The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Discovers 866 New Marine Species After 10 Global Expeditions (2) [2025/04/17]
The following are some of the 866 new marine species discovered during 10 ocean expeditions by The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, a global alliance dedicated to the discovery and protection of marine life:
Guitar Shark. Image: The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census/Gallardo 2025.
Identified at around 200-meter depths off Mozambique and Tanzania by world-renowned shark expert Mr. David Ebert, also known as the “Lost Shark Guy” who has dedicated his career to searching for unknown shark species around the world.
This creature is part of a unique group of animals that share characteristics with sharks and rays. This is only the 38th known guitar shark species worldwide, a group so at-risk that two-thirds of its species are threatened.
Turridrupa magnifica – Gastropod. Image credits: The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Peter Stahlschmidt 2025.
A marine gastropod discovered at 200–500m depths off New Caledonia and Vanuatu by Dr. Peter Stahlschmidt of the University of Landau, Germany.
Turrid gastropods possess venomous “harpoons” used to catch prey, producing peptides with potential applications in pain relief and cancer treatment. A drug used to treat chronic pain was originally developed from a related snail family, underscoring the biotechnological promise of new ocean life.
New octocoral. Image credits: The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census / Asako Matsumoto, Shaaan 2025.
Found in the Maldives by Ms. Aishath Sarah Hashim and Ms. Aminath Nasath Shanaan (Maldives Marine Research Institute), and Ms. Asako K. Matsumoto (Chiba Institute of Technology; The University Museum, the University of Tokyo). There are only five known species of this genus.
Additionally, this is the first record of a genus from the Maldives. It highlights the diversity yet to be discovered. Octocorals provide essential habitat for marine life and play a key role in reef stability and nutrient cycling.
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census hopes its marine exploration program will make many more exciting discoveries like these to attain its ambitious goal of finding 100,000 new marine species in its first decade.
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Discovers 866 New Marine Species After 10 Global Expeditions (1) [2025/04/16]
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, a global alliance dedicated to the discovery and protection of marine life, has discovered 866 new marine species, marking a significant step in advancing our understanding of ocean biodiversity.
Using divers, submersibles and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), the new species have been identified from depths of 1 to 4,990 meters, with analysis conducted by collaborating scientists from the Ocean Census Science Network.
The Ocean Census global alliance has conducted 10 global expeditions over 16 months and hosted eight Species Discovery Workshops. The project has also awarded 19 Species Discovery Awards to taxonomists worldwide, fostering collaboration and expertise.
Among the 866 finds, a new species of shark, sea butterfly, mud dragon, bamboo coral, water bear, octocoral, sponge, shrimp, crab, reef fish, squat lobster, pipehorse, limpet, hooded shrimp, sea spiders and brittle stars encompassing dozens of taxonomic groups have now all been registered to the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform.
The beta version, developed in partnership with the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, is now accessible to researchers and the public alike.
The identification and official registration of a new species can take up to 13.5 years−
meaning some species may go extinct before they are even documented.
To address this, The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, a U.K.-based marine research institute, jointly launched the Ocean Census in April 2023 to transform species discovery with the ambitious target of finding at least 100,000 new marine species in the first decade by accelerating the identification of marine life to close critical knowledge gaps before it is too late.
The project has since evolved into a decentralized network of some 800 scientists participating from over 400 institutions worldwide−a more agile framework that unites diverse skills and resources globally.
Endorsed under the United Nations Ocean Decade, the Ocean Census has formed strategic partnerships with national marine research institutes, museums, universities, philanthropic organizations and technology partners. These alliances amplify research efforts in uncharted ocean regions, filling critical gaps in our understanding of marine life.
Representing the founding partner of the Ocean Census, Executive Director Mitsuyuki Unno of The Nippon Foundation, commented: “The ocean covers 71% of our planet, yet it is said that only around 10% of marine life has been discovered so far, leaving an estimated 1–2 million species still undocumented. These latest findings demonstrate how international collaboration can advance our understanding of ocean biodiversity.”
Mr. Oliver Steeds, director of the Ocean Census, stated: “The past two years have been transformative for the Ocean Census. We’ve pioneered new methods, forged key partnerships, established a global network of participating scientists and overcome the hurdles of a truly global mission. Our estimates suggest that discovering 100,000 new species could require at least U.S.$1 billion. We are laying the groundwork to make large-scale species discovery a reality, but our impact will ultimately be determined by how this knowledge is used to support marine protection, climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation.”
