VOL. 119 APRIL 2018

THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN 6 12 Promoting Ocean Policy The Project to Restore a Bountiful An interview with Ichiro Hao, Director Sea General of the National Ocean Policy Work is under way to restore Osaka Bay Secretariat, Cabinet Office. to its former beautiful and bountiful state. 8 Energy Resources from the Bottom of the Sea Research is underway into the commercialization of natural methane hydrate extracted from the seabed off Japan. 14 Masters in Maritime Safety and

Features Security A training program for officers of Asian coast guard agencies is contributing to safer seas around the continent. 10 Set Nets for Sustainable Fishing A sustainable fishing method practiced for centuries in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture is garnering attention around the world.

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PRIME MINISTER’S SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY MY WAY DIARY Self-Healing Ceramics for Jellyfish and Haiku

Also Multiple Applications

COPYRIGHT © 2018 CABINET OFFICE OF JAPAN WHERE TO FIND US The views expressed in this magazine by the interviewees Tokyo Narita Airport terminals 1 & 2 ● JR East Travel Service Center (Tokyo Narita Airport) ● JR Tokyo and contributors do not necessarily represent the views of Station Tourist Information Center ● Tokyo Tourist Information Center (Haneda Airport, Tokyo Metropolitan the Cabinet Office or the Government of Japan. No article Government Building, Keisei Ueno Station) ● Niigata Airport ● Chubu Centrair International Airport Tourist or any part thereof may be reproduced without the express Information & Service ● Kansai Tourist Information Center (Kansai Int'l Airport) ● Fukuoka Airport Tourist permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries Information ● Foreign Press Center/Japan ● Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan ● Delegation of the should be made through a form available at: European Union to Japan ● Tokyo University ● Waseda University ● Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University● Ritsumeikan University ● Kokushikan University ● University of Tsukuba ● Keio University ● Meiji University www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/mailform/inquiry.html ● Osaka University ● Kyushu University ● Kyoto University ● Tohoku University ● Nagoya University ● Sophia University ● Doshisha University ● Akita International University ● International University of Japan

2 | highlighting japan ISSUE 119, APRIL 2018 20 Theme for APRIL: The Sacred Island of Okinoshima THE MARITIME NATION A seafarer’s guidepost since ancient times, OF JAPAN Okinoshima in Fukuoka Prefecture is held in awe and revered as a sacred island to this day. In this month’s Feature, we take a look at some of the myriad ways 16 in which Japan respects, protects, Fish Finders Point the Way for makes use of and enjoys its rich Future Fishing marine environment, beginning Continual improvement of fish finder with the policies laid down by the technology in Japan is enabling more sustainable fishing practices around the world. national government. 22 Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty opened in Tokyo in January this year to promote an accurate understanding of Japan’s stance on territorial issues. 18 Fish-Loving Food Culture Refreshed A seafood retailer in Tokyo is boosting sales by offering easy-to-cook recipes and dishes at its main store.

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WASHOKU NATIONAL PARKS Kasutera: A Simple Yet Subtle Land of Mountains, Forests, Sweet Treat Valleys and Caves

PRODUCTION The Japan Journal ON THE COVER MANAGING EDITOR Hitoshi Chiba The Maritime Nation of Japan EDITORS Alex Hendy, Mao Fujita Photo: Courtesy of MH21 Research Consortium EDITORIAL SUPPORT Eriko Kiura CONTRIBUTORS Rob Gilhooly, Hiroshi Sakurai, Kentaro Sano, Takashi Sasaki, Kumiko Sato DESIGN Mei Imai, Hirofumi Okadome PHOTOS Tadashi Aizawa, Rob Gilhooly, Yuichi Itabashi, Hiroshi Sakurai, Satoshi Tanaka VIDEOGRAPHY Satoshi Tanaka

april 2018 | 3 Prime Minister’s Diary

JAPAN-CHILE SUMMIT MEETING

n February 23, 2018, Shinzo that took effect in 2016. Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, Prime Minister Abe mentioned the held a summit meeting with successful progress being made with O i H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Pres- the KIZUNA Project , a cooperative ident of the Republic of Chile, who project in the disaster reduction field, was making an official working visit and stated that the target for the num- to Japan. ber of people to be trained by 2020 will Prime Minister Abe shakes hands with H.E. Prime Minister Abe mentioned that be doubled from 2,000 to more than Ms. Michelle Bachelet Jeria, President of the Republic of Chile. various exchanges took place last year, 4,000. In addition, the two leaders also which marked the 120th anniversary of welcomed that the Japan-Chile Part- Cooperation (APEC) meeting that will the establishment of Japan-Chile dip- nership Program (JCPP) ii 2030, a mem- be held in Chile in 2019. Furthermore, lomatic relations, including the visit orandum on trilateral cooperation, is as Japan and Chile are both maritime to Chile by Their Imperial Highnesses now set to be signed. nations, the two leaders discussed the Prince and Princess Akishino, and In response, President Bachelet importance of a free and open mari- activities by Chile’s Nikkei community. introduced activities relating to the time order. In addition, Prime Minis- Prime Minister Abe noted that by ele- 120th anniversary of the establish- ter Abe explained the “Free and Open vating the relationship between Japan ment of diplomatic relations between Indo-Pacific Strategy,” and the two and Chile to a “strategic partnership,” the two countries, and stated that she leaders shared the view that they will he intends to further deepen coopera- intends to further advance cooperation continue the discussion. tion between the two countries and in in the defense field and the trade and With regard to the North Korea the international arena through fora investment field, as well as trilateral issue, Prime Minister Abe explained such as “policy dialogues” for dis- cooperation between Japan and Chile, that it is necessary to maximize pres- cussing the bilateral relationship and including in the disaster reduction sure on North Korea, and he also various challenges in the international field. Furthermore, President Bachelet expressed expectation of understand- arena. Furthermore, Prime Minister expressed gratitude for Japan’s sup- ing and cooperation for promptly Abe stated that Japan is scheduled to port at the time of the forest fires in resolving the abductions issue. In dispatch a defense attaché to Chile Chile in 2017, along with stating that response, President Bachelet men- from 2019, and expressed expectation she hopes to cooperate to realize the tioned that she will visit Nagasaki that a cooperative relationship will be United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sus- during her stay in Japan, explained promoted in the defense field. tainable Development. that Chile has a firm position that is In addition, with regard to the eco- In addition, the two leaders wel- opposed to proliferation and to North nomic field, the two leaders welcomed comed that a working holiday scheme Korea’s nuclear development program, further progress with the two coun- will begin operating on February 23, and has consistently cooperated with tries’ economic relationship through that a memorandum of cooperation in Japan. The two leaders shared the the building of economic frameworks, the sports field is now set to be signed, view that they will coordinate closely. including the Japan-Chile Economic and that a substantial agreement was

Partnership (EPA) that entered into reached on an agreement concern- i Officially known as the “Disaster Risk Reduction force in 2007 and the tax convention ing driver’s licenses, and shared the Training Program for Latin America and the Caribbean view that they will advance exchanges in Chile” (March 2015-March 2020), a technical cooperation project. The project trains personnel for between citizens in a variety of fields. contributing to disaster prevention in countries in With regard to cooperating on Latin America and the Caribbean through trilateral regional affairs, including the North cooperation that includes dispatching specialists from Japan to hold disaster prevention training in Chile. A Korea issue, and in the international target of training 4,000 people during the five-year arena, including UN Security Coun- cooperation period has been set. ii Japan and Chile work together on cooperation cil reform, the two leaders shared the with other developing countries (so-called trilateral view that the cooperative relationship cooperation). An agreement document was concluded will be deepened. In addition, the two in June 1999. Thus far, third-country training and specialist dispatches to third countries have been Japanese and Chilean delegates at the Japan- leaders confirmed cooperation in the implemented in fields such as disaster prevention and Chile summit meeting run-up to the Asia-Pacific Economic the environment, fisheries and medical care.

Photographs and text courtesy of the Cabinet Public Relations Office of the Government of Japan. 4 | highlighting japan Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

The Maritime Nation of Japan

Regarding the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, which is due to be formulated this spring, Ichiro Hao (pp. 6–7), Director General of the National Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office, notes that Japan will “fully take into account factors such as recent environmental changes and threats in the oceans surrounding Japan, progress with initiatives aimed at creating open and stable oceans based on the rule of law … and to guarantee safety and peace of mind for the people of Japan, and safeguard the country’s marine interests.” In this month’s Feature, we deep dive these and other issues confronting Japan as a maritime nation, including the quest for subsea energy resources, coast guard training, sustainable fishing technologies past and present, and territorial sovereignty. Courtesy of Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.

april 2018 | 5 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

Promoting Ocean Policy

Ichiro Hao The Basic Act on Ocean Policy outlined guiding principles on ocean-related matters, and set out the foundations for ocean policy, including the formulation of the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy. It also specified the establishment of the Head- quarters for Ocean Policy, headed by the Prime Minister, with the aim of comprehensively and systematically addressing ocean policy across all government ministries and agencies. I work for the National Ocean Policy Secretar- iat, Cabinet Office which was set up to bring all of these areas together within the government and push full steam ahead.

