Remote Sensing is the science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects mainly the Earth and its environment through electromagnetic wave observed by sensor systems on a satellite or other platforms. The word, 'Remote Sensing,' spread in 1970s with the launch of Landsat satellites. Remote Sensing has been used not only for natural science to understand global/local environment but also for many practical applications such as resource management, mapping, etc.

The Remote Sensing Society of Japan (RSSJ) was founded on May 6, 1981 with the objective of the advancement of remote sensing and its applications. The current membership is approximately 1,200. The RSSJ holds biannual conferences, issues an academic journal five times a year, and promotes specific research subjects by several working groups. In order to expand academic communication to overseas, the RSSJ has concluded agreements for academic cooperation with Korean Society of Remote Sensing (KSRS) in 2003 and with Chinese Taipei Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (CSPRS) in 2006.