2026.7.22

Designated Professor Shinji Sato Receives the 19th Prime Minister's Award for Contributions to Promoting Japan as a Maritime Nation

Designated Professor Shinji Sato Receives the 19th Prime Minister's Award for Contributions to Promoting Japan as a Maritime Nation

Designated Professor Shinji Sato (Coastal Engineering Laboratory, School of Systems Engineering) has received the 19th Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Japan as a Maritime Nation. The award ceremony was held on July 20 at the Tokyo International Cruise Terminal.

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(Photo: Professor Sato is the second person from the right in the back row.)

Presented by the Prime Minister of Japan under the Basic Act on Ocean Policy, this award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions across a broad range of ocean-related fields, including science and technology, fisheries, maritime affairs, and environmental conservation. Since its establishment in 2008, the award ceremony has been held annually around Marine Day. This year, the award was presented to four individuals, including Professor Sato, and three organizations.

Professor Sato was honored in recognition of his long-standing contributions to coastal conservation, climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction. He received the award in the category of Special Achievement in Promoting Japan as a Maritime Nation (Science, Technology, Academia, Research, Development and Technical Skills Division).

Comment from Designated Professor Shinji SATO

I am deeply honored to receive this award from the Prime Minister of Japan in recognition of my contributions to promoting Japan as a maritime nation. As an island nation surrounded by the sea, Japan's relationship with the ocean is of fundamental importance. I believe this award recognizes my continued research on coastal erosion and my efforts to provide practical guidance for coastal conservation. As climate change continues to accelerate, coastal protection has become an increasingly urgent challenge. I will continue striving to contribute to building a sustainable and harmonious relationship between society and the sea.

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Award Overview

【Award】

　The 19th Prime Minister's Award for Outstanding Contributions to Promoting Japan as a Maritime Nation

【Category】

　Special Achievement in Promoting Japan as a Maritime Nation (Science, Technology, Academia, Research, Development and Technical Skills 　Division)

【Recognition】

　Contributions to coastal protection through research on coastal erosion mechanisms and climate change adaptation.

Major Achievement

Designated Professor Sato was recognized for more than four decades of distinguished research and public service that have advanced the field of coastal engineering and contributed significantly to coastal conservation in Japan.

1. Pioneering Research and Public Outreach in Coastal Engineering
Professor Sato has conducted pioneering research on long-term coastal morphology, coastal erosion mechanisms, sediment management in littoral systems, and environmental conservation. His work has also addressed practical challenges such as disaster risk reduction for tsunamis and storm surges, as well as the protection of coastal environments. Through lectures, publications, and other outreach activities, he has actively disseminated his research findings and promoted public awareness of coastal issues.

2. Internationally Recognized Academic Achievements
In 2022, Professor Sato received the Coastal Engineering Paper Award from the Japan Society of Civil Engineers for his paper investigating sediment transport mechanisms on gravel beaches through high-frequency field observations using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). He also received the CEJ Best Citation Award in 2016. In addition, he has published extensively and presented his research at numerous academic conferences in Japan and abroad, helping to share Japanese achievements in coastal engineering with the international research community.

3. Leadership in Formulating Japan's National Coastal Protection Policy for Climate Change Adaptation
Professor Sato chaired the Committee on Coastal Protection under Climate Change, established by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The committee's recommendations subsequently formed the basis for revisions to the Basic Policy for Coastal Protection under the Coast Act by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Through this work, he played a leading role in shaping Japan's national policy framework for coastal protection in response to climate change.

4. Contributions to Post-Disaster Reconstruction and Technical Standards
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Professor Sato served on numerous committees established by the national government and the Japan Society of Civil Engineers. He contributed to the development of resilient coastal levee design concepts and the formulation of technical standards for disaster prevention measures under the Act on Tsunami Disaster Prevention Community Development. Through these efforts, he made significant technical contributions to a major transformation in Japan's coastal management and disaster resilience policies.