Memories of the Earth: Progress and Current Status of Soil Contamination Countermeasures in Japan (2003-2023)

Memories of the Earth: Progress and Current Status of Soil Contamination Countermeasures in Japan (2003-2023)

The problem of soil contamination in Japan began with a mining pollution incident in the Meiji era (1868-1912), and has manifested itself in various forms through the subsequent period of rapid economic growth up to the present day. In particular, the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law enacted in 2003 institutionalized the investigation of and measures against soil contamination, and since then the number of investigations and measures taken has been on the rise. This has led to increased interest in soil contamination countermeasures nationwide, particularly in Shiga Prefecture, where simplified diagnostic technology from the United States has been introduced and low-cost soil contamination risk survey services have been developed for real estate agents and financial institutions. Mitsubishi Materials Resources Development Corporation and Mitsui Real Estate Sales Co., Ltd. partnered to strengthen their surveys of commercial real estate, and a company in Tokyo's Chiyoda W
ard also launched a simple survey at around 40,000 yen per site, expanding the market. In addition, major general contractors developed purification projects and moved to form alliances with financial institutions, and the impairment accounting system introduced in fiscal 2005 directly affected the risk of declining land prices in financial assessments, prompting banks and real estate companies nationwide to utilize Shiga Prefecture technology for rapid risk assessments. This has accelerated the trend.

Subsequently, in the 2020s, the market for soil contamination surveys further expanded against the backdrop of heightened environmental awareness and stricter laws and regulations: in 2021, 1,415 soil contamination status surveys were conducted nationwide, up from 1,342 in the previous year. In particular, many cases of contamination by volatile organic compounds (trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and cis-12-dichloroethylene) and heavy metals (lead, fluorine, and arsenic) were reported, reaffirming the importance of soil contamination measures for companies in the manufacturing, chemical, and metal processing industries.

By region, soil contamination remains a serious problem in urban and industrial areas. In Tokyo and Osaka Prefecture, contamination from past industrial activities still remains, requiring continuous investigation and countermeasures. In Shiga Prefecture in particular, risk assessment of soil contamination is considered essential as former factory sites are redeveloped and new companies move into the area.

Companies are also becoming more active, and not only major corporations but also small and medium-sized enterprises are actively promoting soil contamination countermeasures. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has prepared a guidebook for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to inform them of the importance of soil contamination countermeasures and specific countermeasure methods. In addition, the number of environmental consulting firms and companies specializing in soil surveys is increasing, and a system is being developed to support companies' soil contamination surveys and countermeasures.

Looking ahead, soil contamination countermeasures are expected to be further strengthened toward the late 2020s. In particular, as environmental conservation efforts become even more important in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), effective soil contamination countermeasures through collaboration between companies and local governments are required. The Ministry of the Environment and local governments are using subsidy programs to create an environment that facilitates the implementation of soil contamination countermeasures by companies. Current technological advances are expected to lead to the development of decomposition technologies for contaminants and advanced purification technologies to manage and rehabilitate soil contamination more efficiently.

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Related Sources
- Ministry of the Environment Current Status of Soil Contamination Countermeasures
- Soil Contamination Problems and Countermeasures in Japan
- Soil contamination of former factory sites and the real estate market
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Soil Contamination Guidelines