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The ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture The new ferry will serve on a shipping route between the city of Otaru in Hokkaido and Maizuru in Kyoto Prefecture At the ceremony Shinnihonkai Ferry President Yasuo Iritani christened the new ferry "KEYAKI," the Japanese word for a species of native Zelkova trees The ceremonial rope cut was performed by soprano Ayako Tanaka The ship's handover is scheduled for December 2025 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials The KEYAKI is the ninth ferry built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding for Shinnihonkai Ferry The KEYAKI is the first ferry in Japan to adopt the latest energy-saving hull form including a KATANA BOW and buttock-flow stern hull(Note1) with ducktail(Note2) Propulsion resistance is suppressed by an energy-saving roll-damping system combining an anti-rolling tank(Note3) and fin stabilizers(Note4) Together these innovations enable a 5% savings in energy compared to earlier vessels Japan is currently undergoing a modal shift to sea transport in an effort to mitigate environmental impact by reducing CO2 emissions and to compensate for truck driver shortages arising from workstyle reforms This shift has brought utilization of ferry transport into sharp relief Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to contribute to active use of sea transport and environmental protection resolving diverse issues together with its business partners through construction of ferries that provide stable sea transport together with outstanding energy and environmental performance This site (www.mhi.com) uses cookies in order to improve your experience and to provide content of your interest upon revisiting the site. For more information about the use of cookies on this site, please review our cookie policy in our Terms of Use. And please confirm that you agree to use of cookies by clicking Yes.Terms of Use -- First of Two Large Car Ferries Ordered by Shinnihonkai Ferry and Japan Railway Construction - First ferry in Japan featuring buttock-flow stern hull(Note1) with ducktail(Note2) enabling 5% savings in energy compared to earlier ships- After handover in December 2025 ferry will go into service between Otaru and Maizuru 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Japan is currently undergoing a modal shift to sea transport in an effort to mitigate environmental impact by reducing CO2emissions and to compensate for truck driver shortages arising from workstyle reforms (1) A hull design that reduces water resistance by optimizing the shape of the stern.(2) A hull form with the stern protruding like a duck's tail.(3) An anti-rolling tank contains water that shifts laterally within a ship's beam the tank water moves in the direction opposite to the rolling easing the rolling effect.(4) Fin stabilizers are another device that reduces ship rolling these movable fins generate lifting power in the water in the direction opposite to the rolling.About MHI Group Please activate JavaScript function on your browser Christening and Launch Ceremony of TRANS HARMONY EMERALD today held a christening and launch ceremony for the TRANS HARMONY EMERALD the second of two LNG-powered roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ships(Note) under construction for Toyofuji Shipping Co. The ship's handover is scheduled for June 2025 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials The TRANS HARMONY EMERALD will serve as a RO/RO vessel on shipping routes in Asia The TRANS HARMONY EMERALD is approximately 195 meters in overall length and has gross tonnage of approximately 49,500 It can simultaneously transport about 3,000 passenger cars The ship's main engine and main generator engine are high-performance dual-fuel engines each accommodating LNG or diesel fuel Together these engines enable a greater than 25% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to ships with the same hull and powered by fuel oil cutting SOx (sulfur oxides) emissions to near zero thereby helping to reduce the vessel's environmental footprint The christening and launch ceremony of the first vessel "TRANS HARMONY GREEN," for Toyofuji Shipping and its handover is scheduled for late January 2025 as part of MHI Group's strategic initiatives for energy transition today contributes toward realizing a carbon-neutral world by building LNG-powered ships enabling the maritime industry to achieve a low-carbon footprint as a maritime system integrator the Company will continue to work with its business partners to solve diverse issues through construction of ferries and RO/RO ships that will contribute to stable operations at sea while also providing outstanding energy and environmental performance ■ Main Specifications of TRANS HARMONY EMERALD Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information Yamaguchi Prefecture--A sociable ocean sunfish that clearly missed its human audience and fell sick during renovations perked up after officials set up human cutouts at its aquarium here whose sex and age have yet to be determined started showing signs of distress and weight loss in December and began rubbing its head against the transparent acrylic tank Kaikyokan shut down for renovation work at the end of last year that will continue through summer The anomaly was reported shortly after visitors stopped coming aquarium staff members and a veterinarian at the Kaikyokan aquarium suggested the 80-centimeter-long fish may feel “isolated now that visitors have abruptly ceased to show up.” With some staffers still skeptical about “such a wacky reason,” Moe Miyazawa quickly swung into action to re-energize the beloved creature Miyazawa was well aware of the sunfish’s friendly nature As soon as it arrived at Kaikyokan from waters off Kochi Prefecture in February last year the fish began displaying an interest in humans It moved its eyes