Japan–Vietnam Workshop on JCM and Agri-Forestry Innovation

Last week Saturday on May 9th, 2026 Jizoku Inc. (Head Office: Kunitachi City, Tokyo; CEO: Keiichiro Kataoka) held the “Japan–Vietnam Workshop on JCM and Agri-Forestry Innovation” at Hitotsubashi University. The event united representatives from academia, government, and the private sector from both Japan and Vietnam to discuss the future of sustainable agriculture, carbon credits, and international collaboration under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

The dialogue focused on the importance of carbon credits as a mechanism for accelerating decarbonization and allowed participants to exchange views on the role of carbon markets in low-emission agriculture and creating economic opportunities for local communities in Asia.

Jizoku CEO Keiichiro Kataoka delivering his welcoming speech

Purpose of the Event

As climate change increasingly impacts ecosystems, economies and communities around the world, the need for scalable as well as credible decarbonization solutions keeps growing. Carbon credits are gaining global attention as a mechanism that transforms environmental impact into value to be measured and traded, enabling emission reductions to be recognized and verified across industries and national borders.

In sectors such as agriculture and forestry, carbon credits present significant opportunities to unlock investment into sustainable practices and improve farmers’ livelihoods. The event was organized as a platform for Japanese and Vietnamese stakeholders to deepen collaboration, exchange their expertise and explore practical approaches for implementing carbon credit projects in Vietnam, especially in agriculture and forestry.

Attendees and main panel discussion

The event featured distinguished speakers representing academia, government institutions, and industry from both Japan and Vietnam. Representation from the Japanese side included:

Mr. Keiichiro Kataoka, CEO of Jizoku Inc.
Professors of the HIAS – Anthropocene Research Center at Hitotsubashi University
Tokyo municipality officials and Jizoku partners, investors and academic professionals

The speakers emphasized the importance of evaluating carbon credits through emissions reductions, as well as through their contribution to the local environment and sustainable regional development. Hitotsubashi University is currently conducting joint research with Jizoku Inc. on the social and economic impact of carbon credits in rural communities in Vietnam.

From the Vietnamese side, representatives included:

Officials from Tay Ninh Province
Vietnamese Embassy officials as well as Vietnamese professors in Japanese academia
Local stakeholders in the field of sustainable agriculture and environmental initiatives

Representatives from Tay Ninh Province shared the province’s outlook for sustainable agricultural development and highlighted the region’s significant potential for collaboration with Japanese corporations, financial institutions and investors.

Attendees assisting to panel discussions held in Japanese and Vietnamese

Lastly, panel discussions and networking sessions focusing on future opportunities for Japan–Vietnam collaboration allowed attendees to engage in dialogue at the end of the event. The first session featured discussions between Mr. Xuan and Mr. Duy regarding practical implementation challenges and opportunities for sustainable agricultural projects in Vietnam. The second session brought together Jizoku CEO Keiichiro Kataoka, Mr. Tsumura as well as Mr. Kawasaki to discuss the future of carbon markets, technological innovation and the role of public-private-academic partnerships in supporting decarbonization initiatives.

Vietnamese government official is invited as panelist

Key Takeaways from the Event

Dialogue with the events’ participants reaffirmed several important themes:

Carbon credits must also address social and economic impact on local communities.
Collaboration between Japan and Vietnam will play an essential role in accelerating GX initiatives in agriculture and forestry.
Scientific research, transparent MRV systems and local stakeholder engagement are critical for the credibility and scalability of carbon credit projects.
Sustainable agriculture is key for emissions reductions and regional economic development.

Jizoku will continue strengthening partnerships with universities, governments, local communities and private-sector stakeholders in Japan and Southeast Asia to promote practical and scalable decarbonization solutions through JCM and other carbon credit frameworks.