The Nippon Foundation Delivering Additional Emergency Humanitarian Assistance to People of Quake-Hit Myanmar [2025/04/11]
Standing in front of an 11-story apartment building in Mandalay in central Myanmar. The building was destroyed by a massive earthquake on March 28, 2025. I went there on April 3 during my visit to the Southeast Asian nation to see the damage firsthand.
The Nippon Foundation has decided to provide additional emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar, hard hit by a massive earthquake on March 28.
We made the decision after I visited the Sagaing Region, the city of Mandalay and the capital Naypyidaw on April 3 to assess firsthand the damage to those areas in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar.
The foundation is coordinating with local NGOs and directly delivering urgently needed items including mosquito nets, waterproof tarps, and bedding mats to roughly 30,000 households (estimated 150,000 people) living in the Sagaing Region and the city of Mandalay, close to the epicenter of the earthquake, and Naypyidaw Union Territory, where the damage was especially severe.
The emergency aid was in addition to the $3 million (roughly 450 million yen) worth of humanitarian relief, including food and medical supplies, that the foundation decided to provide a few days after the earthquake.
Doctors and nurses treat patients at a makeshift medical tent set up after a hospital was destroyed in the capital Naypyidaw by the strong earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
Survivors living on the median strip of a road in Mandalay where daytime temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
A destroyed building in Sagaing.
A destroyed junior high school in Sagaing where six people were believed to be buried beneath the rubble (as of April 3).
The Nippon Foundation Calls for Donations for Myanmar Earthquake Relief [2025/04/08]
A junior high school was completely destroyed by a strong earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28, 2025 (Sagaing, Myanmar, April 3).
The Nippon Foundation has begun accepting donations to support the people of Myanmar, which was hit by a powerful earthquake on March 28.
Many people were killed or injured by the earthquake and lives are still at risk. The epicenter was near Mandalay, the country’s second largest city.
Myanmar is home to more than 130 ethnic minority groups, and more than 2 million people live in challenging circumstances as conflict among these groups and with the government has forced them into poverty as refugees. The earthquake has made their lives even more difficult.
The Nippon Foundation began working in Myanmar roughly 50 years ago in the field of leprosy elimination. Since then, we have provided support in a variety of fields including health and sanitation, education, personnel exchanges and support for people with disabilities. Using the networks we have built and experience gained through these activities, we will provide the most urgent items needed to areas that were damaged.
Donations made to the foundation’s Special Fund for Disaster Preparedness from April 1 to June 30, 2025 (tentative date), will be used to purchase and deliver food, medical supplies and other emergency items, and for relief and reconstruction activities, in areas damaged by the earthquake.
The entire amount of donations received will be used to support relief efforts in response to the Myanmar earthquake. In the event any funds are left over, they will be used for relief efforts in response to a similar disaster.
Donations to the Special Fund for Disaster Preparedness can be made via the link below:
More Than Two in Three Ukrainian Evacuees in Japan Want to Become Long-Term Residents With Many Seeking Support for Employment, Language Training (2) [2025/04/07]
At the press conference on February 19 to provide an update on The Nippon Foundation’s support for Ukrainian evacuees in Japan, the three Ukrainians taking part talked about how they had made progress in learning Japanese, as well as their plans for future studies or work in Japan.
Mr. Oleksandr Samarukha, who came to Japan in June 2022 with his mother, grandmother and younger sister, said: “I am currently a third-year student at a high school in Nagasaki Prefecture (western Japan) and plan to graduate in March. When I first arrived, I did not understand any Japanese and had difficulty doing things like shopping and buying train tickets. However, I started attending a Japanese language school from August 2022 and studied Japanese very hard for about six months, and was able to pass the N4 level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (the level that indicates the ability to understand basic Japanese). I kept studying, and was able to enter high school.
“At first, the classes and tests were difficult and I struggled to make friends, but thanks to my teachers and classmates my Japanese gradually improved. I even took part in a speech contest and received an award at the prefectural competition, and entered the competition for all of Kyushu. I spoke about the importance of peace, and was glad that many people were able to hear what I had to say.