What have been the key points in ocean policy over the last decade? apan has always protected and made the most The 2nd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy was formu- of the sea that surrounds it. Amidst changes lated in 2013. It set out a number of priorities Jin the country’s marine environment, Japan aimed at establishing Japan as a maritime country, set out the Basic Act on Ocean Policy in 2007 and including “International cooperation and contri- released a Basic Plan in March 2008. Ten years bution to international community,” “Wealth and on, we asked Ichiro Hao, Director General of the prosperity through ocean development and utili- National Ocean Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office zation of the sea,” “From a country protected by about the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy. the sea to a country that protects the sea,” and “Venturing into the unexplored frontier.” It has been ten years since the Basic Act on Ocean We have continued to work on a raft of mea- Policy came into effect. What was the background sures in the maritime sector over the last ten years. to the Act and what was its purpose? In addition to filing a request to extend Japan’s The enactment of the Basic Act on Ocean Policy continental shelf, to cover the vast expanse of was prompted by a whole host of ocean-related ocean that comprises roughly half of the coun- issues that were becoming apparent at the time. try’s territory, relevant legislation such as the Act The ocean was playing an increasingly key role on Punishment of and Measures against Acts of in securing food, resources and energy, trans- Piracy, the Act on the Preservation of Low-Water porting cargo, and maintaining the environment, Line, and the Act on the Conservation of Remote for example. Other issues included contamina- Islands and Sustainability of Remote Islands’ tion of the marine environment, declining fish- Community have also been enacted. ery resources, and a string of incidents that could potentially impact on Japan’s marine interests. In December 2017, the Advisory Council for the

Photo: Yuichi Itabashi

6 | highlighting japan National Headquarters for Ocean Policy compiled The government is currently looking into for- a report on the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, mulating the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy based which is due to be formulated in spring 2018. on this report. What were the main points in that report? Based on evaluation of progress under the 2nd International cooperation is likely to play a key Basic Plan on Ocean Policy, the report recom- role in implementing the Basic Plan on Ocean Pol- mended that recent changes in Japan’s maritime icy. What would you consider to be the key points situation should be taken into account when for- in that respect? mulating the 3rd Basic Plan on Ocean Policy. In The oceans are governed by international rules particular, the report stressed the need to fully that have long been debated and acted upon by take into account factors such as recent environ- many countries around the world, most notably mental changes and threats in the oceans sur- the United Nations Convention on the Law of the rounding Japan, and progress with initiatives Sea. The first key point is that countries comply aimed at creating open and stable oceans based fully with these rules, and establish the rule of law on the rule of law. The report also recommended at sea. Maintaining and reinforcing order on the that the existing Basic Act on Ocean Policy be fun- seas through international cooperation, in a free damentally restructured, to encompass maritime and open manner in accordance with these rules, security on a broader scale, and that proactive will in turn enable us to establish a more peaceful measures be taken to guarantee safety and peace and stable international community. of mind for the people of Japan, and safeguard the At the same time, there are still numerous country’s marine interests. maritime issues on a global scale where cause- Another area covered in the report was scien- and-effect are not entirely understood, includ- tific knowledge. That includes taking steps to ing global warming. That is why we need to ade- expand marine resource development and off- quately monitor conditions across the oceans, and shore wind power in order to ensure stable sup- have a thorough understanding of relevant phe- plies of resources and energy, using international nomena. As well as actively contributing to the frameworks to preserve the marine environ- establishment of a comprehensive oceanographic ment and enable comprehensive management of observation network, based on international coastal areas, and securing and developing human cooperation and coordination, it is also impor- resources to establish Japan as a maritime country. tant that Japan works to acquire further scientific The report recommended making plans to push knowledge through observation, and uses that full steam ahead with measures such as these over knowledge to implement rational policies. Imple- a five-year period, alongside other measures such menting measures based on scientific knowledge as international cooperation and arctic policy. will be another key point for the future. To implement measures set out in the Basic From the standpoint of the Basic Plan on Ocean Plan on Ocean Policy effectively and efficiently, Policy too, I would say that we need to estab- the report recommended stepping up processes lish these two key points as universal standards to reliably verify, evaluate and review implemen- throughout the international community, as well tation and progress based on process manage- as in Japan. ment (PDCA cycle), and advised using easy to understand wording to help members of the pub- Interview by HITOSHI CHIBA lic to understand.

april 2018 | 7 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

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4 Energy Resources from the Bottom of the Sea

Research is underway into the commercialization of natural methane hydrate believed to exist in the seabed layer in the waters surrounding the Japanese archipelago. 5

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methane characteristically releases roughly half the TAKASHI SASAKI amount of carbon dioxide of coal when burned, it is expected to be used as a source of energy for city ethane hydrate, a substance resting in gas, power generation and fuel cells. The Japan Oil, Japanese coastal waters also known as Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) is “burning ice,” has attracted attention conducting research and development into methane in recent years. Methane hydrate is an hydrate’s potential to become a new energy resource Moffshore resource containing methane, the primary as a member of MH21, Research Consortium for component of natural gas, and is believed to exist Methane Hydrate Resources in Japan. in the subsea strata 500 meters or deeper under the “Methane hydrate is one of the clathrate hydrates, waters surrounding the Japanese archipelago. As a type of solid where a guest molecule is trapped All photos: Courtesy of MH21 Research Consortium

8 | highlighting japan 1 MH21 successfully extracted methane hydrate from the seabed off the coasts of Aichi and Mie Prefectures in tests conducted in March 2013 on the drillship Chikyu—a world first. trapped under high pressure, it flows out under its 2-6 own pressure, but in the case of methane hydrate Scenes from the second offshore methane hydrate production test which exists as a solid inside the ground, it won’t inside a cage of water molecules, and this forms dissociate and naturally flow unless changes are a solid in an environment with low temperature made to the temperature and pressure environment. and high pressure. Methane hydrate that has been The difficult technical challenge we face is how to artificially formed in something like ice, when it is dissociate the methane and extract it efficiently,” brought close to a flame at ordinary temperatures, says sub-leader Nakatsuka. the emitted methane ignites and forms a flame, after Naturally, the ultimate goal of the methane which only water remains. That’s how it gets the hydrate development plan is to efficiently produce name ‘burning ice,’” explains Yoshihiro Nakatsuka, gas from the methane hydrate under the seabed, Deputy Director of the Field Development team transport it to land and commercialize the output. in the Methane Hydrate Research & Development “We have only taken the first steps in research Group at JOGMEC. and development into methane hydrate aimed at Full-scale research and development was started its future commercialization. Even in the four years by MH21 in 2001 in response to “Japan’s Methane that separated the first and second offshore produc- Hydrate R&D Program” published by the Ministry tion tests, we continued to explore technologies that of Economy, Trade and Industry. The effort started would solve some of the issues identified during the with exploring how methane hydrate populates the first test and we have made steady progress in R&D, subsea strata and how to extract the methane, and but there are still many challenges to solve. In the involved twice conducting land-based production years ahead, it will be important to work with the tests in Canada that were conducted in 2002 and private sector and other entities to solve the issues 2007–2008. In March 2013, the world’s first offshore at hand one at a time,” notes Yukinori Takuma, the production test was conducted at the DAINI-ATSUMI group’s Deputy Director General. Knoll in an area off the coast of Aichi and Mie Pre- Methane is the primary component of natural gas fectures. The test confirmed the production of meth- and is regarded as a clean energy because it releases ane gas for six consecutive days. Then, in April 2017, less carbon dioxide and air pollutants when burned the second offshore production test was conducted than other fuels such as coal. From a global perspec- in the same area, verifying methane hydrate produc- tive, the low temperature, high pressure environ- tion over a period of thirty-six days. ments under which methane hydrate can exist are “With the methane hydrate production technique not limited to areas underneath the deep sea ocean we are using, which is known as the ‘depressuriza- floor; the substance is also widely distributed in per- tion method,’ we drill a well under the seabed from a mafrost layers, for instance. ship on the surface, reduce the pressure (depressur- According to estimates made by MH21 based on ization) by drawing up water inside the well with a the results of geophysical surveys, the concentra- pump, and then extract the methane produced from tion zones in the Eastern Nankai Trough contain a high concentration of methane hydrate deposit. methane hydrate deposits equivalent to around five- While oil and natural gas are generally trapped and-a-half years of the amount of liquid natural gas inside hard reservoir rock at a depth of several thou- imported into Japan (as of 2011). Methane hydrate sand meters underground, methane hydrate is at a concentration zones have been confirmed elsewhere depth of only several hundred meters below the sea- in the waters off the coast of Japan, and upcoming bed, so it is not time-consuming to drill the well as research and development aimed at the future com- it is with conventional resources. On the other hand, mercialization of the resource has attracted a great when you bore a well in oil or natural gas which is deal of attention.

