Combating Global Warming with "Blue Carbon": The Potential of the Artificial Reef "Reef Ball" (Part 1)

Environmental destruction and the resulting global warming have become global challenges demanding immediate action. With July 2023 recording the highest global average temperature on record, the phenomenon is now being referred to not just as "global warming" but as "global boiling."
Following global initiatives, Japan is also undertaking various efforts toward carbon neutrality. Among these, "Blue Carbon" – carbon captured by marine ecosystems – is gaining significant attention. It is attracting worldwide interest as a measure that can simultaneously combat global warming and preserve the richness of the oceans.

Transformation SHOWCASE focuses on this "Blue Carbon." For this special feature, we spoke with individuals dedicated to expanding the use of artificial reefs called "Reef Balls," which are expected to have significant impact in the Blue Carbon field, and with officials from municipalities actively pursuing the SDGs. For the first installment, we visited Mr. Osamu Ikeda, President of Asahi Tech Co., Ltd., which promotes Reef Ball adoption in Nagasaki City. The interviewer is Mr. Takashi Fuji, who works on carbon neutrality and blue carbon initiatives at Dentsu Inc. This story is presented in two parts.

Encountering the "Reef Ball," Savior of Coral Reef Revival

Fuji: Mr. Ikeda, I understand you worked in the United States for a long time before handling Reef Balls in Nagasaki. What initially led you to encounter Reef Balls?

Ikeda: I originally worked for a trading company exporting peripheral computer equipment. That led to my assignment to New York at age 26, and I ended up living and working there for 38 years. Five years after arriving, I established a local subsidiary and continued working as its representative. After 20 years, I went independent. The company I launched then was in wind power generation, handling what are called "vertical axis" wind turbines, essentially vertical-type windmills.

Through various jobs, I also became involved with the United Nations. Do you know there's something called the "Japanese Peace Bell" at the UN Headquarters in New York? This bell was donated by the Japan Association for the United Nations in 1954, even before Japan joined the UN. The impetus came from Mr. Chiyoji Nakagawa, former mayor of Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. He appealed to the UN member states at the time, expressing his desire to "create a Peace Bell filled with coins from people around the world who wish for peace, transcending national borders and religious differences." Coins were collected from representatives of 65 countries who supported the idea, as well as from the Pope at the time. The bell was then manufactured with the cooperation of Tada Foundry in Takamatsu City. To this day, the bell is rung during UN sessions on the Spring Equinox and on September 21st, the International Day of Peace. I was involved in such activities in a volunteer capacity and had various connections with UN personnel.

While volunteering for various activities at the UN, I believe I first encountered ReefBalls around 2003. Although the term "blue carbon" is said to have been coined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2009, long before that, the loss of coral reefs was already a major concern in the United States. Corals absorb carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, producing abundant oxygen. They also serve as spawning grounds and habitats for numerous fish species and are said to help mitigate the impact of high waves and tsunamis caused by earthquakes. Therefore, the thought of coral reefs becoming extinct is terrifying. As a means to restore coral reefs, the American "ReefBall Foundation" developed the ReefBall.

Importing ReefBalls from the U.S. to Nagasaki

Fuji: What exactly is a ReefBall?

Ikeda: When I first saw the Reef Ball, I thought, "This is amazing." Its most distinctive feature is its shape. It has holes on the sides and top, allowing water to escape over the top even during large waves. This means it won't be washed away even if placed directly on the sandy seabed. Furthermore, while this Reef Ball is made of concrete, the problem with concrete is that it's made of calcium hydroxide. If left in the ocean for a long time, it releases highly alkaline water that's unsuitable for marine life. However, the Reef Ball Foundation had successfully developed concrete that doesn't release strong alkaline water. It also features a surface treatment that makes it easier for coral to attach. I was amazed by the sheer technical excellence. And indeed, examples of coral reefs recovering through its use were being observed in various locations. Incidentally, based on these achievements, the Reef Ball Foundation won the Katerva Award in the Energy and Environment category in 2020, often called the "Nobel Prize for Sustainability."

I thought, "Someday, I want to handle ReefBalls myself." I spoke with the foundation, signed a technology agreement, and trademarked "ReefBalls Japan." Later, circumstances led me back to my hometown of Nagasaki, and I began seriously working on expanding ReefBalls in 2013.

Fuji: Why did you return to your hometown of Nagasaki?

Ikeda: My family originally ran a small shipbuilding yard, a factory making ship parts and such. My older brother had taken over the company. However, he fell ill, and I ended up inheriting the business. After returning home, I initially continued with shipbuilding-related work. But I heard that in Nagasaki too, seaweed was becoming scarce, and "seabed degradation" – where it doesn't recover – was becoming a major problem. Fishermen were struggling because they couldn't catch seafood like they used to. I wanted to restore the seaweed beds and bring back the rich ocean of the past. So, I decided to shut down all shipbuilding operations and focus solely on "Reef Ball."

The "Reef Ball," increasingly seen as a promising solution for global warming. In Part 1, we heard from Mr. Ikeda of Asahi Tech about his journey from encountering the Reef Ball in America to launching the business in his hometown of Nagasaki. In Part 2, we bring you an interview about its promotion in Japan and a report from Asahi Tech's headquarters factory.

• Combating Global Warming with "Blue Carbon": The Potential of the Artificial Reef "Reef Ball" (Part 2)