Environmental Solutions for a Sustainable Future

We’re seeing growing awareness around sustainability, along with heightened public concern for environmental health. This is putting increasing pressure on cities and industries to deliver cleaner, more livable environments. Issues like air quality and odor—once considered secondary—are now becoming central to urban planning and industrial operations. What types of environmental risks are you seeing rise in cities and industrial regions, and how is measurement technology evolving to keep pace with these changes?

We collaborated with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) in the 1970s to develop a certain evaluation method. Since then, we have continued to use it up to the present day. This method involves using multiple bags with different levels of odor intensity to identify the “threshold” at which a person can detect a smell. This serves as the standard for odor evaluation. This process is difficult to automate, and even today, we feel that in certain fields, human senses are superior to machines. While we place importance on automation, we also highly value human perception and sensibility.

In Europe, various initiatives are being advanced based on international frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ISO standards. Japan is also striving to align with these global movements, but at the same time, we believe it is important to make use of the senses and sensibilities rooted in our own cultural background. For example, it is said that the Japanese language contains over 400 words to describe the seasons and rain, and many Japanese people tend to perceive the sounds of insects not as noise, but as pleasant rhythms or melodies. These cultural differences in perception shape Japan’s unique way of understanding the environment, and we hope to make use of them. Therefore, no matter how much sensor technology advances, we believe that the importance of relying on human senses will never change.

Japan is placing greater emphasis on soil and water contamination. The Ministry of the Environment is planning to introduce new regulations in 2026 that will formalize legally enforceable standards for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), moving beyond the current provisional guidelines. How is your company preparing to help local governments and businesses comply with these stricter regulations?

One of our staff members has been seconded to the Ministry of the Environment, where they are actively contributing to the development of these regulations. This collaboration not only strengthens our relationship with the ministry but also provides us with valuable insights into emerging policies and regulatory trends. By leveraging this approach, we are able to stay ahead of industry changes, respond proactively, and offer our clients effective solutions tailored to their unique challenges.

We recognize this as a highly important issue. Until now, our approach has primarily been to respond to measurement requests from clients. However, this is no longer sufficient on its own. Therefore, we are shifting toward a more proactive approach. For example, we are independently conducting PFAS concentration surveys in Tokyo Bay and preparing to make proactive proposals. Rather than waiting for requests from clients, we aim to anticipate future needs and take preventive measures before problems become apparent.

On the topic of anticipating the future, I’m curious about the construction and civil engineering sector in Japan. If we look back to the 1960s, during the time of the first Olympics, Japan experienced a major construction boom, marked by a wave of new development. Since then, the industry has largely followed a scrap-and-build model. However, with the population now in decline—aside from cities like Tokyo and Osaka, where growth continues—we’re seeing a shift. The industry is moving more toward maintenance and renovation, while some regions are experiencing population loss as people relocate to major urban centers. How is this trend affecting your day-to-day operations? And how is your client base evolving in response to both the changing construction landscape and the migration away from regional areas?

In Japan, unfortunately, as the population declines, environmental burdens tend to decrease. As a result, even without new technologies, regions with declining populations naturally tend to see improvements in their environmental conditions. However, whether such regions can remain sustainable in the future due to labor shortages is a major concern.

On the other hand, in major cities like Tokyo, there has been little change in the total population over the past decade, but the proportion of Japanese residents has decreased. This indicates an increase in immigrants from overseas and suggests that Tokyo remains an attractive city. Partly due to this trend, construction activity in the form of “scrap-and-build” — demolishing old buildings and constructing new ones — is expected to continue, particularly driven by foreign real estate investment. However, the construction industry is currently facing significant challenges. The decline in skilled workers and the shortage of younger labor have made it difficult to maintain the same level of quality and speed in construction as before, and delays have become increasingly noticeable. How to compensate for this issue is considered a key challenge moving forward.

Do you see that as an opportunity or as a challenge?

There are various perspectives on the current situation, but securing new talent amid a declining birthrate is also a major challenge for us. As I mentioned earlier, we have primarily responded to client requests in the past, but now we aim to establish a system that enables us to proactively address issues by predicting potential problems and collecting and analyzing data in advance. This approach has accelerated the business lifecycle, and we view it as a significant opportunity.

On the other hand, for companies that remain attached to traditional methods, this change may pose new challenges. Even in major cities, especially regarding the environment such as air and water quality, improvements have been observed compared to the past. We believe this is the result of companies complying with regulations and the high moral and environmental awareness of local residents, despite ongoing scrap-and-build construction activities. However, on the other hand, as environmental and cultural standards rise, people have become more sensitive to sensory pollution. Among these, “odor” is one of the important issues. Therefore, demand for odor measurement and countermeasures is expected to continue increasing. We possess advanced technology and extensive experience in odor measurement and analysis, and we are confident that we can lead this growing market.

