MEMBER

Founder / CEO

Wakao Hanaoka

After 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.

• Committee Member of the Fishery Agency, Wide Sea-area Fisheries Adjustment Commission (Mar. 2018- currently)
• G1 Oceans Forum, Advisory Board  (Oct. 2018- currently)
• Founding member, Anti IUU Forum Japan（Sep. 2017- currently）
• Member of Friends of Ocean Action, World Economic Forum（Jan. 2021- currently）
• Steering Board of the Global Fisheries Transparency Coalition （Jan. 2022- currently）

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• Expert Advisor of the Cabinet Office Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform, Fisheries Working Group (Sep.2017- Jul. 2019)
• Expert Advisor of the Cabinet Office Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Working Group (Sep. 2019- Jul. 2021)
• Committee Member of Fishery Agency Catch Documentation Working Group (Sep. 2018- Dec. 2020)
• Committee Member of Domestic Trade of Specific Marine Animals and Plants Act Working Group (May 2021- Sep. 2021)
• Committee Member of Digital Agency, Day of Digital Working Group (Jun. 2021- Oct. 2021)

• Steering board member of Global Sustainable Seafood Initiatives(Sep. 2017- Sep. 2021)

• Recipient of 2019 SeaWeb Seafood Champion Award Leadership Category

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

• External reviewer of SH”U”N project by The National Research and Development Agency, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency

• Coordinator for Anti- IUU Forum Japan

• Lecturer at Iwate University, Faculty of Agriculture

• Lecturer at Hosei University, Graduate School of Public Policy and Social Governance

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

Yuko Kano

Yuko studied law at university. During her university term, she worked at the African environment NPO in Tanzania as a volunteer & intern.
Yuko joined Seafood Legacy to support a sustainable marine environment. She is a platform coordinator and back-office officer of Seafood Legacy.

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.