“I passed a university entrance exam in February, and from April I plan to study international travel management at university. I hope to become a flight attendant or work in some other kind of international occupation. I can speak Ukrainian, English, and Japanese, so I would like to use those languages in an international setting.”
Ms. Valeriia Lipina, an exchange student at a university in Fukuoka Prefecture (western Japan) majoring in Japanese language, said: “I am from Kyiv. I plan to graduate in March and work at a logistics-related company from April. Thinking that understanding the Japanese labor market was important if I wanted to work at a Japanese company, I used what I had learned at university and proactively participated in internships and other programs. As a result, I became interested in the operations of a logistics department, and decided that I wanted to work in that field. Making applications and going to interviews was difficult, but I learned by making mistakes and taking advice from my teachers, and eventually received an informal job offer.
“Looking ahead, I first want to acquire specialist knowledge through my work. I majored in linguistics, and next I want to build a career in logistics. I also want to participate in activities in Japan that let people know about the situation in Ukraine. I want to learn about and experience Japanese history, nature, and architecture while I am in Japan.”
Ms. Viktoriia Shetliez-Virich, who lives in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, said: “Before the Russian invasion, I had a business in Ukraine that specialized in tea. I’ve been interested in and learning about the Japanese tea ceremony for more than 10 years. When Russia invaded on February 24, 2022, however, my son and I evacuated to Poland and one month later we came to Japan on a charter flight.
From that very first day until today, we have been helped by many Japanese people. Initially, people in Kamakura helped us find a place to live, my son enroll in school, and me find a job. My son did not speak Japanese, but with the help of his teachers he steadily became able to participate in school life. He was able to pass the high school entrance exam and now attends a high school in Kanagawa Prefecture.
“Later, we moved to Yokohama, where housing was provided to evacuees from Ukraine. Now I am working part time at a confectionary company. I had been studying Japanese on my own, and now am attending a Japanese language school with financial support from The Nippon Foundation, for which I am very grateful.
“I have been lucky enough to be able to travel to various parts of Japan and learn about Japanese culture and traditions. My son plays basketball, and I participate in tea ceremony and theatrical activities. I am also involved with events held by the Ukrainian Embassy in Tokyo as a way of doing what I can to raise money to support Ukraine.”
More Than Two in Three Ukrainian Evacuees in Japan Want to Become Long-Term Residents With Many Seeking Support for Employment, Language Training (1) [2025/04/04]
(From left) Evacuees from Ukraine−Ms. Viktoriia Shetliez-Virich, Ms. Valeriia Lipina, and Mr. Oleksandr Samarukhaーand Vice President Jumpei Sasakawa of The Nippon Foundation at a press conference on February 19, 2025, to provide an update on the foundation’s support for Ukrainian evacuees in Japan
A survey by The Nippon Foundation has found that more than 70% of Ukrainian evacuees in Japan wish to become long-term residents three years after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
The poll was conducted from October 16 to December 10, 2024, covering 887 Ukrainians aged 18 and older who have been recipients of humanitarian assistance from the foundation since they fled the war-torn country to Japan.
As of the end of February 28, 2025, Japan was home to 1,980 Ukrainian evacuees, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.
The findings of the survey were announced at a press conference on February 19 by Mr. Jumpei Sasakawa, vice president of the foundation. The press conference was also joined by three Ukrainian evacuees−Ms. Viktoriia Shetliez-Virich, Ms. Valeriia Lipina, and Mr. Oleksandr Samarukha.
The survey respondents were among approximately 2,000 evacuees to whom the foundation has provided a total of 5.29 billion yen (about $35 million) worth of humanitarian assistance, including air tickets to Japan, 1 million yen (about $6,650) per year for living expenses for up to three years, and 500,000 yen (about $3,325) one-time furnishing expenses. We also supported consultation on their daily living, social interaction and employment support through NPOs and local governments.
Asked when they want to return to Ukraine, 44.4% of the respondents said they “want to stay in Japan as long as possible” and 27.1% said they “want to stay until the situation in Ukraine settles down.” Combining the responses shows that more than two in three Ukrainian evacuees (71.5%) want to become long-term residents in Japan.
On the other hand, 19.4% “want to decide depending on the situation in Japan,” including how much support they receive or whether they can ask their family members to join them in this country.
