2025 Activity Report vol.25:Sophia University

A delegation from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), led by Mr. Jorg Anson (Pohnpei State Government), participated in Sakura Science Exchange Program hosted by Sophia University Island Sustainability Institute (ISI). The program focused on strengthening institutional capacity, advancing blue food systems, and promoting women's leadership in fisheries. For small island developing states (SIDS) such as FSM, fisheries are central to food security, livelihoods, and economic resilience. Increasing climate variability, disaster exposure, and import dependence make diversification and inclusive governance strategic priorities.

■Program Objectives

The exchange was designed to:

• Advance women's participation and leadership across fisheries value chains, including landing, inspection, processing, branding, and sales.
• Strengthen blue food value chains through exposure to Japanese best practices in fisheries management, processing, and food safety.
• Examine post-disaster recovery models relevant to climate-vulnerable island states.
• Promote institutional collaboration between Sophia University ISI and the Pohnpei State Government under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

■Site-Based Learning and Institutional Engagement

Field visits were conducted in Miyagi Prefecture, including Kesennuma Fishing Port, Abecho Shoten processing facilities, and the Ishinomaki Fishing Market. Miyagi provides a globally recognized case of fisheries-sector rebuilding following the 11 March 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami. For FSM, where extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, the Miyagi experience offers policy-relevant lessons in infrastructure rebuilding, cooperative governance, and resilience planning.

[Kesennuma Fishing Port]

Kesennuma, Japan's leading bonito landing port, demonstrates integrated technological innovation and cooperative management. Observed systems included computerized fish auctions, traceability systems, and advanced logistics operations that enhance efficiency and food safety. Of particular relevance to FSM was the cooperative's “gender-free” operational policy. Women are actively engaged in administrative leadership, auction operations, inspection, logistics, and sales. This inclusive model demonstrates that gender equity in fisheries is not only a social objective but also an economic strategy that strengthens performance and community resilience.

Key policy takeaway: Institutional mechanisms that formalize women's participation across value chains contribute to both governance stability and market competitiveness.

[Abecho Shoten] Women and Value-Added Innovation

Abecho Shoten, which lost nine processing facilities in the 2011 disaster, rebuilt and diversified into higher-value production, retail, and restaurant operations. More than 80 percent of its workforce is female, underscoring women's central role in processing and value-chain development. Its post-disaster transformation demonstrates how rebuilding can catalyze technological modernization and product diversification.

Key policy takeaway: Women-led processing and value-added enterprises can drive economic recovery, strengthen food safety standards, and increase domestic retention of fisheries value.

[Ishinomaki Fishing Market]

The Ishinomaki Fishing Market represents large-scale modernization and sustainability integration. Post-2011 rebuilding incorporated renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, water recycling infrastructure, and advanced waste management. The implementation of HACCP systems across the fisheries value chain provides a replicable model for FSM's efforts to strengthen food safety governance and export compliance.

Key policy takeaway: Integrated food safety systems are foundational to blue economy competitiveness and international market access.

■Women's Leadership and Next-Generation Capacity Development

Across all site visits, women's participation emerged as a central theme. Japanese women in fisheries are actively engaged not only in processing and entrepreneurship but also in technological innovation, branding, cooperative leadership, and food education (shokuiku) initiatives in schools.

For FSM, where formal higher education pathways are limited and women's participation in technical leadership roles remains constrained, these examples provide practical models for policy adaptation. The exchange reinforced the importance of:

• Expanding women's employment in processing and value-added activities.
• Developing education pathways that encourage young women to pursue higher education.
• Integrating women's leadership into fisheries governance and resilience planning.

■Forward Actions

Building on this exchange, the following actions are anticipated:

• Development of policy recommendations to strengthen women's participation in FSM's fisheries sector.
• Exploration of small-scale processing facility development to expand domestic value retention.
• Continued academic collaboration under the ISI–Pohnpei State Government MoU.
• Reciprocal field engagement in FSM to assess context-specific adaptation of observed models.

■Conclusion

This JST Sakura Science exchange demonstrated that technological innovation, cooperative governance, and women's leadership are mutually reinforcing pillars of resilient fisheries systems. For FSM, the lessons from Miyagi Prefecture provide actionable insights for strengthening blue food systems, enhancing food security, and advancing inclusive, climate-resilient community development.