april 2018 | 9 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

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1 3 Set Nets for Sustainable Fishing A sustainable fishing method practiced for centuries by fishermen in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture is now attracting attention around the world. 4

in the Bay. The specialties of Toyama Bay include KUMIKO SATO broad velvet shrimps in spring, and red snow crabs and yellowtails from fall to winter. In particular, acing the Sea of Japan, Toyama Bay in the yellowtails landed in Himi City located on the Toyama Prefecture is one of the foremost northwestern section of Toyama Bay from Novem- fishing grounds in Japan. River water ber to February are known throughout Japan by the containing abundant minerals and other brand name “Himi kan-buri” (midwinter yellowtails Fnutrients flows into the Bay from the Tateyama from Himi). They fetch prices more than three times mountain range and surrounding peaks, creating higher than yellowtails landed in other areas in the a plankton-rich marine environment in which fish same season. The reason for their high prices is the thrive. Toyama Bay is a submarine canyon that method used for catching them, in addition to their suddenly drops off deeply from the coast. The Tsu- good flavor due to abundant fat resulting from their shima Warm Current (surface seawater) traveling growth in the northern sea and southward migra- the Sea of Japan northward and the cold inherent tion for spawning. water of the Sea of Japan (deep seawater) are lay- Traditional set net fishing has been practiced for ered here. Around 600 varieties of fish and shell- about 400 years in Himi, which has a well formed fish that live in warm and cold water can be caught continental shelf and attracts many fish in Toyama All photos: Courtesy of JICA

10 | highlighting japan 1 Pulling in the catch 2 A fisherman from Himi provides technical guidance on set-net fishing to a trainee from Thailand 3 Setting the nets early in the morning and leave them freely,” explains Ino. “They also 4 Trainee fishermen from Thailand help sort the catch. have a setup that allows some fish to escape when a large amount of them swim in. One study group Bay. Set net fishing is a method of catching only the made an investigation into fish and found that set fish that happen to enter the set nets, without chas- nets catch only 20% of all fish that enter them, or ing the fish. 30% at the most.” “People of Himi refer to yellowtails as gifts from Set net fishing has been attracting growing inter- the gods,” says Shingo Ino of the Himi Fisheries est around the world in recent years as a sustainable Cooperative Association. “We can now catch fish in method of fishing that does not destroy an ecosys- good condition regardless of the fishing methods tem or deplete the fish stocks living there. Set net used, thanks to the improvement of fishing equip- fishing can save ship fuel and has a lower environ- ment. We once damaged the fish as a result of fishing mental load because it is performed in locations that focused solely on chasing shoals. Set net fishing close to the shore. puts no such burden on fish. Fishermen in Himi con- Himi City sponsored the International Set Net tinue to treat yellowtails carefully even today, lifting Fishing summit in Himi jointly with Toyama Pre- them on their two palms.” fecture and the Fisheries Agency in 2002. About Set net fishing is a fishing method that has been 1,300 government officials, researchers and people practiced in many coastal parts of Japan for a long involved in fishing took part in the summit from time. The fishermen in the respective regions have thirty-five countries and regions, including Thailand, improved and developed this fishing method through China and Costa Rica. Participants from overseas information exchanges. A method developed in Himi expressed their desire to adopt Etchu set-net fish- spread to fishermen throughout Japan, beginning ing when this fishing method was introduced at the with the improvements made by the fishermen of summit. In response, Himi City decided to dispatch Himi in around 1915 to a set net used in Miyazaki Pre- researchers and fishermen overseas in cooperation fecture. This method became known as Etchu set-net with the Japan International Cooperation Agency. fishing after an old name for Toyama Prefecture. The researchers and fishermen dispatched by Himi Around forty-five set nets are erected in the ocean, City have provided technical guidance on set net 20 to 100 meters deep and two to four kilometers off fishing in Thailand and Indonesia so far. the coast of Himi. Some of the large set nets are 700 “To practice set net fishing, you must inspect the meters long. The nets are set to catch migratory fish nets every day,” points out Ino. “You need many such as tuna, horse mackerel and mackerel, in addi- years of experience and intuition as fishermen to tion to yellowtails. The fish can swim without diffi- adjust the nets. Set net fishing is relatively inefficient culty in these large nets. Aside from the large ones, and achieving its spread might be difficult if we think there are set nets in different shapes that take advan- only in industrial terms. But we are practicing set net tage of the habits of fish like sardines and squid that fishing in order to hand on the sea where fish live to travel from the shore to the open sea. Including the next generation.” those, set nets account for 80% of fishing operations Families in Himi have passed down a variety of performed in Himi. fish cooking methods. They consider eating fish from The haul of fish is falling year after year in Himi, head to tail without wasting any parts as a matter however. In addition to the effects caused by climate of course. The sustainable fishing method that does change, indiscriminate offshore fishing using equip- not burden fish has been maintained for 400 years in ment like round haul nets is said to be a major cause Himi because a culture of placing high value on fish of the decline. has taken root among not only the fishermen, but “Set nets are distinctive in that fish can enter also all the people in the area.

april 2018 | 11 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

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1 The Project to Restore a Bountiful Sea 3

The government, private sector, NPOs, scholars and during Japan’s rapid economic growth period, land citizens have united to restore Osaka Bay to its for- reclamation advanced along coastal areas as activity mer beautiful and bountiful state. picked up in the region as a hub of distribution and production. As a result, natural beaches, seaweed MAO FUJITA beds and tidelands shrank or disappeared, develop- ing a body of water in which seawater could more saka Bay is an enclosed coastal sea area easily stagnate. Progress was also made in the devel- situated at the eastern end of the Seto opment of shore protection facilities to safeguard Inland Sea with two bay entrances, the the livelihoods of people in the surrounding area. Akashi and Kitan Straits. Distinct char- As the population grew and industry developed in Oacteristics of the bay are a hinterland of mountains the closed-off section of the bay, sea pollution and from 500 to 1,000 meters in height such as Mount waste increased, creating a compromised habitat for Rokko and Mount Ikoma, and a vast catchment area marine life. into which many rivers flow. In December 2001, the Office for Promotion of Spanning seven prefectures, Osaka Bay is a focal Regional Revitalization, Cabinet Office adopted point of population and industry and had long “Sea Regeneration” as an urban regeneration proj- played a role as a location for industry, trade and ect, and in July 2003, Osaka Bay Regeneration was fishing. Up until around 1955, the Bay was dotted established as a government-led effort to pursue with sandy beaches that locals enjoyed for bath- environmental improvements to Osaka Bay. In the ing and clamming, which cultivated an intimate years since, Osaka Bay Regeneration has worked connection between people and the sea. However, with many different organizations including citizens, All photos: Courtesy of Osaka Bay Regeneration

12 | highlighting japan 1 Osaka Bay 2+3 A ship collects accumulated drifting waste in Osaka Bay

closely linked to daily activities, such as reducing NPOs, scholars and companies to regenerate Osaka waste volume and releasing clean water so as not to Bay by restoring sea conditions, addressing water place a burden on the environment,” says Matsui. pollution, and by making improvements to forests With the aim of restoring the beautiful, familiar and the rivers that flow into Osaka Bay. and plentiful sea and regenerating Osaka Bay into “Large factories had been built on many plots of something citizens are proud of, Osaka Bay Regen- reclaimed land around the closed-off sections of eration is working on activities in coordination Osaka Bay, including an industrial zone for heavy and cooperation with a wide range of entities that and chemical industries, and we suppose that include industry, government and academia. For depressions scooped out of the seabed due to rec- example, the organization holds forums and events lamation work and changing tidal streams from for citizens to inform them of the condition of Osaka reclaimed land have had an effect on the environ- Bay, and as part of the citizen group-led Osaka Bay ment in Osaka Bay, such as what we have seen with General Survey of Marine Life, 1,098 people from blue tides and red tides associated with poor oxygen twenty-five groups have taken part in activities to water mass or eutrophication,” says Yoshiki Matsui, ascertain the aquatic environment of Osaka Bay. The Senior Officer for Engineering Planning, Planning survey involves verifying the presence of various fish Department Office of the Ministry of Land, Infra- and shellfish, as well as a finless porpoise, a member structure, Transport and Tourism, Kinki Regional of the dolphin family. Development Bureau. “It takes a lot of time and effort to return the sea Osaka Bay Regeneration has been pursuing initia- to a fertile state. In order to pass on a beautiful sea to tives to restore what was once a beautiful, familiar younger generations, government organizations are and bountiful Naniwa Sea (literally, “garden of fish”; taking a leading role in innovative efforts to restore “Naniwa” was the name given to the Osaka Bay area Osaka Bay,” says Matsui. on account of its abundant marine life). The orga- Osaka Bay Regeneration will continue to promote nization has three groups focused on land, sea and activities to restore Osaka Bay while incorporating monitoring, and conducts a range of activities aimed people’s feedback on its efforts. at restoring the environment. The Sea Group con- centrates on refilling seabed depressions, while the Land Group works on development of forest and sewage treatment facilities. The Monitoring Group conducts general surveys of water quality and living organisms to ascertain the effects of improvements, and conducts activities to understand the state of the environment in Osaka Bay. “There are limits to what the government can do alone in restoring Osaka Bay. We need to gain under- standing of residents in inland areas like Shiga and Kyoto prefectures that are in the hinterland zone of Osaka Bay. Rain that has fallen in inland areas and melting snow flows into Osaka Bay from Lake Biwa in Shiga prefecture along the Yodogawa River. Even for people living in regions that are not directly connected to Osaka Bay, it is important to have an awareness of the environmental protection that is Citizens conduct the Osaka Bay General Survey of Marine Life

