Japan, from the islands a laboratory of sustainability between nature, art and traditions

The experiences of Hachijojima, Naoshima and Yakushima show three different models of valorisation of the territory, united by the objective of preserving the natural and cultural heritage by transforming it into a lever for growth.

In Hachijojima, about 290 kilometers south of Tokyo, biodiversity and natural resources are at the center of the development strategy. The island protects Kihachijo, an ancient fabric made with natural dyes recognized as a traditional national craft, while local authorities and associations work to train a new generation of artisans. At the same time, Hachijojima aims to revive geothermal energy: after the closure of the first large-scale geothermal power plant built on a remote island in Japan, studies are underway for new plants as part of the “Clean Island” project.

The path chosen by Naoshima, in the Seto Inland Sea, is different, as it built its rebirth on contemporary art. Museums designed by Tadao Ando, ​​installations by Yayoi Kusama and the Art House Project, which transforms traditional homes into works of art, have made the island a cultural destination of international importance. In 2025, the Setouchi Triennale involved 222 artists from 37 countries and regions, attracting approximately 340 thousand visitors to Naoshima alone. However, tourist success is accompanied by the need to protect the ecosystem of the Seto Inland Sea, which is increasingly exposed to plastic pollution.

Further south, Yakushima, a UNESCO world natural heritage site, represents a model of balance between conservation and tourism. 90 percent covered by forest and famous for the thousand-year-old Jomon Sugi cedar, the island has introduced contributions for the maintenance of paths and the protection of ecosystems, also limiting private traffic in the most sensitive areas. Programs for the protection of sea turtles and coastal cleaning also continue.

Although following different paths, the three islands share the same challenge: transforming natural and cultural heritage into a resource capable of guaranteeing economic development without compromising the environment, in a country called upon to deal with an aging population, depopulation of peripheral areas and climate change.

The role of island communities in protecting the oceans was the focus of the first Island States Ocean Summit, hosted in Tokyo on June 3 and 4 with over 300 participants from approximately 30 countries and organizations. Opening the summit, Emperor Naruhito called for the need to preserve “the Earth’s delicate balance through the water cycle.” The conclusions of the meeting will feed into this year’s main international events dedicated to biodiversity and climate change.