Abstract: Marine gas hydrate is the desirable strategic resource in post-petroleum era. Japan nowadays is in world's leading position on related research. According to the research literature about marine gas hydrate recorded in Japan’s CiNii database in past 22 years, this paper used the bibliometrics method to analyze the year distribution, first author and affiliated institution, core researchers of related literature, and obtained the development dynamic. It showed that Japan’s research on marine gas hydrate was in the stage of ripeness, University of Tokyo with professor Matsumoto as the core and National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology with professor Narita Hideo as the core respectively stood for the highest research level of basic research and applied research. This research provided some reference value in understanding and analyzing the development status of Japan’s research on marine gas hydrate, and making China’s strategic resource planning.

Key words: bibliometrics