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1 Students in the third Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program visit the Haneda Air Base of the JCG. 2 Students in the third Maritime Safety and Security Policy Masters in Program exchange opinions. 3 Students in the first Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program pay a courtesy call to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (center) in September 2016. Maritime Safety Photos: Courtesy of Japan Coast Guard forms of assistance to countries with coastlines in and Security the waters concerned. For example, Japan provides countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philip- Japan provides a training and education pro- pines and Vietnam with patrol boats. In addition, the gram for officers of Asian coast guard agencies Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and and is seeking international cooperation in a bid the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) work together to provide to ensure safety and security at sea in Asia. training related to the issues, including crackdowns on crimes at sea, disaster prevention and rescue, and hydrographical surveys, to the staff members of HIROSHI SAKURAI coast guard agencies in the respective countries, in Japan. They also dispatch JCG staff members to the ankers and container ships carrying com- respective countries as JICA experts in an attempt modities, such as oil, foodstuffs and man- to help the coast guard agencies there build up their ufactured goods, travel back and forth organization and provide the bodies with support in through the sea lanes connecting the Mid- the area of personnel training. dleT East and Asia. These are vital routes, not only JICA and the JCG began implementing the Mari- for Japan but also for the global economy. However, time Safety and Security Policy Program in collabora- problems including piracy, smuggling, accidents tion with the National Graduate Institute for Policy at sea and environmental pollution are occurring Studies (GRIPS) in 2015. This Program is a one-year in the waters through which these sea lanes pass. master’s course for junior coast guard officers from How to guarantee safety in the waters has become the JCG and coast guard agencies in the respective a major issue. Asian countries. The Program is aimed at training per- To solve these problems, Japan offers various sonnel equipped with advanced practical and applied

14 | highlighting japan knowledge related to maritime safety and security, abundant marine resources that flourish on the analytical and problem-solving abilities, and interna- coast of Sri Lanka. The waters are also an important tional communications skills. At the same time, the marine transportation route. Japan has provided var- Program promotes cooperation with the respective ious forms of assistance to the SLCG, including the countries. A master’s program for the junior officers supply of patrol boats and technology transfers for of coast guard agencies is a rarity worldwide. In the protecting the marine environment. past two completed Programs, the Master of Policy Daniel says that oil spill response has improved Studies has been awarded to a total of sixteen stu- dramatically in Sri Lanka thanks to training provided dents in the Program who came from Japan, Indone- by the JCG related to the prevention of oil spills and sia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. how to respond to them. Daniel notes that he applied The students study basic subjects, including inter- for the Maritime Safety and Security Policy Program national law of the sea, international security stud- because he was convinced that he could learn a lot of ies, and international relations, at GRIPS in Tokyo policies from Japan. for the first six months. In the remaining six months, About six months have passed since Daniel arrived they take lessons more closely related to maritime in Japan. He says that he is improving his skills in safety and security practice, such as the policy for analyzing matters from an international perspective search and rescue, salvage and maritime disaster through information exchanges with fellow Program prevention and the maritime police policy at the students from other countries, in addition to gain- Japan Coast Guard Academy in Hiroshima Prefec- ing knowledge about international law and learning ture. The students also write a policy paper equiva- ways of dealing with problems that occur at sea. lent to a master’s thesis as part of the Program. Daniel says that he plans to study search and res- A range of cases on maritime safety and security, cue at sea, which is underdeveloped in Sri Lanka, as such as piracy and oil spills at sea, are taken up in a the theme of his policy paper, adding that he hopes case-study lesson on maritime safety and security to reflect the outcome of this study on his coun- policy. The lesson places emphasis on the students try’s policies and disseminate the knowledge he has thinking up solutions for the cases provided and dis- gained in Japan to a large number of his juniors after cussing them with the other students. returning to Sri Lanka. “There were clashes of opinions among the stu- A network for a peaceful, safe sea is spreading dents because each country has different religions, across the waters in Asia. cultures and systems,” remembers Hiroaki Onodera, Assistant Director for International Cooperation at the JCG, who took part part in the first Program. “But our understanding of each other deepened through discussions and the experience of living together. Our training period is over, but we remain bound by strong ties as members of the same class.” A total of seven staff members from the JCG, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Marine Department Malaysia and the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) are studying in the third Program, which commenced in October 2017. Rajinda Daniel, one of the seven students, is Hiroaki Onodera (right) of the JCG, who took part in the first Maritime in charge of coordinating coast guard units at the Safety and Security Policy Program, with Rajinda Daniel, a staff member of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) who is participating in SLCG. Fishing and tourism take advantage of the the third Program. Photo: Hiroshi Sakurai

april 2018 | 15 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

Fish Finders Point the Way for Future Fishing Around seventy years ago, two Japanese brothers developed a device to detect the location of fish underwater using ultrasonic FURUNO’s maritime electronics wave technology. Today their company’s equipment fitted in the Holland America Line cruise ship MS Noordam products are used around the world.

technology could be used to detect swimming fish TAKASHI SASAKI because ultrasonic waves are capable of detecting reflected waves on the hard sea-bottom ground, as eadquartered in Nishinomiya City, well as in the air.” Hyogo Prefecture, Furuno Electric Co., After some trial and error, Kiyotaka succeeded in Ltd. (FURUNO) is a leading manufac- developing a technology that could determine the turer of marine navigation and commu- location of a school of fish by detecting the reflected nicationsH equipment with sales offices in more than waves in the air inside the air bladder of fish. He eighty countries around the world. In 1938, FURUNO named this device the “Fish Finder,” restructured his was launched as a small family-owned radio sales business to establish a new company together with and repair shop in Kyushu’s Nagasaki Prefecture. A his younger brother, Kiyokata, and launched com- major turning point in its growth came in 1948, when prehensive marketing activities for the fish finder. its founder succeeded in commercializing the world’s Initially the business was not successful because first practical fish finder while undertaking the work fishermen did not trust the system’s performance or of outfitting electronics on fish and cargo vessels. share the skills necessary to use the device widely. “FURUNO’s founder Kiyotaka Furuno (1920–2013) In response, Kiyotaka sent Kiyokata to the Goto began developing a fish finder in 1945, when he Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture as the chief fisherman acquired an ultrasonic wave detector that had been working on a fishing vessel. Kiyokata succeeded in used by the military,” says Yasushi Nishimori, PhD, boosting the catch volume significantly by using the Director and General Manager of the Research and fish finder. Moreover, he was active when it came to Innovation Center at FURUNO. “In those days, it was sharing a range of feedback data from the fish finder a common view among academia that ultrasonic with his fellow fishermen on board, and this helped wave technology was only capable of determining the fish finder to rapidly gain popularity in the fish- the sea-bottom environment, and that it was not ing industry. Subsequently, customer confidence in capable of detecting the location of swimming fish. FURUNO rose, resulting in significant sales success. One day in 1943, when Furuno was undertaking elec- “Initially, our fish finder was sold for 600,000 yen tric work on board a fishing vessel, a seasoned fish- per unit, which was as expensive as a house in those erman told him that bubbles floating on the surface days. Despite its high price, the company’s technol- of the sea are an indication of a good fishing spot. ogy attracted fishermen from all over the country. In Greatly inspired by this tip, Furuno is said to have fact, I heard that a number of customers in the fish- subsequently started developing the fish finder sys- ing industry visited FURUNO (which was formerly tem. He probably thought that the ultrasonic wave based in Nagasaki City) with backpacks full of cash to All photos: Courtesy of Furuno Electric Co., Ltd.

16 | highlighting japan FURUNO’s first Fish Finder featuring a data recorder is relatively large. Given this situation, we have high (Model: F-261) expectations for an extensive set of data gathered by FURUNO’s fish finders that are currently in operation buy our fish finder,” all over the world.” smiles Dr. Nishimori. Dr. Nishimori continues, “Analyzing different FURUNO has sets of data will make it possible for us to monitor continued to make and conserve marine resources more accurately. consistent effortsRecently, more countries around the world have to improve its fish been intensifying their efforts to sustain marine finder since it was resources by setting strict fishing quotas in accor- launched onto the market, announcing new prod- dance with the size and species of fish. ucts one after another, including radiotelephone “When we succeeded in commercializing the fish equipment for fishing vessels and shipboard radars. finder, our corporate mission was focused on contrib- In 1956, the company began exporting its prod- uting to society through activities for protecting food ucts. Kiyotaka Furuno was a strong advocate of the security. Going forward, global efforts involving Japan hands-on approach to business, and this established toward the appropriate control of marine resources the basis for the company’s business approach of will be seen as an important issue in our society,” genba-shugi, which entails finding the seeds for new says Dr. Nishimori. “We take active steps to develop technologies and developing products based on cus- new types of fish finders to enable fishing operators tomer needs by investigating things firsthand in the around the world to have the ability of determining field. He often encouraged employees by saying, not only the size but also the species, such as herring “Don’t see yourself as a mechanical engineer; see and mackerel, as a social contribution.” yourself as a leading navigator.” FURUNO’s technology has significantly changed “FURUNO has developed a range of unique marine the scope of the fishing industry, where it was usu- electronics products, including the world’s first tidal ally necessary to rely on seasoned fishermen for current meter and bird radars, as a result of our per- their experience and intuition. The world is watching sistent efforts to meet the requests of customers in FURUNO as an innovative leader in protecting and the fishing industry,” says Dr. Nishimori. developing marine resources for the future. Based on its sophisticated technology and exper- tise, FURUNO has expanded its product lines, includ- ing electronics equipment for large vessels and pleasure boats, medical equipment, disaster man- agement systems, and intelligent transport systems. While FURUNO recognizes the importance of busi- ness diversification, the maritime industry is and will remain its core business area in the future. Dr. Nishimori says, “A top priority in our agenda for the future is the sustainable management of marine resources. Information regarding the types and volume of fish in terms of the total allowable catch currently relies on data gathered by research activities using research vessels. Those research FURUNO’s latest Fish Size Indicator (Model: FCV-2100) data are used only as estimates because of the lim- ited number of research vessels in operation, the sea

april 2018 | 17 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

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Consumption of fish has been declining in Japan in Fish-Loving Food recent years, but one seafood dealer is nevertheless enjoying strong sales growth while promoting a Culture Refreshed variety of ways to enjoy eating fish.

