Bull. Jpn. Soc. Fish. Oceanogr. 81(4), Page 293-299, 2017   The structure of human well-being derived from the marine ecosystem services of coastal areas: a comparison between regions with different utilization patterns of the ecosystem services Juri Hori11,2†, Izumi Tsurita3, Hidetomo Tajima4 and Mitsutaku Makino1 1 National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Japan Fisheries Research and education Agency, 2–12–4 Fukuura Kanazawa, Yokohama, Kanagawa 236–8648, Japan 2 Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1–4–4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-hiroshima, Hiroshima 739–8528, Japan 3 Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3–8–1 Komaba, Meguroku, Tokyo 153–8092, Japan 4 Tajima lab Co., 4–2–5 Mita Tamaku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214–0034, Japan † E-mail: jhori@affrc.go.jp In order to visualize the structure of human well-being derived from the marine ecosystem services of coastal areas, a comparative analysis was conducted between two regions (Hinase, Okayama and Ishigaki, Okinawa) where different utilization patterns of the ecosystem services are expected. Satisfaction level and interactions of the five components of human well-being (Security, Basic materials for a good life, Health, Good social relations, and Freedom of choice and action), as defined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of the United Nations, were investigated based on a questionnaire survey. Structure Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis demonstrated a common hierarchical structure of human well-being in two regions. The SEM analysis showed that the satisfaction level for ‘Security’ and ‘Basic materials for a good life’ worked as explanatory variables among five components, affecting ‘Freedom of choice and action’ as dependent variables through the effects on ‘Health’ and ‘Good social relations’ as intermediate variables in both regions. However, the intensities of the interactions among five components differed between the two regions. In Hinase, a significant effect on ‘Health’ consequently affected satisfaction with ‘Security’ which in turn increased ‘Freedom of choice and action’. In contrast, in Ishigaki, a significant effect on ‘Good social relations’ affected satisfaction with ‘Basic materials for a good life’ which in turn increased ‘Freedom of choice and action’. These results suggest that the differences observed in the structure of human well-being originate from the different utilization patterns of the marine ecosystem services between the two regions. Key words: human well-being, ecosystem services, millennium ecosystem assessment, coastal areas, structural equation modeling