The Japanese Ministries of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) have identified 10 areas as potentially suitable for offshore wind development. Four areas are more advanced: Aomori Prefecture off the Sea of Japan (north side); Aomori Prefecture off the Sea of Japan (south side); Happo Town, Akita Prefecture and Off Noshiro City; Off Eshima, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture. The preparation process, which comprises wind and geological surveys and the formation of councils to consult communities, will start immediately.
In addition, six areas have been selected as promising for future development: Off Hokkaido Iwa and Minamishiribeshi area; Off the coast of Hiyama, Hokkaido; Mutsu Bay, Aomori Prefecture; Akita Prefecture Katagami City and Akita City Offshore; Off the coast of Yusa Town, Yamagata Prefecture; Off the coast of Murakami and Tonai in Niigata Prefecture. In August 2019, the Japanese government identified 11 areas for offshore wind power promotion in 5 prefectures of Japan, including four promising areas.
In June 2020, the Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corporation had formed a consortium with Inpex, Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX), TEPCO Renewable Power, JR-East Energy Development (a unit of East Japan Railway) and three other companies to jointly bid at a planned auction for a 480 MW offshore wind plant project near Noshiro, Mitane and Oga in Akita, in northern Japan. The 480 MW offshore wind project would be commissioned in 2026.
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