Conference on 'New Coastal Management in the Era of Coastal Erosion' to be Held in Happo Town, Akita on May 29, 2026

Beacon Inc. (Representative Director: Ryo Hirota, Headquarters: Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture), co-hosted with ENEOS Renewable Energy Corporation, will hold a demonstration experiment conference titled 'New Coastal Management in the Era of Coastal Erosion: Mechanisms to Prevent Disasters and Implementation Strategies' on May 29, 2026 (Friday) from 15:30 to 17:00 at the Happo Town Culture Exchange Center 'Fagus' in Akita Prefecture. Attendance is free, with a capacity of 50 people (first-come, first-served).

Background: Japan's Disappearing Beaches In recent years, coastal erosion (loss of sandy beaches) has become a global issue due to climate change. In Japan, it is predicted that 25% to 50% of sandy beaches will be lost by 2050, rapidly degrading coastal environments that support people's lives, industries, and culture, such as beaches, fishing ports, and coastal communities.

Even more serious is the overwhelming lack of data on the current state of sandy beaches. This often leaves national and local government countermeasures trailing behind, making the construction of mechanisms to grasp and prevent the progression of erosion an urgent task.

Pilot Project Overview: Coastal Erosion Monitoring at 'Kano-ura Observatory' in Happo Town, Akita To solve these issues, ENEOS Renewable Energy Corporation, Akita University, and Beacon Inc. have launched a joint research project on coastal erosion monitoring, based at the 'Kano-ura Observatory' (within the Happo Shirakami Geopark) in Happo Town, Akita.

This project features a citizen-participatory approach that collects and analyzes SNS images posted by visitors to visualize changes in the coastline. By utilizing data accumulated daily rather than relying on professional equipment or high-cost surveys, the project aims to grasp coastline changes continuously and at a low cost.

At this conference, we will report the results of this pilot project conducted last year and discuss implementation strategies through collaboration between the government, research institutions, and private businesses under the theme of 'New Mechanisms for Coastal Management'.

Special Lectures - Shinichi Aoki (Professor Emeritus, Osaka University): Improvement of sandy beach environments through the collaboration of universities, administration, and citizens - Toyohashi City's Echo Coast Project - - Hitoshi Tanaka (Specially Appointed Professor, Tohoku University): Erosion and recovery of sandy coasts - From surveys in the Sendai coast and Vietnam -

Event Details - Name: Demonstration Experiment Conference 'New Coastal Management in the Era of Coastal Erosion' - Date/Time: May 29, 2026 (Friday) 15:30–17:00 (Reception starts at 15:00) - Venue: Happo Town Culture Exchange Center 'Fagus' (51, Goshodai, Hachimori, Happo Town, Yamamoto District, Akita Prefecture) - Capacity: 50 people (first-come, first-served) - Participation Fee: Free - Application Deadline: May 27, 2026 (Friday)