#Japan #Tokyo #FORVAL #Marine Education #Umi-Pos Koshien

Forval's Role in Umi-Pos Koshien 2025

On November 2, 2025, Forval Co., Ltd., a prominent consultancy known for visualizing ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management, took part in the Umi-Pos Koshien 2025 final presentation contest as a jury member. Aiming to promote collaboration between people and marine environments, Forval’s participation underscores its commitment to nurturing the next generation's connection with the sea through innovative ventures.

Founded in Shibuya, Tokyo, Forval is led by CEO Masanori Nakajima and has made it its mission to create a brighter future through the initiative 'Supporting New Norms: Shaping a New World.' They employ a unique approach of acting as next-generation corporate doctors, guiding businesses through visible and hands-on ESG management.

The Umi-Pos Koshien, organized by the Ocean Alliance, attracted 273 teams from across Japan, resulting in ten finalists who presented their solutions to pressing marine issues. These teams had the opportunity to develop their ideas from the initial application stage, refining their presentation skills and enhancing their thematic posters as they worked towards solutions that connect humanity to the ocean.

Each team participated in a five-minute final presentation where they displayed their posters, highlighted their activities, and shared their vision. Following comprehensive evaluations, various awards including the grand prize were bestowed. Notably, Forval’s F-Japan Promotion Headquarters Division Manager, Naoki Yanagida, played a crucial role as a judge and awarded the 'Regional Revitalization and Forval Prize' to the winning team.

Overview of Umi-Pos Koshien

The Umi-Pos Koshien contest aims to ensure a rich and beautiful ocean for future generations as part of the comprehensive Japanese Foundation's 'Ocean and Japan Project.' By engaging high school students, the initiative fosters a proactive understanding of marine challenges and promotes teamwork to connect people through the sea.

The current year marks the fourth iteration of the contest, reflecting growing interest with 52 schools and 273 teams participating. Teams focused on selected marine issues, expressing their insights through a poster and entry sheet outlining their aspirations and activities. From these submissions, ten finalists were chosen to advance to the final presentation.

Finalists were supported with a monetary grant of 100,000 yen to implement their proposed initiatives. They presented their innovative projects at the final event, where the excellence of their proposed solutions was recognized with various awards determined by a comprehensive judging process. After the presentations, finalist teams are expected to continue their work toward solving marine issues until the end of the 2025 academic year, expanding their outreach.

A Live Broadcast for Local Supporters

To engage local supporters, the contest was live-streamed on YouTube, offering broader community access to the excitement and activity of the event. The award ceremony celebrated the remarkable achievements of the finalists, acknowledging the top three teams alongside five special jury awards. Team members expressed their immense gratitude for the recognition received during the awards, with joy reflecting their hard work and dedication.

Among the awarded teams was the 'Misaki High School Sea & Urchin Club' from Ehime Prefecture, acclaimed for their project centered on protecting local culture and ocean industries through the promotion of the area's specialty, the "Red Sea Urchin."

The team shared their elation upon receiving the Regional Revitalization and Forval Prize, acknowledging the stress of their presentations yet feeling incredibly honored by the recognition of their efforts. They hope to use this platform to spread awareness of their local treasures, aiming to highlight the beauty and flavor of the Misaki area more widely.

About The Ocean Alliance

The Ocean Alliance collaborates with initiatives to draw attention to coastal regions while fostering education surrounding the ocean through various campaigns aimed at tourism and regional revitalization, including the Umi-Pos contest.

About Forval Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1980, Forval operates as a consultancy specializing in five core areas: information communication, international business, environmental management, human resources and education, as well as business succession. Their focus on ESG efforts is aligned with Japan's cooperative initiatives to cultivate local economic revitalization through DX and GX human resource development.

In conclusion, the event exemplifies the important role of youth in championing the health of oceans and highlights Forval's dedication to supporting the next generation as they innovate and engage with the world around them.