significant role as an ingredient in making Japanese HIROSHI SAKURAI food culture so rich and diverse. After the Second World War, the consumption ish and fishery products have comprised of fish and fishery products in Japan began grow- much of the Japanese diet for centuries, as ing as development of transportation distribution the country is surrounded by the sea and networks and household refrigerators made fresh blessed with a wealth of various marine marine products accessible to consumers living in Fproducts all year round. Seafood is processed by the mountainous countryside as well. According to Japanese people using many different traditional the White Paper on Fisheries published by the Fish- recipes that include fermenting it to make nare-zushi eries Agency, the annual consumption of fish and (fermented sushi), which is believed to be the earli- fishery products per capita in Japan was 40.2 kg in est form of today’s sushi; drying and salting it to pre- FY2001. (The annual consumption of meat per capita serve the fish; and pureeing it to form fish cakes. Fish in Japan was 27.8 kg in the same year.) is served raw as sashimi or sushi, fried as in tempura, However, the domestic consumption of fish and grilled, simmered and steamed, and it has played a fishery products peaked in FY2001 and declined

18 | highlighting japan 1 Fresh fillets of a wide variety of fish on display at Toshin Kitchen 2 Ready-to-eat meals of sautéed fish with vegetables in colorful, microwavable packs 3 Grab-and-go sushi dinners the day by introducing fish dishes that originate not 4 A Toshin Kitchen staff member prepares to slice fresh marlin into only from Japanese cuisine, but also from Italian and portions Photos: Courtesy of Toshin Sea Foods Co (1, 2); Yuichi Itabashi (3, 4) Chinese cuisine. For example, the chef introduces dishes for large, low-cost food for housewife custom- steadily in the following years to a low of 25.8 kg in ers who visit with their children in the afternoon, and FY2015. The downward trend in the consumption easy-to-cook dishes for working families and single of fish and fishery products could be attributable to office workers who visit the facility in the evening. factors such as food diversification, a reduction in “Toshin Kitchen offers easy-to-cook recipes for domestic fishing capacity, and consumers’ growing fish dishes that encourage our customers to cook reluctance to take the time needed to prepare fish fish at home. Our persistent efforts to overcome dishes, given the aging population along with an the stereotypical image that cooking fish is compli- increase in the number of working families. cated have finally paid off, and we have succeeded Despite the challenging trends in the market, in attracting more customers to visit our shops more Toshin Sea Foods Co. trades over 200 types of fish often,” says President Orimo. and fishery products a year and is enjoying strong Along with the activities carried out at Toshin sales growth. The company was founded in Ogikubo, Kitchen, the company has developed easy-to-pre- Tokyo in 1949 and now operates thirty retail shops pare precooked fish products, offering packaged primarily in the Tokyo metropolitan area, offering sushi and sashimi as well as ready-to-eat microwave a variety of opportunities for consumers to become meal products in all of its retail stores. The colors familiar with fish and fishery products. of the food trays have been changed from black or Nobutsune Orimo, President of Toshin Sea Foods white to yellow, blue or pink, as the colorful food Co., says, “People cook fish at home much less often packages were well received by customers, who say than in the past because they do not know how to the dish on the table looks delicious and cheerful. cook fish, or cooking fish takes up too much of their The company focuses on human resources devel- time. We are attempting to develop new fish prod- opment initiatives, and actively hires women and ucts and related services in response to consumer foreign nationals. In January 2018, the company needs as indicated by their reasons for not cooking hired ten trainees from Vietnam for the first time. fish at home.” The Vietnamese trainees have acquired hands-on Toshin Sea Foods Co. is not just a fish trader. It skills in filleting, cooking and selling fish and fishery actively promotes opportunities for consumers to products. They now work in retail stores. The com- become familiar with the fun of eating fish and fish- pany plans to hire around ten trainees from Vietnam ery products in pursuing quality of life. As part of its every year. initiatives, the company opened Toshin Kitchen at “We would like to pass Japanese cultural tradi- its Ogikubo main store in 2014. tions and skills regarding fish onto the trainees. I At seafood retailers, shop clerks do not usually tell hope that they will contribute to enriching their their customers how to cook fish. At Toshin Kitchen, food culture when they are back in Vietnam, lever- a professional chef gives cooking demonstrations aging the skills and expertise in fish that they have three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening) acquired in Japan,” Orimo says. in a fully equipped kitchen facility including a cook- Japan is not the only fish-loving country in the ing heater, a microwave oven and a cooking counter. world of course. Toshin Sea Food Co. hopes that its The customers who visit Toshin Kitchen have dif- initiatives will be helpful in enabling the Japanese ferent profiles and preferences depending on the time food culture to be passed onto the next generation of day when they visit the facility. The chef tries to both in Japan and abroad, enriching fish-loving food avoid redundancy in the dishes demonstrated during cultures around the world in many ways.

april 2018 | 19 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

Okinoshima (Okitsu-miya, Munakata Taisha)

The Sacred Island of Okinoshima

From the latter half of the fourth century up until eventually evolved into the Munakata Taisha (Grand the present day, the sacred island of Okinoshima Shrine) of today. has attracted the devotion of the seafaring people The worship of Okinoshima developed into the of the region, and has been protected as an object worship of the Three Goddesses of Munakata under of worship. the family, and that governed over their worship and the navigation of the Genkai Sea during those KUMIKO SATO ancient times, was the powerful Munakata clan. The tombs of the Munakata clan can be seen today in the kinoshima is a remote island in the Gen- Shimbaru-Nuyama Mounded Tomb Group, in the kai Sea, roughly 60 km off the coast of neighboring city of Fukutsu. In July 2017, the Sacred Munakata City, in Fukuoka Prefecture. Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the The people of the Munakata region call Munakata Region (including these ancient tombs) OOkinoshima “kami yadoru shima,” meaning “sacred were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 4 island” (or literally, “island where god dwells”). For “We know that the people of the ancient kingdom a period of roughly 500 years, from around the latter of Yamato engaged in interactions with other coun- half of the fourth century, large-scale religious ritu- tries in East Asia via sea routes across the Genkai Sea. als were conducted on the island. It has been care- When doing so they used Okinoshima as a kind of fully protected to this day as an object of worship; a seafarer’s guidepost. The island also has fresh water, sacred island that people are not readily allowed to so they could use it as a place of refuge, to keep them approach. It is because of this that untouched prime- alive when seas were rough. For reasons such as this, val forests and the remnants of ancient ritual sites Okinoshima was an important island for ancient remain on the island to this day. mariners, which was fraught with danger, and so it According to Japanese mythological documents was probably because of this that it eventually came compiled at the beginning of the eighth century, to be deified,” says Hirokazu Ohtaka, Senior Techni- three goddesses—born as daughters to Amater- cal Staff in the Fukuoka Prefectural Government’s asu-omikami (the sun goddess)—are enshrined, World Heritage Registration Promotion Office. respectively, at the ritual sites of Okitsu-miya on The Munakata clan also prospered by engaging Okinoshima, Nakatsu-miya on the island of Oshima, in trade with overseas countries during the Middle and Hetsu-miya in mainland Munakata City, con- Ages, and despite the discontinuation of the clan nected to Okinoshima and Oshima by a straight at the end of the sixteenth century, people in the line across the ocean. Together these sites formed region still continued to worship the Three God- a wide-ranging place of oceanic worship which desses of Munakata. All photos: Courtesy of the Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region

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1 The Sacred Island of Okinoshima and Associated Sites in the Munakata Region 2 Okitsu-miya Yohaisho, Munakata Taisha: Tangible evidence for the living tradition of worshipping Okinoshima from afar 3 Nakatsu-miya, Munakata Taisha: A place of worship on the island 5 of Oshima 4 Shimbaru-Nuyama Mounded Tomb Group: Evidence related to the people of Munakata who performed religious rituals on Okinoshima in their role as key supervisors of overseas exchanges. 5 A gold ring (Shimpokan Museum, Munakata Taisha collection) 6 Gilt-bronze dragon heads (Shimpokan Museum, Munakata Taisha The Sacred Island of Okinoshima collection) 4 6