7.7% said they “have not decided or didn’t know” while a scant 0.6% said they “want to return to Ukraine as soon as possible or go to another country.”
As for their employment status, the poll showed that 53.9% were employed, up 7 percentage points over the previous survey a year earlier. Of these, those working full time accounted for 26.6% and those working part time for 73.4%. The percentage of those not working totaled 46%, with 27% of them seeking employment.
Many evacuees are seeking stable jobs as a basis for staying in Japan over the long term. The most common form of support mentioned by 45.9% of those surveyed (apart from material or financial assistance) is job placement services and vocational training.
When parents were asked where they would like their children to be educated, 65.6% preferred their children to continue their education in Japan, while less than 20% wanted their children to be educated outside Japan, either in Ukraine (14.3%) or another country (4.5%).
Regarding their children’s Japanese language proficiency, 46.1% of their children “fully understand” or “basically understand” Japanese, a significant improvement compared to less than 10% (8.3%) at the time of their initial arrival in Japan.
When Ukrainian children first arrived in Japan, 82.9% either understood almost no Japanese or could only recognize a few words, as compared to just 17.1% currently. By steadily acquiring Japanese language skills, Ukrainians are overcoming one of the main barriers to pursuing employment and education in Japan, the survey found.
Speaking at the press conference, Vice President Sasakawa said the foundation’s three-year support for daily living will be phased out, depending on when the evacuees arrived.
“Many Ukrainian evacuees are adapting to Japan, and it seems to me that our support up to now has been effective. Moving forward, we would like to continue providing support for Japanese language education and employment in tandem with NPOs and local governments,” he added.
Responding to Myanmar Earthquake, The Nippon Foundation to Provide $3 Million in Humanitarian Aid [2025/04/03]
The Nippon Foundation has decided to provide the equivalent of $3 million (roughly 450 million yen) worth of emergency assistance, including food and medical supplies, to Myanmar, which was hit by a massive earthquake on March 28.
The foundation intends to deliver the aid quickly, in line with on-site needs, with coordination of what goods are to be delivered where being carried out primarily by The Nippon Foundation Myanmar Liaison Office in Yangon.
The following is the comment I issued on March 31 as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar:
“I would like to extend my deepest condolences to everyone who has been affected by the earthquake that struck Myanmar and surrounding areas.
Beginning with projects to eliminate leprosy in the country, The Nippon Foundation has been working in Myanmar for roughly 50 years, providing assistance in various fields including human resource development, health and sanitation, education, personnel exchanges, and support for people with disabilities.
As Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, I have been working to achieve peace in the country since 2013. I plan to go to Myanmar from April 2 to assess the situation and to ensure that assistance can be distributed to areas that are engaged in conflict with the State Administrative Council (the military junta currently governing Myanmar). We will use the network that we have built through providing humanitarian assistance in the country to date to provide optimal support.”
I left Tokyo International Airport (Haneda) in the small hours of April 2, arriving in Myanmar via Thailand later in the day.
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to India from January 29 to February 3, 2025, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
[February 1, Bhubaneswar, India]
Visiting the Jaganath Kustha Colony.
I learned that the residents of the colony live in fear of being evicted at any moment.
Encouraging the residents of the leprosy colony to rise up and work together to better their day-to-day lives.
With children who treated me to a dance performance.
Visiting the Cuttack Leprosy Home and Hospital for the first time in 22 years. The home has over 200 residents and the 120-bed hospital sees 150 patients a day from all over Odisha.
The wall separating the facility from the outside world remains as it was 22 years ago.
With a bust of Mahatma Gandhi. January 30, the anniversary of Gandhi’s death, is observed as Anti-Leprosy Day in India.
En route to the next colony, one of the tires on the bus burst with a loud bang and we had to wait a while alongside the main road.
A sacred cow greets me while the burst tire is being replaced.
Visiting the Shantidan Kustha Colony. I was garlanded to the point that I couldn’t move my head from side to side.
Trying to plant trees, my neck felt so heavy that I thought I might tip over.
All colonies have serious land problems.
[February 2, Bhubaneswar, India]
With Ms. Maya Ranavare (left), president of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL), and its Vice President Mr. Jawahar Ram Paswan (right).
