#Japan #Tokyo #Water Quality #International Standards #NSF Japan

NSF Japan Water Forum 2026: An Insight into Global Water Standards

On June 11, the NSF Japan Water Forum 2026 was held in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, marking a significant event dedicated to discussing international water standards and regulations. This inaugural forum attracted leaders from Japan's water-related industries, highlighting the nation's commitment to ensuring safe drinking water.

NSF (National Sanitation Foundation), a leader in public health and safety, has been at the forefront of maintaining health standards worldwide. During this forum, the organization introduced vital international water quality standards and regulatory trends. Takako Kuwahara, the project manager for NSF Japan, emphasized the organization's dedication to providing manufacturers and industry leaders with support to meet rigorous international requirements for water treatment systems. She stated, “NSF Japan is committed to enhancing collaboration between public and private sectors, while showcasing cutting-edge industry insights and expertise.”

Key Presentations

The forum featured a comprehensive overview of existing NSF regulations and U.S. regulatory trends by Nasrin Kashefi, Director of the North American Water Division Plastic and Piping Products. Following her presentation, Taihei Oshima, Territory Account Executive from NSF Japan, introduced NSF’s Drinking Water Treatment Unit (DWTU) regulations, detailing the universal regulatory framework established under the European Minimum Health Requirements (EU-MHR) applicable to all 27 EU member countries. His discussion included the description of NSF Protocol 534, which assists manufacturers in preparing for compliance with EU-MHR through pre-evaluations and certifications.

Engaging Panel Discussion

The event concluded with a dynamic panel discussion featuring prominent figures from the industry, including Takashi Sukimoto, Quality Assurance Manager at Asahi Kasei Corporation, Tomoaki Yokota from Daicel Corporation, and Itsuki Sugihara from Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec. Moderated by Takako Kuwahara, this discussion started with representatives showcasing their NSF-certified products. They delved into how NSF certification has influenced research and development, marketing, and sales within their organizations. The dialogues also touched on expectations for NSF’s support in fostering business growth moving forward.

Additionally, the panel addressed the critical role of standards in ensuring safe drinking water, from source to faucet, and discussed innovative, locally-rooted solutions to overcome industry challenges.

NSF Japan has been serving the food, water, and wellness industries for nearly three decades, supporting companies in these sectors to comply with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements not just within Japan, but also for exports to North America and Europe.

Forum Agenda Highlights

• - Overview of Existing NSF Standards and U.S. Regulatory Trends

Nasrin Kashefi (Director, North American Water Division Plastic and Piping Products)

• - Introduction to NSF DWTU-related Standards and EU-MHR (including P534)

Taihei Oshima (Territory Account Executive, NSF Japan)

• - Panel Discussion

Facilitator: Takako Kuwahara (Project Manager, NSF Japan)
Panelists:
Takashi Sukimoto (Asahi Kasei Corporation)
Tomoaki Yokota (Daicel Corporation)
Itsuki Sugihara (Mitsubishi Chemical Infratec)

• - Q&A Session

About NSF

Established over 80 years ago, NSF is an independent, global service organization dedicated to protecting and improving public health through standards development, testing, inspection, certification, and consulting services. With over 40,000 clients across 110 countries, NSF provides critical services to food, water, and wellness industries, serving as a collaborating center for the World Health Organization (WHO) on food safety and water quality.