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Japan took centre stage in a groundbreaking international expedition that aimed to explore and document new life in the deep ocean. In June 2025, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) collaborated with The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census, deploying the renowned submersible Shinkai 6500 on a 20-day scientific voyage into some of Japan’s most mysterious deep-sea ecosystems.
The expedition, aboard the research vessel Yokosuka, targeted biologically rich deep-sea regions within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, including the Nankai Trough and Shichiyo Seamounts, aiming to discover marine species never before seen by science.
Launched in 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and UK-based charity Nekton, the Ocean Census is the world’s largest programme to accelerate marine species discovery. JAMSTEC’s expedition marks Japan’s flagship contribution to this global initiative, which is endorsed by the United Nations Ocean Decade.
The expedition celebrates Japan’s leadership in ocean technology and science, exemplified by the Shinkai 6500 – one of the world’s deepest-diving human-occupied research submersibles capable of diving to 6500m deep. Since 1990, it has completed over 1,800 dives and remains a symbol of Japan’s deep-sea expertise.
“We’re proud to have deployed the Shinkai 6500 on home ground in service of global science,” said Dr Akinori Yabuki, Principal Investigator of the expedition at JAMSTEC. “Japan’s waters hold extraordinary biological diversity, and many areas remain virtually unexplored.”
The expedition’s international scientific team included experts from JAMSTEC, the Ocean Census, Nagoya University, Hokkaido University, and the Australian National University. Together, they undertook up to 11 dives, collecting and documenting deep-sea species across a range of remarkable ecosystems; from volcanic seamounts to methane seep communities.
“This is about more than discovery. It’s about creating a new knowledge base for ocean stewardship, led by Japan and shared with the world-” said Dr Michelle Taylor, co-lead of the expedition and Head of Science at the Ocean Census. “Thanks to JAMSTEC’s incredible legacy and infrastructure, and with the support of The Nippon Foundation, we expect to find species new to science.”
This is about more than discovery. It’s about creating a new knowledge base for ocean stewardship, led by Japan and shared with the world.
In line with the Ocean Census’ commitment to open science, all discoveries from the cruise will be made freely available through the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform. A post-expedition Species Discovery Workshop will be held at JAMSTEC headquarters in late 2025, where Japanese and international scientists will catalogue the findings together.
The expedition will featured a public engagement campaign in Japan, including social media updates, educational collaborations, and captivating footage from the submersible itself. The public are invited to follow the expedition’s and workshop’s progress through dedicated social media channels including @oceancensus on X, Instagram for global updates, and @oceancensus_jp for updates from Japan.
The Nippon Foundation–Nekton Ocean Census is the largest global initiative dedicated to accelerating the discovery of ocean life. Despite covering over 70% of our planet, the ocean remains one of Earth’s least explored ecosystems—with only around 240,000 marine species officially documented. Scientists estimate that millions more remain undiscovered.
Launched in April 2023 by The Nippon Foundation and Nekton, the Ocean Census is a bold global mission to close this knowledge gap. Through large-scale expeditions, cutting-edge technology, and a global network of partners, the programme is transforming our ability to discover and understand life in the ocean. All findings are made freely accessible via the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform.
Ocean Census is endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade and supported by a global alliance spanning science, media, philanthropy, business, and civil society.
JAMSTEC is engaged in activities to contribute broadly to the improvement of science and technology, the development of academic research, and the understanding of the Earth and life through ocean research in Japan, a nation of oceans.
JAMSTEC promotes research and studies on the understanding of the global environment, the utilization of ocean resources, and seismic and volcanic activities. In addition, we create new value from the data obtained through our research activities to contribute to the needs of society and the economy.
The Nippon Foundation is Japan’s largest philanthropic foundation. Since 1962, it has supported projects in education, healthcare, food security, and ocean conservation. The Foundation plays a pivotal role in advancing marine science in Japan and globally, through partnerships with leading scientific institutions.