Japan is taking centre stage in a groundbreaking international expedition to explore and document new life in the deep ocean and voyage into some of the region’s most mysterious deep-sea ecosystems.

Partnering with the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census initiative, the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology will deploy its renowned submersible, the Shinkai 6500 on a 20-day scientific voyage to target biologically rich deep-sea regions in Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, including the Nankai Trough and Schichiyo Seamounts.

The aim of the mission – and the crew aboard the research vessel Yokosuka – is to discover marine species never before seen by science.

“This expedition represents more than a journey into the unknown; it signifies a convergence of knowledge, expertise, and a shared vision dedicated to advancing the discovery of marine biodiversity,” said Dr Takeshi Kawano, executive director at JAMSTEC.

“With JAMSTEC’s Shinkai 6500 at its core, this mission shows the transformative power of international collaboration in deep-sea research. Together, we aim to deepen our understanding of life in the ocean’s most remote regions and to contribute meaningfully to the preservation of our planet’s biodiversity.”

Launched in 2023 by the Nippon Foundation and the UK-based charity, Nekton, the Ocean Census is the world’s largest programme to accelerate marine species discovery. JAMSTEC’s expedition marks Japan’s flagship contribution to this global initiative, which is endorsed by the United Nations Ocean Decade.

Since 1990, the Shinkai 6500 – one of the world’s deepest-diving human-occupied research submersibles capable of diving to 6,500 metres deep – has completed over 1,800 dives. It remains a symbol of Japan’s deep-sea expertise.

“We’re proud to deploy the Shinkai 6500 on home ground in service of global science,” said Dr Akinori Yabuki, principal investigator of the expedition at JAMSTEC. “Japan’s waters hold extraordinary biological diversity, and many areas remain virtually unexplored.”

The expedition’s international scientific team includes experts from JAMSTEC, the Ocean Census, Nagoya University, Hokkaido University, and the Australian National University. Together, they will aim to undertake up to 11 dives, collecting and documenting deep-sea species across a range of remarkable ecosystems; from volcanic seamounts to methane seep communities.

“This is about more than discovery. It’s about creating a new knowledge base for ocean stewardship, led by Japan and shared with the world,” said Dr Michelle Taylor, co-lead of the expedition and head of science at the Ocean Census.

“Thanks to JAMSTEC’s incredible legacy and infrastructure, and with the support of the Nippon Foundation, we expect to find species new to science.”

In line with the Ocean Census’ commitment to open science, all discoveries from the cruise will be made freely available through the Ocean Census Biodiversity Data Platform. A post-expedition Species Discovery Workshop will be held at JAMSTEC headquarters in late 2025, where Japanese and international scientists will catalogue the findings together.

The expedition will feature a public engagement campaign in Japan, including social media updates, educational collaborations, and captivating footage from the submersible itself.

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