The history of sedimentology in Japan has briefly been reviewed. The word ‘taisekigaku’ for ‘sedimentology’ was introduced into Japanese scientific terms as early as 1950, much earlier than in the international community. The development of sedimentological researches in Japan is divisible into three stages; the first (1950s), second (1960s-1970s) and third (1980s-). The Sedimentological Research Group established in 1957 was reformed three times in 1968, 1971 and 1991. The present Sedimentological Society of Japan (about 550 members) started with the renewed biannual journal “Journal of the Sedimentological Society of Japan” in 1991.
For future development of sedimentology in Japan, the following suggestions have been made; (1) keep away from the Renaissance-style of researches, (2) contribute to the environmental sedimentology, and (3) globalize research activities. For this purpose the organization of regional meetings in Asia is suggested under the auspices of IAS.