Recap: The 1st Information Exchange Meeting of the Sea Slug Research Society of Japan

About the Sea Slug Research Society of Japan

Japan, a long and narrow country surrounded by the sea, has a remarkably unique geography. It receives the bounty of both warm and cold seas, and is home to many species of marine life.

In particular, sea slugs — often called the "jewels of the sea" — are confirmed in the seas around Japan in over 1,400 species. This makes Japan one of the most species-rich regions in the world for sea slugs.

Despite this richness, however, the number of researchers in Japan who specialize in sea slugs remains, unfortunately, very small.

To invigorate sea slug research in Japan, on October 3, 2020, a group of volunteers founded the "Sea Slug Research Society of Japan".

What does the Society do?

Once a year, we hold an exchange meeting where sea slug enthusiasts gather.

• Open to anyone interested in sea slugs, not just researchers.
• Members present their research and questions to deepen the group's knowledge.
• We support a wide range of fields: not only taxonomy but also ecology, behavior, and more.
• We also organize observation events and exhibitions to share the appeal of sea slugs more widely.

Professionals and amateurs alike, we hope many sea slug fans will gather to exchange information and help grow sea slug research and outreach.

Recommended for…

• People who love sea slugs.
• People who want to learn more about sea slugs.
• People interested in sea slug research.
• People who want to connect with fellow sea slug fans.

The Society is a gathering for everyone who loves sea slugs. Please join us in exploring their charm.

1st Meeting Overview

Held on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the Kishiwada Natural Materials Museum. As the inaugural meeting, it was held privately; whether future meetings will be public is yet to be decided.

What kind of talks?

On the day, there were 13 presentations on a wide range of topics — sea slug husbandry, ecology, DNA research, exhibition methods, and more.

• Sea slug husbandry
• The wonders of sea slug ecology
• Unraveling sea slug mysteries with DNA
• Behind the scenes of sea slug exhibitions

Excursion

The next day, March 2, 2025, we joined the "Spring Sea Slug Watching Event of Osaka Bay" at Jōgasaki Coast in Kada, Wakayama City for shore observation.

About the 2nd Meeting

The 2nd meeting is currently planned for around March 2026 in Kagoshima.

Since we didn't know whether enough people would attend the first time, the inaugural meeting was by invitation only from the organizers. Even so, about 50 people gathered and the event was a great success. We'll share details once they're set — please look forward to it.