Protecting the Ocean with Drones - Selected for METI's "300 Excellent Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Businesses That Shine"

Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd. (Address: Tottori Prefecture Kurayoshi City Oka, Branch: Tottori Prefecture Tohaku District Yurihama Town Hawi Nagase, President and CEO: Yuhiro Nakagawa), a member company of the Yurihama Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Address: Tottori Prefecture Tohaku District Yurihama Town Ryushima 501-1, Chairman: Kenichi Kawata), has been selected for the 2025 "300 Excellent Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Businesses That Shine." The award ceremony was held on May 29, 2026, at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry auditorium. "300 Excellent Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Businesses That Shine" This program, run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, selects 300 small and medium-sized enterprises and small businesses nationwide that have achieved outstanding results through unique technologies, services, and regional contributions, overcoming various challenges such as labor shortages, rising prices, DX, and GX. The aim is to widely introduce these "promising companies" that are driving the revitalization of the Japanese economy and regional development, and to use their initiatives as role models. Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd. has been selected in the "Growth Strategy and Productivity Improvement" category. Marine Debris Cleaning Business Using Drones The marine debris cleaning business conducted by Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd. aims to significantly improve work efficiency (productivity improvement) and enhance operational safety by utilizing drones for the transportation of marine debris. Developed proprietary drone body and control system capable of transporting approximately 15-30 kg of flexible container bags. The Social Problem of Marine Debris Marine debris includes natural objects like driftwood, marine debris from fishing activities, and land-based waste such as plastic bottles and plastics, and it is increasing year by year. On many coasts across Japan, washed-up debris is often left uncleaned, posing a significant social problem by not only affecting the landscape but also having a major impact on the ecosystem. However, many marine debris cleaning sites are located on rocky shores or sandy areas inaccessible to heavy machinery or large trucks, making even the transportation of collected debris a major challenge. Furthermore, many tasks involve risks, causing contractors to hesitate in actively undertaking such work, leading to a situation where cleaning operations are falling behind. "What if we used a drone..." The decision to commercialize the business stemmed from a casual remark by an employee on-site. Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd. was conducting marine debris cleaning operations on a beach in Yurihama Town. While carrying flexible container bags with 2-3 people to load the collected debris onto trucks, struggling on the uneven terrain of the beach, an employee casually remarked, "It might be easier if we used a drone!?" Hearing this casual conversation, President Nakagawa, who had long recognized the dangers of marine debris cleaning operations, decided to pursue full-scale development. Overcoming the COVID-19 Pandemic: Initiatives for New Business This was during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd., whose main business is waste disposal, was also significantly impacted by the decrease in waste volume due to business closures and operational suspensions, leading to a decline in sales. Amidst this situation, President Nakagawa saw great potential in a marine debris cleaning business utilizing drones. However, it was found that existing drones were difficult to operate for this purpose due to the challenges of carrying bags filled with debris and maintaining vehicle control against strong coastal winds. This meant that the company had to develop the drone body itself, incurring significant costs. Therefore, they considered utilizing the "Subsidy for Business Reconstruction" (METI). With the support of the Yurihama Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry and by leveraging the expert dispatch system, they refined their subsidy application with advice from a small and medium enterprise management consultant. Utilizing the subsidy, they began development and commercialized a marine debris transportation drone, which President Nakagawa claims is the first in the industry. We Want to Clean the Seas of Japan Marine debris cleaning is primarily carried out upon request from local governments. Since general waste and industrial waste are mixed, permits are generally required for each administrative district. Consequently, simply operating drones by Hokumei Sangyo alone will not clean the seas. They have established the "Japan Drone Association for Marine Debris Recovery Promotion" to promote marine debris recovery operations using drones nationwide, including providing drone rentals, know-how for recovery operations, and information sharing. Inquiries have already been received from local governments in regions such as Kyushu, and the day when drones will be seen working on coastlines across Japan is not far off. Future Developments ~From Disaster Prevention to Mackerel~ Furthermore, the developed drones are expected to be utilized in the disaster prevention field, as they can transport relief supplies in situations where roads are cut off during disasters. Last March, they participated in a disaster preparedness drill at a park near Lake Togo in Yurihama Town. In addition to disaster situations, they are also receiving consultations for transporting goods to mountainous areas. On March 8th, an experiment was conducted to air-lift live mackerel at the "Mackerel Festival 2026" held in Iwami Town. They are advancing business development utilizing drones from the central part of Tottori Prefecture. Courtesy Visit to Yurihama Town Mayor Mayor Miyawaki (left) and President Nakagawa (right) Following the award ceremony at METI, on June 1st (Monday), President Nakagawa (Hokumei Sangyo) and two staff members from the Yurihama Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry paid a courtesy visit to Yurihama Town Mayor Miyawaki to report on the award. This is the second company from Yurihama Town to receive the "300 Excellent Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Businesses That Shine" award, following Premaspace Inc. The Yurihama Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to support not only the development of local industries but also companies that can achieve success nationwide. 【Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd.】 Company Name: Hokumei Sangyo Co., Ltd. Representative: Yuhiro Nakagawa, Representative Director Head Office Address: 20-10 Oka, Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture Branch: 1675 Hawi Nagase, Yurihama Town, Tohaku District, Tottori Prefecture Business Description: Manufacturing and sales of greening base materials Manufacturing and sales of horticultural soil General waste disposal, industrial waste disposal Official Website: https://hokumei-sangyo.jp/