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The First AsbestosONE User Conference: A New Era in Asbestos Regulation Compliance

On May 29, 2026, EMS Co., Ltd. hosted the first AsbestosONE User Conference at Triton Square in Harumi Island, Tokyo. The event brought together 36 industry professionals to exchange knowledge and discuss the practical challenges posed by stringent asbestos regulations in Japan. This initiative aimed to create a community where users could collaborate and support each other in navigating the evolving landscape of asbestos management.

Growing Burdens from Enhanced Asbestos Regulations

Since 2020, Japan has seen a series of swift enactments to strengthen asbestos-related laws governing the demolition and renovation of buildings. Key changes include:

• - 2020: Major amendments to the Asbestos Control Law were implemented, covering all asbestos-containing building materials.
• - 2021: Mandatory pre-investigations for contractors and the establishment of operational standards took effect.
• - 2022: An obligation was introduced for electronic reports of pre-investigation results to authorities.
• - 2023: Qualification requirements came into play for pre-investigations and technicians engaged in analysis.
• - 2026: Full implementation of investigations by qualified personnel for construction sites is set to commence.

The Ministry of the Environment reported over 27,000 notifications for the demolition or renovation of buildings with asbestos, which has significantly increased the administrative burdens on project teams. Many professionals voiced concerns over the challenges of complying with multiple administrative reporting obligations amidst a rising number of minor projects. They often understand the legal requirements but struggle with the practical implementations necessary in the field. This is where AsbestosONE, a cloud-based asbestos management system, seeks to provide solutions, despite a lack of platforms for sharing experiences among compliant professionals in the past.

Overview of the User Conference

Event Details

• - Name: First AsbestosONE User Conference: Sharing Best Practices & Networking
• - Date: May 29, 2026, 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• - Venue: Triton Square, 3rd Floor, Harumi Island
• - Participants: 36
• - Organizer: EMS Co., Ltd.

Conference Program Highlights

Speaker 1: Mariko Yasuda from Kashima Building Management Co., Ltd. shared insights on the challenges faced by building management companies in construction environment management, reflecting on ten years of corporate effort in asbestos law compliance. Topics included managing the high volume of minor jobs, the various administrations requiring reports, and deploying IT in lower-literacy environments across the company. The resurgence arose around the necessity for peer support, with insights on the successful establishment of model branches and the importance of iterative training sessions.

Speaker 2: Akiho Yonetani from Taisei Oncho Co., Ltd. discussed strategies in response to operational burdens. As a comprehensive engineering firm established in 1941, they highlighted issues of workload concentration on field operatives and the companion necessity for confirmations during projects. Their focus included initiatives such as leveraging a 3D CAD system for efficient workflows and establishing front-loading support from their international branches to ease burdens on local sites.

Special Seminar: Nobuyuki Koyasu, representing the Corporate Environmental Risk Resolution Organization (CERSI), led a seminar to launch his new book, which addresses legal compliance specific to various tasks involving asbestos.

Participant Feedback

Attendees expressed the value gained from discussions, including insights into the implementation process of AsbestosONE and how collaborative strategies can alleviate the burdens faced in the field. Positive feedback included recognition for Koyasu's book as invaluable for field practitioners.

Organizer's Commentary

CEO of EMS, Miya Hoshi, expressed great satisfaction at gathering professionals long isolated in their roles. She emphasized the emergent community as vital to sharing hard-won insights, transforming what was once individual company efforts into collective industry wisdom. The conference marks a significant milestone towards fostering a culture of safety and compliance in the construction and demolition sectors.

Future Plans

EMS is committed to holding user conferences regularly, nurturing a community that promotes ongoing dialogue and learning among users. The goal is not just to enhance compliance but to contribute to a culture of safety within the industry, aligning with broader sustainability objectives like the SDGs.

Through its focus on responsible asbestos management and the establishment of user peer support platforms, EMS strives to foster a safer and more sustainable construction environment, bolstering compliance and enhancing worker safety effectively.