2026 Water Cycle White Paper | Chapter 7FY2026 Water Cycle White Paper: Chapter 7 Measures to Promote Voluntary Activities

Chapter 7, “Measures to Promote Voluntary Activities by Private Organizations and Others,” states that the social activities of businesses, the public, and private organizations they form play a major role in maintaining and restoring a sound water cycle. Promoting these activities requires identifying, engaging, and developing people to run organizational activities, securing funding, and improving credibility through measures such as information disclosure. The chapter emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts by industry, academia, government, NPOs, and residents, addressing disaster prevention as well as the water environment.

The Water Source Region Future Conference supported problem solving and new initiatives through information sharing and outreach across regions and fields.

The Water Cycle Company Collaboration Fair was held to deepen corporate initiatives and raise interest. About 220 people participated in person and via web streaming, and the fair sought to further promote initiatives that contribute to a sound water environment.

Various forums, webinars, symposia, and information outreach promoted the conservation, creation, and use of a good water environment, enhanced regional appeal, and strengthened collaboration among stakeholders.

As collaboration support, in March 2026 the government published a method for simple measurement of forests’ water resource storage function to encourage companies and others to engage in forest creation and understand forest functions. At the Good Practice Seminar in November 2025 and the CDP Water and Ministry of the Environment joint seminar in February 2026, it shared good practices and provided information to encourage water-positive and watershed-wide initiatives, as well as disclosure of water-related information. Results of the nationwide aquatic organism survey were published on a website, and environmental survey training at watersides was also conducted with children and members of the public. Grants supported joint rural activities and maintenance of satoyama forests.

To encourage corporate initiatives that contribute to a sound water cycle, the Water Cycle Company Registration and Certification System was established in July 2024. In FY2025, 145 companies were certified as Water Cycle ACTIVE companies, and 3 interested companies were registered as Water Cycle CHALLENGE companies. In January 2026, the FY2025 Water Cycle Company Collaboration Fair was held to introduce good practices and other initiatives.

For human resource development, registered qualifications under the laws on environmental education and other matters were publicized on websites and through other channels. Under the River Act, private organizations and others that voluntarily work on river environment improvement and conservation are designated as River Cooperation Organizations and positioned as groups that collaborate with river administrators. A collection of rainwater use examples was also publicized at meetings of relevant ministries and agencies and at seminars for local government employees.

For awards, 2 individuals and 5 organizations with notable achievements in water resources administration received Water Resources Merit Awards. At the 27th Japan Water Prize, the Environmental Engineering Research Club of Gunma Prefectural Azuma Chuo High School received an award, and at the 2025 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Japan, the Environmental Studies Group of Okinawa Prefectural Miyako General High School won the grand prize. From 7,482 entries in the 47th All-Japan Junior High School Student Water Essay Contest, 1 top prize, 9 excellence awards, 30 selected entries, and 153 honorable mentions were chosen.

For regional promotion in FY2025, the Water Source Region Future Conference was held in Chiyoda, Tokyo, in June and in Morioka and Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, in November. Local governments and community members introduced examples and discussed challenges and approaches, while experts gave talks on infrastructure tourism and other topics. For information outreach, the government held the Waterside Environmental Activities Forum in June 2025, the Webinar on Tourism Promotion Using a Good Environment in November 2025, the Symposium on Creating a Good Environment 2025 in December 2025, and the FY2025 Satoumi Development Symposium, “Knowledge and Practice of Satoumi for the Future,” in January 2026. A GREEN × EXPO Award category was newly established for the Green Infrastructure Grand Prize, a collection of examples was published, and tours of good practices were held twice.