ABSTRACT
The effort to find agreement on an international convention of the seas is perhaps of greater concern to Japan than any other country, because of its dependence on the waters of the world for a significant portion of its food and on global sea lanes for its economic survival. Japan’s extensive participation in worldwide ocean activities such as fishing and shipping has made it a major beneficiary of the traditional ocean regime. Japan, through continued interest in the traditional uses of the ocean and modern technological capabilities and financial resources that allow expansion into areas such as deep sea mining and ocean energy development, continues to be one of the most extensive users of ocean space and resources. The Japanese are also concerned that increased shipping regulations and environmental restrictions on ocean transportation are likely to raise the already substantial shipping costs.