Although fishermen sometimes visit the port of of each year, hundreds of fishing boats from seven Okinoshima, they do not enter the deeper parts of bays in Munakata fly tairyo-bata (flags signifying a the island itself, and even priests entering the island large catch of fish) and come out to escort two goza­ to conduct religious rituals must first disrobe and bune ships carrying mikoshi portable shrines from purify their bodies in the ocean, in a ritual of puri- Okitsu-miya and Nakatsu-miya to the mainland. It is fication known as misogi. Okinoshima has been pro- a magnificent and unparalleled maritime ritual. tected by a set of strictly observed, unwritten taboos Over the course of three days of the Grand that forbid actions such as removing anything—even Autumn Festival, until its closing with the Kannabi a single stone or blade of grass—from the island, or Festival (which takes place at Takamiya Saijo, which divulging anything seen or heard there. was Hetsu-miya’s ancient place of ritual), various While the sacred island of Okinoshima had been displays of ritual performances such as yabusame secretly protected by the people of the region, from (horseback archery) and kagura-mai (a type of dance) around the 1940s momentum heightened for the res- are given, and the grounds of Munakata Taisha bus- toration of Okinoshima, and surveys were started to tle with large numbers of visitors. clarify the island’s history. Three academic surveys “Although the shape and form of worship has were conducted from 1954 onwards, leading to the changed with the times, the island of Okinoshima discovery of twenty-two ritual sites and an enormous itself is still worshipped today as a deity. This amount of votive offerings also being unearthed; originates from the fact that the starting point for a wealth of historical evidence emerging from the Japanese religious beliefs was in nature worship,” world of myth and legend. In addition to items such says Ohtaka. as bronze mirrors, comma-shaped beads, gilt-bronze Worship of the Three Goddesses of Munakata, harnesses and pure gold rings, there were also shards praying for safe voyages across the seas, spread of glass presumably brought to Japan by way of the widely across the whole of Japan. The Three God- distant Silk Road. Approximately 80,000 precious desses of Munakata are also the enshrined deities and lavish items discovered on the island have now at other significant Shinto shrines including Itsuku- been designated as Japanese national treasures. shima Shrine, in Hatsukaichi City in Hiroshima Pre- At the same time as this, numerous rituals that fecture (which was an important strategic location were carried out at Munakata Taisha during the mid- for shipping and maritime trade), and Enoshima dle ages were also revived. The Grand Autumn Fes- Shrine, in Fujisawa City in Kanagawa Prefecture. tival, in particular, is an important festival in which Even today, people continue to pray for the well- the Three Goddesses of Munakata come together at being of seafaring people, and to express their feel- Hetsu-miya. At the Miare Festival held on October 1 ings of awe and reverence towards nature.

april 2018 | 21 Feature THE MARITIME NATION OF JAPAN

The National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty opened in the Municipal Research Building in Hibiya, Tokyo on January 25, 2018. Takeshima and Photo: Yuichi Itabashi the Senkaku Islands On January 25, 2018, the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty opened in a corner of Hibiya Park, Tokyo. The museum displays documents and materials related to Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands.

under the approval of the Government (the Edo sho- HITOSHI CHIBA gunate). While the shogunate banned passage to Utsuryo Island in the 1690s as a result of negotiations he National Museum of Territory and Sov- between Japan and Korea over abalone fishing on the ereignty is the first permanent facility of its island, no such ban was issued for Takeshima. kind set up by the Government, and visi- Due to an emerging need to regulate sea lion tors can see various documents and mate- hunting in the early 20th century, in 1905 the Gov- rialsT which indicate the fact that Takeshima, part of ernment incorporated Takeshima into Shimane Okinoshima-Town in Shimane Prefecture, and the Prefecture. The Government registered Takeshima Senkaku Islands, part of Ishigaki City in Okinawa as a state land, and revised and applied fisheries Prefecture, are inherent territory of Japan. While the regulations, thus, exercised its sovereignty over tension over the Japanese territory has been increas- Takeshima peacefully and continuously. In this ing, the Museum is positioned as a hub to diffuse way, Japan authenticated the sovereignty over accurate understanding concerning the territory and Takeshima in accordance with the modern interna- sovereignty of Japan across the world. tional law. Here we share some remarks from experts regard- After the Second World War, Korea demanded the ing Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands. United States, which was preparing the draft of the Treaty of Peace with Japan, to designate Takeshima Takashi Tsukamoto as Korean territory. The United States, however, Professor, Department of Law, Tokai University denied the Korean territory (in July 1951) by the reason that Takeshima was never treated as part of In the 17th century, townsmen from present-day Korea and the island had been under the jurisdic- Yonago City in Tottori Prefecture engaged in fishing tion of Shimane Prefecture since about 1905. As a and hunting at Utsuryo Island in the Sea of Japan and result, in the San Francisco Peace Treaty (signed Takeshima, which was on the way to Utsuryo Island, in September 1951), Takeshima was affirmed as a

From the left: Entrance of the Museum; Museum interior; Touch panel and map showing the islands of Takeshima and Senkaku; Historical documents of Takeshima; Pamphlets for Senkaku and Takeshima; Historical documents of Senkaku Photos: Yuichi Itabashi

22 | highlighting japan territory of Japan. However, on the Ryukyu Kingdom at the time January 18, 1952, just before the governed over remote islands treaty took effect, Korea uni- through the Shuri royal govern- laterally drew a line in the high ment, the Senkaku Islands were sea, in contravention of inter- uninhabited and there was no national law, and encompassed need to extend administrative Professor Takashi Professor Kurayoshi Tsukamoto Takeshima. On January 28, 1952, acts there. Needless to say, the Takara Photo: Tadashi Aizawa Japan launched a protest against Senkaku Islands were not con- Photo: Yuichi Itabashi Korea. Although Korea continued to accumulate fait trolled by any other nations. accompli such as stationing armed personnel on In 1885, Okinawa Prefecture dispatched survey Takeshima (starting in 1954) and a construction of teams to the Daito Islands and Senkaku Islands for a lighthouse, all of these Korean actions were taken the purpose of developing uninhabited islands, and, after the generation of this dispute. Therefore, they at first, placed the Daito Islands under the jurisdic- do not constitute a basis of the territorial claims. tion of Okinawa Prefecture. After careful survey on Japan has proposed to refer this case to the Inter- the Senkaku Islands, the Government placed them national Court of Justice three times, but Korea has under the jurisdiction of Okinawa Prefecture 10 rejected all of the proposals. The dispute should be years later on January 14, 1895. In 1900, pioneers resolved not by force, but on the basis of law. It is an from Hachijojima Island moved to the Daito Islands exemplification of mature international society. and started development mainly by the cultivation of sugar cane, then they settled down in the islands. Kurayoshi Takara In 1896, the development of the Senkaku Islands was Emeritus Professor, University of the Ryukyus started by Tatsushiro Koga, a businessperson from Fukuoka Prefecture, mainly by the fishing industry. It is important to understand the Senkaku Islands It is important also for the context of international based on history. law to conduct working for finding out the three- From the birth of the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1372 dimensional facts by these kind of historical reasons to abolishment of its sakuho (tributary) relation- and the accumulated facts. The National Museum ship with the Qing Dynasty in 1876, the Ryukyu of Territory and Sovereignty is a key facility to take Kingdom engaged in so-called tributary trade with the role of displaying the results of the research of China’s Ming and Qing Dynasties. Making twice- documents. The facility will be the place of high- yearly return trips to Fuzhou, China, Ryukyuans lighting the importance of “fact-based knowledge” were familiar with the Senkaku Islands which laid and “objective discussion.” It is important to share on the sea route between Ryukyu and Fuzhou. How- Japan’s position and grounds for argument with the ever, the Ryukyu Kingdom’s administration did not Japanese people as well as the international commu- extend to the Senkaku Islands. This is because, while nity in this way.

april 2018 | 23 Series SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Self-Healing Ceramics for Multiple Applications

A Japanese research team has developed a new approach to self-healing ceramic design that paves the way for structural ceramics’ use in a much wider range of fields, including turbine blades in aircraft engines.

that healing only occurred within a limited tem- TAKASHI SASAKI perature range around 1,200˚C meanwhile meant that research and development was a process of here are materials that have so-called trial and error initially.” self-healing properties. When a crack As we entered the twenty-first century, research forms in a component, it triggers a into ways of using self-healing ceramics in prod- chemical reaction, and the material ucts began to gather pace. Research into self-healing repairsT the damage itself. In December 2017, a materials now spans various different fields, includ- new type of self-healing ceramic was unveiled for ing polymeric materials and concrete. use in aircraft engines. The new material in ques- “In the simplest possible terms, a self-healing tion was jointly developed by Yokohama National material is an artificial material that has built-in University (YNU), which has been involved in capabilities similar to the human metabolism,” materials research, and the National Institute for continues Nakao. “When cracks form in ceramics, Materials Science (NIMS), as part of a Japan Sci- oxygen gets in and causes an oxidation reaction. ence and Technology Agency (JST) Advanced Low Over time, the heat produced by this reaction and Carbon Technology Research and Development oxide generation cause the material to expand in Program (ALCA). volume, which in turn rejoins the surface of the “A research group at YNU discovered self-heal- crack. This phenomenon is very similar to the heal- ing ceramics in 1995,” explains Professor Wataru ing process in bones, whereby inflammation and Nakao from the YNU Graduate School of Engineer- heat in the initial recovery period give way to a ing. “Although the phenomenon whereby a mate- modification period as the bone is restored to rial can repair itself had been discovered several its original state. The network of fluids inside the decades earlier, researchers often overlooked it body, which stimulates the human metabolism, because so many aspects of self-healing mecha- provided us with useful pointers when it came to nisms were still unexplained back then. The fact developing self-healing ceramics. That was the

