International Symposium Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Japan’s Water Day “Thinking Future of Water” (28 July 2026, Tokyo)

The International Symposium commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Japan’s Water Day, “Thinking Future of Water”, was co-organized by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD, the Secretariat of Headquarters for Water Cycle Policy of Japan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT), the High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and the Organizing Committee of “Water Week.”

The symposium was honoured by the presence of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan and aimed to build momentum toward the 2026 UN Water Conference by strengthening partnerships among governments, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society. Approximately 250 participants attended, representing governments, embassies, UN and international organizations, research institutions, the private sector, and academia.

Opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Han Seung-soo, Chair of HELP, followed by welcome addresses from H.E. Mr. Yasushi Kaneko, Minister Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan, Ms. Yurko Koike, Governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Prof. Toshio Koike, Chair of the Organizing Committee. H.E. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Japan for the 2026 UN Water Conference and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, delivered congratulatory remarks.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Mr. Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), H.E. Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt, Japan's co-chair of Interactive Dialogue C, and H.E. Mr. Abdulla Balalla, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainability of the United Arab Emirates, co-host of the 2026 UN Water Conference. Keynote address was alsodelivered by Dr. Katumi Musiake, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo.

The high-level panel discussion featured representatives including Mr. Saroj Jha, Global Director of Water at the World Bank, Prof. Atsushi Sunami, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain (ICIMOD), and Ms. Yumiko Noda, Vice Chair and Chair of the Environment Committee of Keidanren (Japan Business Federation). H.E. Dr. Hani Sewilam and H.E. Mr. Abdulla Balalla were also served as commentators during the panel discussion.

The symposium served as an important milestone in the preparatory process for the 2026 UN Water Conference, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance global water security.

Furthermore, at the venue, a statement titled “The Water Future We Envision – Building a sustainable, resilient society that makes the most of water’s blessings while avoiding its threats –” was distributed. This statement called on water-related organizations and the people of Japan to commit to five specific actions. In addition, the Dushanbe Declaration, which was adopted at the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” (2018-2028), held from May 25 to 28, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, was also shared at the event.