start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol= cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page= end-page= dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=20250801 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=From sewage sludge to agriculture: governmental initiatives, technologies, and sustainable practices in Japan en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Sewage sludge (SS), an underutilized but valuable resource for agriculture, contains essential nutrients, such as phosphorus. In Japan, where dependence on imported fertilizers is high and global price fluctuations persist, using SS as fertilizer presents a sustainable alternative aligned with circular economy goals. This review analyzes Japan’s current efforts to repurpose SS, focusing on technological developments and key policy initiatives that promote safe and effective application. Selective phosphorus recovery technologies mitigate resource depletion, while holistic approaches, such as composting and carbonization, maximize sludge utilization for agricultural applications. Government-led initiatives, including public awareness campaigns, quality assurance standards and research support, have facilitated the adoption of sludge-based fertilizers. To contextualize Japan’s position, international trends, particularly in the EU, are also examined. These comparisons reveal both common strategies and areas for policy and technological advancement, especially regarding regulation of emerging contaminants. By integrating national case studies with global perspectives, the study offers insights into the economic, environmental, and social benefits of SS reuse, contributing to Japan’s goals of resource self-sufficiency and carbon neutrality, while also informing broader sustainable agriculture transitions worldwide. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NguyenThu Huong en-aut-sei=Nguyen en-aut-mei=Thu Huong kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=FujiwaraTaku en-aut-sei=Fujiwara en-aut-mei=Taku kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=YamashitaHiromasa en-aut-sei=Yamashita en-aut-mei=Hiromasa kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TogawaHironori en-aut-sei=Togawa en-aut-mei=Hironori kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=MiyakeHaruo en-aut-sei=Miyake en-aut-mei=Haruo kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= en-aut-name=GotoMasako en-aut-sei=Goto en-aut-mei=Masako kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=6 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagareHideaki en-aut-sei=Nagare en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=7 ORCID= en-aut-name=NakamuraMasato en-aut-sei=Nakamura en-aut-mei=Masato kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=8 ORCID= en-aut-name=OritateFumiko en-aut-sei=Oritate en-aut-mei=Fumiko kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=9 ORCID= en-aut-name=IharaHirotaka en-aut-sei=Ihara en-aut-mei=Hirotaka kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=10 ORCID= en-aut-name=MaedaMorihiro en-aut-sei=Maeda en-aut-mei=Morihiro kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=11 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Water Supply and Sewerage Department, National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Water Supply and Sewerage Department, National Institute for Land and Infrastructure Management kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=R & D Department, Japan Sewage Works Agency kn-affil= affil-num=6 en-affil=1St Research Department, Japan Institute of Wastewater Engineering and Technology kn-affil= affil-num=7 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=8 en-affil=Institute for Rural Engineering, NARO kn-affil= affil-num=9 en-affil=Institute for Rural Engineering, NARO kn-affil= affil-num=10 en-affil=Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO kn-affil= affil-num=11 en-affil=Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=Japan kn-keyword=Japan en-keyword=Sewage sludge kn-keyword=Sewage sludge en-keyword=Agriculture kn-keyword=Agriculture en-keyword=Sludge fertilizers kn-keyword=Sludge fertilizers en-keyword=Governmental initiatives kn-keyword=Governmental initiatives END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=23 cd-vols= no-issue=2 article-no= start-page=71 end-page=81 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2025 dt-pub=2025 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=Study on the Removal Technology of Trichloramine from Drinking Water Using Ultraviolet Light en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract=Trichloramine (NCl3) is an inorganic chloramine that causes a pungent chlorine-like odor, and it is difficult to remove its precursors (nitrogen organic compounds and/or ammonia) completely from water. Powdered activated carbon, ozonation, and UV treatment have been applied for decomposing NCl3, but free chlorine was also decomposed. So, it is necessary to develop a technique that can selectively control NCl3 without losing free chlorine. UV light-emitting diodes (265, 280, and 300?nm) and plasma emission UV sheet (347 ± 52?nm, hereafter 350?nm) were compared to find the optimal wavelengths that decompose NCl3 but not free chlorine. As a result, 90.6, 96.7, 92.5, and 77.8% of NCl3 were removed at 265, 280, 300 (3,600?mJ/cm2), and 350?nm (14,400?mJ/cm2), respectively. On the other hand, free chlorine at neutral pH (hypochlorous acid is dominant) and slightly alkaline pH (hypochlorite ion is dominant) was not decomposed at 350?nm, but at other wavelengths (i.e., 265, 280, and 300?nm) the removals were more than 64%. Therefore, UV radiation at 350?nm can be candidates to remove NCl3 while maintaining free chlorine. However, this method requires high input energy, and further study is needed for evaluating the practical applicability of this method by considering optimal reactor design. en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=HashiguchiAyumi en-aut-sei=Hashiguchi en-aut-mei=Ayumi kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= en-aut-name=YoshidaShiho en-aut-sei=Yoshida en-aut-mei=Shiho kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=2 ORCID= en-aut-name=EchigoShinya en-aut-sei=Echigo en-aut-mei=Shinya kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=3 ORCID= en-aut-name=TakanamiRyohei en-aut-sei=Takanami en-aut-mei=Ryohei kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=4 ORCID= en-aut-name=NagareHideaki en-aut-sei=Nagare en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name= kn-aut-sei= kn-aut-mei= aut-affil-num=5 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= affil-num=2 en-affil=Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Shimane University kn-affil= affil-num=3 en-affil=Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University kn-affil= affil-num=4 en-affil=Faculty of Design Technology, Osaka Sangyo University kn-affil= affil-num=5 en-affil=Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University kn-affil= en-keyword=trichloramine kn-keyword=trichloramine en-keyword=disinfection byproducts kn-keyword=disinfection byproducts en-keyword=drinking water kn-keyword=drinking water en-keyword=ultraviolet light kn-keyword=ultraviolet light END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=39 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=35 end-page=35 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2017 dt-pub=201711 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=編集後記 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagareHideaki en-aut-sei=Nagare en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name=永禮英明 kn-aut-sei=永禮 kn-aut-mei=英明 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Environmental Management Center, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学環境管理センター END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=39 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=2 end-page=8 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2017 dt-pub=201711 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=平成29年度環境管理センター公開講演会「予想される巨大地震に備えた耐災のまちづくり」 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagareHideaki en-aut-sei=Nagare en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name=永禮英明 kn-aut-sei=永禮 kn-aut-mei=英明 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Environmental Management Center, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学環境管理センター END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=38 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=40 end-page=40 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2016 dt-pub=201611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=編集後記 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagareHideaki en-aut-sei=Nagare en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name=永禮英明 kn-aut-sei=永禮 kn-aut-mei=英明 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Environmental Management Center, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学環境管理センター END start-ver=1.4 cd-journal=joma no-vol=38 cd-vols= no-issue= article-no= start-page=2 end-page=11 dt-received= dt-revised= dt-accepted= dt-pub-year=2016 dt-pub=201611 dt-online= en-article= kn-article= en-subject= kn-subject= en-title= kn-title=平成28年度環境管理センター公開講演会 「資源循環からみた未来社会の構図」 en-subtitle= kn-subtitle= en-abstract= kn-abstract= en-copyright= kn-copyright= en-aut-name=NagareHideaki en-aut-sei=Nagare en-aut-mei=Hideaki kn-aut-name=永禮英明 kn-aut-sei=永禮 kn-aut-mei=英明 aut-affil-num=1 ORCID= affil-num=1 en-affil=Environmental Management Center, Okayama University kn-affil=岡山大学環境管理センター END