Another major challenge facing the construction industry—particularly here on Japan’s main island—is the convergence of three tectonic plates, which makes it one of the most seismically active regions in the world. This creates significant natural disaster risks that threaten infrastructure. One of the services you offer is emergency environmental monitoring. In what ways does this service help your clients with disaster prevention and ongoing monitoring?

The Japanese archipelago has faced natural disasters since ancient times. In a country where coexistence with nature is essential, the ability to respond flexibly has been the key to survival over many centuries. Methods of adapting to nature vary by region, even within Japan. For example, when you look at the shrines and temples across the country, you can see that these are places where people have lived safely for generations. These sites hold the accumulated wisdom of each region developed over long periods of time. However, as generations change, the knowledge and meanings embedded in these places are gradually being forgotten. Even so, the traditions and cultures rooted in each region remain deeply connected to people’s lives today. Although Japan is a relatively small country, it is not easy for a single company to understand all regions nationwide, each with their distinct cultures and traditions. Therefore, over the course of about 30 years, we have built the “EM Network” together with 15 partner companies from Hokkaido to Kyushu, responding to each region accordingly.

Following the devastating 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster in Fukushima, much of the international community has come to associate the region primarily with that event. In recent years, attention has intensified again, especially after China imposed a ban on Japanese seafood exports due to the release of treated wastewater. Your company has been heavily involved in the area. Could you tell our readers more about the work you’re doing there and how it helps ensure safe and stable soil and water conditions?

In Fukushima, there is an interim storage facility for waste generated by the disaster.

The government is responsible for the long-term treatment of this waste; however, many rumors, misunderstandings, and incorrect information still persist.

One of the contributions we can make is to dispel these misunderstandings by providing accurate information and reliable data.

Looking at your international operations, you currently have a joint venture in Vietnam and a stake in China. Which countries—and which of your services—do you see as having strong growth potential for your business?

When we first began considering entering the Vietnamese market, other countries were also candidates. However, feeling that the mindset of Vietnamese people somewhat resembles that of Japanese people was a major factor in deciding to start with Vietnam.
In fact, we received inquiries from other countries such as Thailand and Indonesia, but ultimately we chose to make Vietnam our first step. Regarding future expansion, establishing a nationwide presence within Vietnam is our top priority, as there are still areas not yet fully covered. In the future, we plan to position Vietnam as a regional hub in Southeast Asia and expand into other countries from there. Therefore, the next market for expansion has not yet been specifically decided.

Could you tell us more about your operations in Vietnam? What progress have you made so far, and what are the next steps you’re planning there?

There was little progress during the COVID pandemic, but we are now finally getting back on track. In Vietnam, we started our business with surveys and analysis related to exhaust gases. This was originally our core operation. Currently, in addition to that, we also provide environmental consulting services. One service with particularly high demand is the preparation of documents called “environmental licenses,” which are environmental impact assessment reports. These are required when companies establish new factories or facilities, and requests have been increasing as Japanese companies move their operations from China to Vietnam.

Is your business in Vietnam primarily focused on Japan-affiliated (Nikkei) companies, or are you also working with local municipalities and government-related projects?

In the joint venture in Vietnam, the local Vietnamese company owns 49% of the shares, with the remaining shares held by our company. Of this 49% Vietnamese stake, approximately half is owned by government-related enterprises, meaning that about 25% of the total is connected to local government.

As you mentioned, your new business model focuses more on making proactive proposals rather than waiting for client requests. Vietnam is a growing market across many sectors, including manufacturing and construction, and your company plays a central role in connecting key stakeholders—local communities, Japanese businesses, and government entities. As a Japanese company operating in Vietnam, are you able to help shape new standards and influence what becomes the baseline for environmental regulations?

When it comes to setting standards, that’s largely a matter of intergovernmental relations. The Ministry of the Environment in Japan is working with the Vietnamese government and providing guidance. To support that process, on-site surveys are necessary—and that’s where we come in. We collaborate with Japan’s Ministry of the Environment to provide data and make proposals to the local government when needed.

Vietnam’s environmental regulations and laws are quite similar to those in Japan, which makes them easier for us to understand and navigate. However, despite the similarities on paper, enforcement can be inconsistent. In some cases, economic considerations tend to take precedence over environmental compliance.

Looking ahead to the final day of your tenure as president, as you prepare to pass the baton to the next generation, what goals or ambitions would you like to have achieved by that time?

Our work is supported by technology based on experience accumulated over more than 50 years. Underlying this technology is our belief that people are central. This is because our work places great value on human senses and sensitivity. We consider it our mission to ensure that these values are passed on to the next generation. On the day I retire, I hope to greet that day with pride and a smile, seeing young people who have the same vision and can envision a bright future grow and play an active role.

For more information, please visit their website at: https://www.kankyo-kanri-global.com/about-us/company-profile/