24 | highlighting japan Oxidation Reaction resistant,” explains Nakao. “The self-healing ceramic we have developed here could be used for contacts in automotive engines or electrical products, for example, or as a coating material. It could have even more of an impact if it were able to be used in com- ponents for satellites, or in other locations where maintenance is difficult.” The main benefits of self-healing ceramics are that components have a longer life span and do not require maintenance. Professor Nakao and his research group are nonetheless continuing to carry out research to expand the possibilities even further. “If we can control how components degrade, and improve self-repair capabilities, we will be able to produce materials that become stronger and more functional as they continue to heal themselves over key to working out how to incorporate self-healing time. This is the same principle as broken bones, materials into ceramics.” which become stronger once the injury is healed. It’s Used at 1,000˚C, equivalent to the temperature also similar to items such as traditional Japanese lac- of the exhaust from a jet engine, the newly devel- querware, or wooden structures, which increase in oped self-healing ceramic is able to completely strength with use over many years, and improve in repair damage in as little as one minute. Given that usability as time passes.” a conventional material would take around 1,000 hours to repair itself, this represents a giant leap forwards. At present, the turbine blades in aircraft engines contain components made from alloys. If these parts could be replaced with lightweight and heat-resistant ceramics, that would translate into a projected improvement in fuel efficiency of around 15%. That is why these new materials are attracting a great deal of attention from all over the world. “Aircraft components have to meet countless cri- teria for international standards and certification,” comments Nakao. “We are looking at commercializa- tion at some point from 2030 onwards, with the aim of fitting products to the first domestically produced jet engine.” The fact that this new ceramic exhibits self-heal- ing properties from a temperature range of around Japan is a world leader when it comes to ceramic 400˚C opens up potential applications across a firing technology. There are high hopes that the whole host of industries, in addition to aircraft. continuing development of self-healing ceramic “Ceramics can be used for a wide range of pur- technology will open up new possibilities for safety poses, because they are light and highly heat and security.

All figures: Courtesy of Self-Healing Materials Group, YNU APRIL 2018 | 25 Series MY WAY

Jellyfish

Dhugal Lindsay stands in front of JAMSTEC’s SHINKAI 6500 manned submersible. and Haiku Courtesy of Dhugal Lindsay

An Australian marine researcher is making discoveries in the waters 1992, Lindsay entered the gradu- off Japan while breathing new life into the world of haiku. ate school at the University of Tokyo, studying marine organ- isms, and earned his doctorate. KUMIKO SATO He joined JAMSTEC in 1997 and began deep-sea investigations ustralian Dhugal J. exchange student attended his around the world. Lindsay, PhD belongs senior high school. Lindsay went Jellyfish became Lindsay’s to the Research and to the University of Queensland specialty, growing fond of them Development Center (UQ), where he majored in sci- Afor Submarine Resources under ence. However, he chose to the Japan Agency for Marine- spend a year abroad studying the Earth Science and Technology Japanese language at a Japanese (JAMSTEC), where he studies university. marine organisms and works on Lindsay recalls his surprise that equipment development. Japanese universities that offered Born and raised in Rockhamp- a course on oceanography all had ton near the Great Barrier Reef, their own oceanographic research a UNESCO World Heritage site, vessel. It occurred to him that a Lindsay says he always felt a Japanese university would enable connection with Japan because him to study marine organisms, many Japanese tourists visited his passion, in depth. his hometown and a Japanese After graduating from UQ in

Aka chochin kurage (Pandea rubra), a jellyfish named by Lindsay 26 | highlighting japan Courtesy of JAMSTEC/ photo by: Dhugal Lindsay Lindsay stretches out next to a giant medusa Stygiomedusa, a species he named “dai-o kurage” (Emperor jellyfish) Courtesy of Dhugal Lindsay having wondered about their great diversity all over the world. He spends two to three months at sea each year, studying jellyfish some- times by diving into the ocean in a manned research submersible. The ecology of jellyfish is very mysterious and many things remain unclear. Some species of jellyfish live at the bottom of the ocean, while others float in the appointed him to select contribu- he wants people in Japan to learn water. Tiny species can measure tions to its haiku page from those more about marine organisms about 5 millimeters, but large submitted from overseas. and to compose haiku about them ones can be up to 40 meters in Recently, people abroad have because Japan is surrounded by length. They are not limited to begun composing haiku in many the ocean. Lindsay adds that it sexual reproduction. Some spe- languages. However, Lindsay would be wonderful if he could cies can breed independently; writes his haiku in Japanese. It eventually compile an “umi-no others proliferate by changing started with his homestay during saijiki,” a catalog of season-spe- their form to anemone-like pol- university. He lived with a family cific words about the ocean used yps on the ocean floor. Jellyfish where one member happened to for composing haiku. occur under all kinds of environ- be the haiku poet Yoko Sugawa. As a matter of course, marine mental conditions and are highly Lindsay says that “saijiki,” a cat- organisms appear in many of diverse. Counting only species alog of the season-specific words his haiku. that float in the water, there are necessary for composing haiku, over 1,000 species. Lindsay is dis- surprises him with the many Umihebi no covering new species one after words associated with nature in nagaki hitoiki another in his research. Japan. Citing the beautiful word tsuyu ni iru The discoverer of any new spe- hikobae, used to describe little cies has the right to give it an offi- buds that grow from a tree stump, the sea snake cial scientific name and, if they he points out that there is even a takes a long, long breath understand Japanese, a Japanese Japanese verb, hikobayuru, that rainy season starts name. Lindsay has discovered stems from it. Calling those words many jellyfish, and gave Japanese amazing, he notes the depth of the Sea snakes, the lungs of names to the giant medusa Stygio- Japanese language. which occupy 80% of their body medusa, “dai-o kurage” (Emperor Lindsay is scheduled to give a length, take extremely long and jellyfish), and to Pandea rubra, lecture at a national contest for loud breaths. This haiku could a species with a red lantern-like haiku about the ocean to be held only have been composed by a form, “aka chochin kurage” (red in Fukushima Prefecture in July marine biologist. paper lantern jellyfish). 2018. He plans to discuss marine Haiku are short poems com- Lindsay is also a master haiku organisms, citing examples of gaps posed by confronting the beauty poet. His Japanese vocabulary between their real ecology and or mystery of nature. Lindsay is may be larger than that of an people’s understanding of them. working to discover the depths average Japanese person, and Lindsay notes that relatively of jellyfish and haiku through his haiku skills are so distin- few haiku in Japan are written exploring the ocean, the object of guished that a major newspaper about marine organisms, and says his affections.

APRIL 2018 | 27 Series WASHOKU

Kasutera: A Simple Yet Subtle Sweet Treat Though still inextricably linked with Nagasaki in the Kyushu region, the sponge cake kasutera is a firm favorite across Japan — and with people of all ages.

ROB GILHOOLY

AIZO Fuchuya whips the whites of two Rather than the decorative flour-and-cream-based dozen eggs in a large steel container while cakes and gateaux found in the West, Japan is better holding a pan of boiling water underneath. known for wagashi (Japanese sweets) (see HJ June In the cooler months, he says, this helps to 2017, pp. 28–29), the most representative of which are enhanceT the whipping process, a process known as made from kanten (agar), or a glutinous rice called betsudate-ho (“separated whipping method”) that mochi and are often paired with a paste made from is crucial to the making of his product, but is, by his sweetened azuki beans. own admission, no piece of cake. One notable exception is kasutera, or in its non- “A lot depends on this stage of the process, which transliterated form, Castella, whose apparent simple- can be affected greatly by temperature, the sea- ness belies a surprisingly nuanced and difficult to sons and the weather,” explains Fuchuya, 68, whose perfect dessert. It is also Japan’s oldest sponge cake, Castella Nakaya in downtown Tokyo specializes in even though its origins are not found in Japan. kasutera and has been in operation for over a century. It is widely held that kasutera was first introduced “I’ve been making these for forty-five years, and I still to Japan in the sixteenth century by Portuguese worry if it will come out OK.” merchants during Japan’s so-called Nanban boeki

Video by Satoshi Tanaka 28 | highlighting japan Series

Taizo Fuchuya has been making and selling kasutera at Castella Nakaya in Tokyo for forty-five years.