After an overnight stay in Chennai, we moved on to the next destination of our two-nation trip, Sri Lanka.
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to India from January 29 to February 3, 2025, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
[January 31, Bhubaneswar, India]
Visiting the Dahrbati Leprosy Colony and the adjacent Bapujee Kushta Seva Sangh Colony.
With a mother cuddling one of her two daughters
Young people upon whom the future of the country depends.
Inside one of the colonies.
Addressing some 100 residents of Dahrbati Leprosy Colony and the Bapujee Kushta Seva Sangh Colony.
Noting that the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) represents about 800 leprosy colonies across India, I said: “Let’s unite and fight together for the future of your children.”
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my visit to India from January 29 to February 3, 2025, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
Flying from Delhi to Bhubaneshwar in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, I participated in hosting the Global Appeal 2025 to End Stigma and Discrimination against Persons Affected by Leprosy.
In addition to speaking at the event, I listened to leaders of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL) who had come from all over the country to represent their communities in various states. I also met with Odisha governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati and visited four nearby colonies and a hospital.
India has the highest number of leprosy cases in the world with some 130,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Odisha one of the high-burden states for the disease.
[January 29, Delhi, India]
With Mr. Tarun Das (right), chairman of the Sasakawa-India Leprosy Foundation (S-ILF) at his home.
[January 30, Bhubaneswar, Odisha State, India]
After traveling southeast from Delhi to Bhubaneswar, the capital and largest city of the eastern Indian state of Odisha, I met with Dr. Vivek Lal, the team leader of the WHO Global Leprosy Program.
With Mr. Mukesh Mahaling (right), Health and Family Welfare Minister of Odisha, who joined a ceremony to launch Global Appeal 2025 to End Stigma and Discrimination Against Persons Affected by Leprosy. The appeal was endorsed by the health ministries of 56 countries.
The launch, co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative, brought together persons affected by leprosy from many Indian states, representatives of the Odisha Ministry of Health, and several other experts and advocates for leprosy elimination. This was the 20th Global Appeal since the first was launched in 2006, also in India.
The annual appeal, which I initiated in 2006, is issued on or near World Leprosy Day, which falls on the last Sunday in January. In India, Anti-Leprosy Day is marked each year on January 30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
Mr. Mahaling told the event: “The Indian government, as well as the Odisha government, has a roadmap to eradicate leprosy by 2030. Leprosy is curable. It is inspiring to see people who were affected by leprosy championing the cause and becoming advocates. We are working together with the Sasakawa Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) Initiative for leprosy elimination in Odisha.”
Nearly 100 persons affected by leprosy were honored for their contributions to ending leprosy-related stigma and discrimination and for advocating for stronger efforts to eliminate the disease by 2030.
Odisha is a highly endemic area for leprosy. I was pleased that for the first time in the Global Appeal’s 20-year history, we were able to launch it from a location on the front line of the fight against the disease.
Addressing the ceremony, I highlighted the fact that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary since the Global Appeal was first launched in Delhi in 2006.
Over the years, several Nobel Peace Prize laureates and other influential leaders have endorsed the call to end leprosy-related stigma and discrimination. I also praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to achieving the ambitious goal of a leprosy-free India by 2030.
“If we join hands and combine our efforts, the vision of a leprosy-free world is not an impossible dream−together, we can make it possible,” I said.
The ceremony was attended by nearly 100 persons affected by leprosy from many Indian states.
Three teenage girls were selected to read aloud this year’s Global Appeal from the stage.
A joint press conference by the author and Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling was covered by about 20 journalists.
Noting that there are 99 leprosy colonies in Odisha, I told them: “We are working tenaciously to eradicate leprosy and stigma and discrimination associated with it so that there will need to be no colonies in the state.”
With Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati (center). We were also joined by Ms. Maya Ranavare (second from right), president of the Association of People Affected by Leprosy (APAL), an umbrella organization of self-settled leprosy colonies across India, and its regional leaders from the states of Jharkhand and Odisha.
With a security guard at the governor’s official residence.
In the garden of the governor’s official residence.
Meeting with leaders of colonies of people affected by leprosy.
Taking back packages of wheat, salt, sugar and oil to their colonies.
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census Discovers 866 New Marine Species After 10 Global Expeditions (2)
2025.
