MEMBER

Founder / CEO

Wakao Hanaoka

Wakao HanaokaAfter working in marine conservation in the Maldives and Malaysia, Wakao joined Greenpeace Japan as an Ocean Campaigner, where he started the Sustainable Seafood Market Project. Later, Wakao founded Seafood Legacy in Tokyo in 2015, to build Japan-centric solutions for seafood sustainability by addressing the importance of domestic business-led initiatives to create a driving force for regulatory reforms.

• Member of the Friends of Ocean Action, World Economic Forum（2021- currently）
• Steering Committee of the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (2022 ~ currently)
• Founding Member of the IUU Forum Japan (2017 ~ currently)
• Member of the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions (2017 ~ currently)
• Steering Board of the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (2017 ~ 2021)
• Recipient of SeaWeb Seafood Champion Award Leadership Category (2019)
• Expert Advisor of the Cabinet Office Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform, Fisheries Working Group and Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Working Group (2017- 2021)
• Committee Member of Fishery Agency Catch Documentation Working Group and Domestic Trade of Specific Marine Animals and Plants Act Working Group (2018 ~ 2021)
• Committee Member of the Fishery Agency, Wide Sea-area Fisheries Adjustment Commission (2018- currently)
• Others

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COO / Vice President

Aiko Yamauchi

After working as a research fellow at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Aiko joined WWF Japan Conservation Division. At WWF Japan, Aiko focused on engaging domestic and international stakeholders to collaborate and promote sustainable fisheries and responsible seafood market transformation. She also led a joint marine conservation project of WWF Japan in Chile, Indonesia, and China.

After Aiko joined Seafood Legacy, she is in charge of strategy development and technical implementation. Aiko holds a doctorate degree from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.

• Member of the special committee of stock management of Fisheries Policy Council

• Coordinator for Anti- IUU Forum Japan

• Lecturer at Iwate University, Faculty of Agriculture

Business Engagement Officer

Ryo Takahashi

Born in Sydney. Ryo majored in Agricultural Economics at Tokyo University of Agriculture. After studying agriculture in the Philippines, he became interested in doing business with foreign countries, and after graduation, he joined a trading company specializing in seafood in Tsukiji. After joining the company, he purchased wild-caught seafood products from South America and other Asian countries and sold them to a number of businesses in Japan and abroad.

Currently, he is working to get people of all ages interested in the seafood industry to balance sustainable seafood and business.

Business Engagement Officer

Kaijun Sun

From China. Have work experience at a Japanese fishery and food trading company and a Norwegian salmon maker. Experienced mainly in import/export/processing/sales of seafood. Also have experience as processing management of overseas factories.

At Seafood Legacy, to optimize the use of domestic fishery resources. Worked on end-user companies to spread sustainable seafood. Also provide sales support to producers using the sales network. I believe that Japan's fisheries industry has great potential.

Communication & Branding Officer

Miki Yamaoka

After studying morphological taxonomy in university, Miki coordinated several Japanese eel conservation project at a university laboratory. Aiming to raise awareness for sustainable seafood by interweaving science and society, Miki joined Seafood Legacy and leading communication and PR projects.

Communication & Branding Officer

Mariko Arikawa

Mariko studied International Environmental Law at university. Since then, she has worked in public relations for environmental NGOs and organic food companies to increase sustainability through communication. She also has experience as a business coordinator for sustainable consumption-related projects through partnerships with municipalities, businesses, and NGOs.

At Seafood Legacy, she works to increase engagement with diverse sectors through communication to achieve a sustainable and prosperous ocean.

• PR planner (certified by the Japan Public Relations Association)

• Consumer Affairs Advisor (business certification of the Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry)

Organizational Operation Officer

Shiori Tashima

After graduating from university, Shiori started working for a wedding company as a wedding planner.

But, after getting married and giving birth, Shiori took the opportunity to change her career path due to her growing interest in becoming involved in jobs that leave the world a better place for future generations.

Since the beginning of 2022, Shiori has joined Seafood Legacy as a back officer, aiming to achieve this company’s inspiring mission and be committed to making its message resonated with more people.

Accounting and Administrative officer

Kanae Sugi

Kanae had been involved in the Independent Living movement of people with disabilities since she was a university student. While assisting people with severe disabilities in their daily lives, they also conducted educational activities, public relations activities, and negotiations with the government, aiming for a “society in which everyone can live with peace of mind.”

After giving birth, Kanae left the nursing care field and joined an accounting firm that supports local small and medium-sized companies. She acquired basic accounting skills there.

She decided to change jobs in order to work at a place where she could feel a greater contribution to society.

In 2023, Kanae joined Seafood Legacy and is in charge of accounting.

Executive Secretary

Yuki Kikuchi

After working in sales at an advertising agency, worked as secretary to the president at an IT company.

She left her job at an IT company to work in a job where she could make people's lives more future-oriented in a more global environment. After that, she enrolled in a language school in the Philippines to improve her language skills and network.

After returning to Japan, while producing environmentally friendly sunscreen, she became the secretary of the CEO of Seafood Legacy to see more potential in the Japanese seafood industry and assist people working on the front lines. 

Platform Coordinator and Secretary to the Vice President

Yachiyo Kurokawa

After studying at a university in the US, she began her career at an American financial company after returning to Japan. She gained her experience at the Singapore office for two years. She left her job and moved to Brazil to be with her family.

After returning to Japan, she decided to work in the human resources field because she wanted to return the favor to the many people who helped her while living overseas and wanted to do work that could have an impact on people's lives.

Currently, she is mainly involved in recruitment work, and is involved with many companies not only in human resources, but also as a secretary and event coordinator. In 2023, she became a member of Seafood Legacy and worked as a secretary and platform coordinator, using the languages ​​(English, Spanish, and Portuguese) she had cultivated through her overseas experience to interact with people from various backgrounds. 

Event Coordinator

Akino Hasegawa

Akino attended an international school in Japan as a child. After working in the advertising and automotive industries, she twice boarded the international NGO Peace Boat’s Global Voyage as a Japanese-English interpreter. Since then she joined the travel agency that coordinated the cruise ship voyages and worked as a land operator, planning and arranging optional tours and directing operations on the day of port calls.

Currently, as an event coordinator for Seafood Legacy, she works on creating opportunities to spread information about sustainable seafood, and for people to connect with each other to develop towards a sustainable world.