vibrant marine ecosystem. However, in recent years, the threat of 'kaisoyake' (reef die-off), characterized by a rapid decline in seaweed along coastlines nationwide due to global warming and rising sea temperatures, has become widespread. The annual reduction of seaweed beds in Oarai's waters has become a serious issue.

Seaweed beds, often referred to as the 'marine forest,' serve not only as spawning grounds and nurseries for numerous marine species but also play an extremely important role in absorbing carbon dioxide, known as 'blue carbon.' Among these, 'Phyllospadix japonica' (Ebi-amamo) is a representative seagrass that grows in rocky offshore areas. However, its maintenance and management in artificial environments have been extremely difficult, and research on its ecology and regeneration has been limited until now.

Against this backdrop, Innoqua, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Sunflower have jointly advanced a project to convey the value of Oarai's rich marine forest and pass it on to future generations. As part of this joint project, the three companies have continued cultivating Ebi-amamo in the aquarium inside the Oarai Ferry Terminal. By recreating the sea of Oarai using Innoqua's proprietary Environmental Transplant Technology®, and through continuous daily care, they have successfully achieved the world's first artificial flowering of 'Ebi-amamo' in a completely closed environment.

Previous Initiatives

Regular Marine Education Events for Elementary School Students At the Oarai Ferry Terminal, experiential events have been held for local elementary school students, using the aquarium that recreates the actual sea as an educational tool. These events have created opportunities for children to learn about the importance of their local marine environment in a fun and engaging way.

Past Activity Records (Official Announcements and Reports)

Details of the event co-hosted last December (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Official Website) URL: https://www.mol.co.jp/sustainability/news/2025/1216.html

Details of previous collaborations and events between Innoqua and the Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Group

URL: https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000047.000047217.html URL: https://corp.innoqua.jp/articles/u6gr-8gam URL: https://corp.innoqua.jp/news/s2pqvhvd4 URL: https://corp.innoqua.jp/news/wkxfjrivh

Future Developments

Moving forward, the aquarium where artificial flowering has been achieved will serve as a hub for environmental education, continuing activities in collaboration with the local community to promote the charm of seagrass and the sea of Oarai.

Furthermore, aiming to go beyond educational activities, the Oarai Ferry Terminal will be utilized as a platform to provide opportunities for local children to actively participate in marine research.

The initiative will continue awareness-raising activities to increase interest in marine environments and, in the long term, aims to become a venue for fostering new academic research and technological development to address the issue of kaisoyake and promote seaweed bed regeneration.

Comments from Stakeholders

Hirohisa Ushio, Group Executive Officer of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. / Representative Director, President and Group Executive Officer of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Sunflower Ltd.

The Oarai Ferry Terminal has developed as an irreplaceable hub connecting people and the sea, supported by many customers and local residents.

We are deeply grateful and greatly pleased that, through collaboration with Innoqua, we have realized the installation of a large aquarium and succeeded in recreating a rich natural environment, culminating in this remarkable achievement. Through this facility, we hope to convey the charm of the sea and the preciousness of life, and to share the importance of environmental conservation with a wide range of generations, creating a legacy for the future.

We will continue to create new value connecting the sea and people, while valuing coexistence with the local community.

Yutaka Kunii, Mayor of Oarai Town

Innoqua Inc. has launched programs to learn about the sea, under the banner of 'Passing on Oarai's Rich Marine Forest to the Future,' in collaboration with the local community and companies such as Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. Seaweed beds have been a familiar presence in our lives, and their rich nature was once taken for granted. However, as kaisoyake—where seaweed decreases—spreads across Japan, we deeply feel the wonder and rarity of what we have lost. Phyllospadix japonica plays a fundamental role in the ecosystem and has important functions such as absorbing carbon dioxide. The successful artificial flowering in our town, a world first, is a great joy. Let us continue these efforts to pass on a rich marine environment to future generations, with the entire community and businesses working together.

Yuta Takakura, Representative Director and CEO of Innoqua Inc.

We deeply value the achievement of successfully inducing artificial flowering of Ebi-amamo, a species previously difficult to maintain, in Oarai using our 'Environmental Transplant Technology®.' We are profoundly grateful to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Oarai Town, and the local community for advancing this project together to 'pass on Oarai's rich marine forest to the future.'

Our mission is to 'deliver the value of nature to people's hearts.' We aim to transform this achievement from a one-time experiment into a model case of community-wide 'Nature Positive (natural regeneration)' by broadly involving local businesses, government, and educational institutions. Through creating research opportunities for children using the Oarai Ferry Terminal as a platform, we will contribute to sustainable seaweed bed regeneration and the recovery of the local marine ecosystem from both business and technological perspectives.

About Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines operates over 900 vessels, making it one of the world's leading shipping companies. To respond to the ever-changing social needs such as environmental conservation, the company operates not only shipping but also social infrastructure businesses, as well as wellness lifestyle businesses including real estate, cruises, and ferries. With the world's largest fleet and approximately 140 years of history, experience, and technology, MOL is transforming into a global social infrastructure company, supporting people's daily lives from the blue seas, opening up a rich future, and delivering new value to all stakeholders.

About Innoqua Inc.

Founded in 2019, Innoqua is a comprehensive team of environmental professionals. Centered on aquatic ecosystem experts specializing in corals, mangroves, seaweed, and freshwater organisms such as diving beetles and medaka, the company includes university professors and other natural science researchers, as well as environmental business specialists. Under the mission of 'expanding humanity's choices and creating a world where both people and nature thrive,' Innoqua collaborates with industry, government, and academia to co-create new nature-related businesses, aiming for a sustainable and prosperous Earth.