(Japanese trade with Spain and Portugal) period, fol- lowing the opening of the port in Nagasaki, which was then a tiny fishing village in Kyushu, but is today a city of 400.000 people with which the cake remains inextricably linked. Legend has it that when asked by locals what the cake was, Portuguese merchants referred to it as “Bolo (dessert) de Castilla” or “Pao (bread) de Cas- tilla” — Castilla being the Portuguese word for Cas- This is baked in an oven heated to around 200°C for tile, a former kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula that approximately 5 minutes before being baked again at a continues to exist, albeit unofficially, as a roughly lower heat to to complete the rising process. It is then defined region in Spain that encompasses Leon, La left overnight, not just to cool but to draw out the char- Mancha and Madrid. acteristic flavors of the cake, according to Fuchuya. According to the book Nanban boeki to kasutera “Fresh out of the oven, it actually doesn’t taste so (Nanban trade and kasutera), published by Fukusaya, great,” he says as he dons a pair of well-used oven a 400-year-old kasutera maker in Nagasaki, one expla- gloves and takes a peek inside the oven at his cre- nation for the roots of this “Bolo” or “Pao” can be ation, which is baked inside an oven-paper lined found in a hard bread, or “biscuit” known in Spain as wooden frame about the size of a large chess board. “bizcocho.” This started off primarily as a subsistence “Allowing it to rest overnight returns the sweetness food for the Spanish Navy around 1,000 years ago, but and deepens the flavor.” also spawned a variant that is closer in consistency to That depth and sweetness is augmented by the use the kasutera we know today, says the book. of the zarame-tou, which Fuchuya says is responsible Another connection linking Nagasaki kasutera and for the wonderfully grainy, caramelly sensation that bizcocho can be found in the meaning of the Castil- hits the tongue from the bottom of the cake. lian word — “bake twice.” “The biggest appeal of kasutera is its simple, but According to Fuchuya, kasutera, too, requires two subtle taste that can be enjoyed by people of all ages,” bakings: the first to give the cake its familiar deep says a customer at Castella Nakaya. brown top and bottom; the second to make the mix- Today kasutera can be found even outside Japan, ture rise. gaining a popular following in Asian countries such The ingredients of that mixture are relatively as Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia. There are even straightforward. Once the egg whites are mixed to an kasutera shops in Portugal that have opened up over adequately fluffy consistency, the yolks are added fol- the past couple of decades. Introduced by Portu- lowed by three different types of sugar — zarame-tou guese merchants centuries ago and now all-power- (course ground), castor and mizuame (a starch-based ful in Japan, the day may soon arrive when kasutera sweetener) — and, finally, flour. delights taste buds around the world.

Photos by Rob Gilhooly aPRIL 2018 | 29 Series NATIONAL PARKS Land of Mountains, Forests, Valleys and Caves

Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which strad- dles Saitama, Tokyo, Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures and is about 70 kilometers wide from east to west and about 40 kilometers long from north to south, is the closest mountain park of forests and valleys to the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan area.

KENTARO SANO The front shrine (Haiden) of Mitsumine Shrine

hichibu-Tama-Kai National Park features Park is the closest to the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan mountains and valleys, including the area. It attracts about 14 million visitors who enjoy Okuchichibu Mountains that include high contact with nature throughout the year. mountains 2,000 meters above sea level, From Tokyo Station, it takes around two hours to suchC as Mt. Kimpu, Mt. Kobushigatake and Mt. Kumo- get to Hatonosu Station, which is close to Hatonosu tori where Mt. Kita-okusenjodake (2,601 meters) is Gorge, a spot on the eastern side of the park. The val- the highest peak, and the surrounding Mt. Daibo- ley is about ten minutes’ walk from the station. Huge satsu, Mt. Ryokami, the Mitake-Shosenkyo Gorge and rocks and strange-looking rocks that were eroded by Okutama. Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park is also river currents spread to characterized by the absence of volcanoes, although Lake Shiromaru, a dam it is in a mountainous area, which is unusual in Japan. lake 500 meters ahead. The Okuchichibu Mountains make up the headwaters This area is known as and watershed of major rivers in the Kanto district a beautiful spot for and in the middle of the main island of Japan, includ- maples. The view from ing the Chikuma River (Shinano River), the Fuefuki Hatonosu Kobashi River (Fuji River), the Tamagawa River and the Ara- Bridge, a suspension kawa River. Due to the erosion of these rivers, steep bridge that overlooks V-shaped valleys have developed in the park and the valleys, is particu- steep but beautiful and varied landscapes are visible. larly spectacular, and it Of all the national parks, Chichibu-Tama-Kai National is a popular spot.

Video by Satoshi Tanaka 30 highlighting japan | Nippara Limestone Cave Series

The center of worship at Mitsumine Shrine is wolves. Tochimoto Barrier Kakuenbo, Mitake Shosenkyo

Most of the eastern side of the park is a sedimen- inflows and outflows of people and guns during the tary rock area that includes strata of limestone and is Edo period. The barrier completed its role in the Meiji dotted with limestone caves. In particular, Nippara period (1868–1912), but residences that were built in Limestone Cave is renowned as the largest limestone the late Edo period and were left within the grounds cave in the Kanto district. This limestone cave is 1,270 of what used to be the barrier were designated as his- meters in total extension and 134 meters in altitude toric sites, Places of Scenic Beauty and natural monu- difference. A 40-minute tour of the inside of the lime- ments in 1970 as representative of the characteristics stone cave leads you to a fantastic space with stalag- of the houses of officials who took charge of services mites and stone pillars. The inside of the limestone for the barrier. In addition, the private houses scat- cave is colorfully illuminated, and a water harp pot1 tered over the slopes of the valleys in front of what using water that drops from the ceiling imbues it with used to be the barrier are so beautiful that they are even more mysterious charm. reminiscent of the scenery in the Edo period. In the middle and north of the park is Mitsumine Mitake-Shosenkyo Gorge, which is located in the Shrine, which is known as a shrine for worshipping southwesternmost part of the park, is known as a mountains. The center of the worship is wolves, which place of scenic beauty that is representative of the are familiar spirits for the gods of the shrine, and park. It is said to feature the greatest scenic beauty wolves became the object of worship as Oinusama in Japan and was designated as a particularly impor- to the general public. The guardian god of general tant Special Place of Scenic Beauty among all historic shrines is Komainu, a pair of stone-carved guardian sites, places of scenic beauty and natural monu- dogs, whereas wolves are the guardians of Mitsumine ments designated by the central government in 1953. Shrine, and wolves are enshrined in many locations Kakuenbo, which is the symbol of Mitake-Shosenkyo in the shrine. The decorations of the main shrine Gorge, is a huge rock about 180 meters tall that rises (Honden) and the front shrine (Haiden) that stand in almost vertically from the water surface in the valley, the precinct of the shrine are particularly beautiful. and its shining white cliffs are highlighted even more The main shrine hall, which was built in 1661, features by green pine trees in summer and red and yellow copper roofing with Japanese lacquer and gorgeous maples in fall. The clear stream that spreads about 5 colors. The front shrine of the shrine, which was built kilometers from the Sengataki Falls at the foothills in 1800 and refurbished in 1962, features a coffered to the Nagatoro Bridge constantly shows beautiful ceiling inside that depicts pictures of one hundred and scenes, making even rain and snow look beautiful in several dozen varieties of flowers and trees in Okuchi- combination with the strange-looking rocks and huge chibu and other colorful openwork. rocks in the neighboring area and the colorful trees On the western side of Mitsumine Shrine are the throughout the seasons. headwaters of the Arakawa River, which flows into Mitake-Shosenkyo Gorge has attracted numer- Tokyo Bay. On the steep V-shaped valleys that were ous painters since the Edo period, and is depicted in eroded by river currents are key points that con- many famous paintings. Chichibu-Tama-Kai National nected the main roads in the Edo period (1603–1867), Park is full of such attractions, inducing visitors to and Tochimoto Barrier used to be located there. This post pictures of local and delicious foods served barrier played the role of securing against invasions within the park as travel stories on social media, in prior to the Edo period and in keeping guard over the addition to the beautiful scenery.

1 This is a type of Japanese garden ornament that was invented in the Edo period (1603–1867). You can enjoy the echoes of the sound of water drops that drop into a hollow bowl buried underground close to a water bowl. Please see page 24-25, February, Highlighting JAPAN. https://www.gov-online.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201802/201802_10_en.html

Photos by Satoshi Tanaka APRIL 2018 | 31 spring sea — all day, light waves The Amanohashidate upon waves sandbar (left) in Miyazu Bay, viewed in the spring from one of the Haiku by Yosa Buson; surrounding mountains translated by Herbert Jonsson

HAIKU SPOT-CHECK The Spring Sea Haru no umi

n this haiku by Yosa Buson (1716–1784), the great poet and painter captures the tranquility of a spring day spent gazing out at the sea. Buson is thought to have written the haiku when living close to Miyazu Bay in IKyoto Prefecture, a scenic spot famed for the long pine-covered sandbar that spans the bay. Perhaps Buson took in the view from one of the surrounding mountains, leant back against a cherry tree. Basking in the warm weather, he seems to have become hypnotized by the relentless sweep of the incoming waves and subsumed by the ambient spring haze.

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