whenever visitors came close to the tank and would swim toward people peering into the tank Miyazawa felt confident the fish has a “friendly personality.” the curator at the aquarium’s fish display department having noticed it “looks around more frequently than ordinary sunfish” he had cared for before Miyazawa set up facial cutouts with aquarium staff uniforms to the outside of the 3.6-meter-long The idea was to get the sunfish to believe people were peering into the tank The sunfish started eating jellyfish the day after the “visitor” images were put up It also gradually stopped rubbing its head against the tank As its behavioral pattern returned to “normal,” the sunfish steadily regained weight that had attracted 14 million views by Feb The aquarium’s account on the social media site received comments from X users “I am looking forward to seeing the sunfish again after the planned reopening.” Whale shark dies in aquarium damaged by Ishikawa quake Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version ※ This service is provided by machine translation tool Yamaguchi Prefecture--A replica of a ship used by the royal court of Korea’s Joseon Dynasty for “Joseon Tongsinsa” diplomatic missions to Japan during the Edo Period (1603-1867) will be dispatched on a different mission here The vessel will make port in Shimonoseki 260 years after the original The replica ship will arrive in time for the Bakan Matsuri festival to be held here on Aug The voyage will be part of the celebration to mark the 20th anniversary of an event held here to re-enact the procession of Joseon Tongsinsa According to the Busan Cultural Foundation It weighs 149 tons and can carry a maximum of 72 people South Korea’s National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage launched an academic research project in 2015 based on historical documents It spent about 2.15 billion won (238.5 million yen or $1.5 million) to complete the replica in 2018 The Joseon Dynasty started dispatching diplomatic missions to Japan in 1607 to restore diplomatic relations that were severed after the invasion of the Korean Peninsula by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537–1598) The last voyage to Shimonoseki was made in 1764 The replica ship will also visit Tsushima and Iki in Nagasaki Prefecture before coming to the Yamaguchi prefectural city 24-25 for visitors to see South Korea's traditional performing arts and tour the replica ship Replica of vessel used by Korea for feudal exchanges set to be unveiled Korean folding screen with royal links finds new home in U.S New whaling mother ship completed in Yamaguchi Diplomat’s 1895 letter confesses to assassination of Korean queen Japanese version National Report Yamaguchi Prefecture—Japan’s new whaling mothership departed on its first expedition as the country plans to expand its commercial hunts which retired in November after more than 30 years of operation “We will work as one to maintain whaling culture for eternity,” said Hideki Tokoro He said the construction of the Kangei Maru means that offshore mothership type whaling will not be discontinued whales caught by smaller vessels are taken to a mothership to be butchered and their meat frozen for preservation 21 meters wide and has a gross tonnage of 9,299 tons cost about 7.5 billion yen ($48 million) to build It carries a crew of up to 100 and boasts a range of 13,000 kilometers The Kangei Maru embarked on its maiden voyage while Japan’s whaling industry remains in a slump Japan produces only about 2,000 tons of whale meat a year about one-hundredth of the amount it produced in the 1960s which produces about 1,600 tons of whale meat a year reported an operating profit of 200 million yen on sales of 3.1 billion yen in fiscal 2022 But the construction cost of the Kangei Maru weighs heavy on the company's finances Tokoro said that whale meat has fallen out of favor with the Japanese He said young people tend to think whale meat has a fishy smell and hard texture The Fisheries Agency currently permits the hunting of minke Bryde’s and sei whales in commercial whaling Tokoro expects that the agency’s plan to add fin whales to the list will help improve the company’s bottom line measure about 20 meters and weigh about 42 tons according to the Institute of Cetacean Research Some large individuals weigh up to 80 tons The hunting of fin whales requires a fleet of vessels led by the whaling mothership which makes Kyodo Senpaku the only company capable of catching them Agency officials said they have confirmed through a survey in the North Pacific Ocean that fin whales are sufficiently abundant to allow hunting The plan is expected to be finalized this summer following discussions at the agency’s deliberative council This would be the first addition of a new species since Japan resumed commercial whaling within its exclusive economic zone in 2019 after withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission experts question the Fisheries Agency’s plan a former agency official who participated in IWC negotiations many times “We cannot make a judgment because no scientific study has been published,” Komatsu said chief research officer of the Ocean Governance Institute said he expects negative reactions from overseas government organizations the second largest species after blue whales “The IWC could deliberate (the agency’s plan) at its meeting this year if the situation calls for it,” he said former captain of the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group told The Asahi Shimbun that commercial whaling of fin whales is illegal and that the group will block any whaling operation outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone Japan started what it calls “research whaling” after the IWC slapped a temporary ban on commercial whaling in 1982 But the International Court of Justice ordered the suspension of research whaling in 2014 taking issue with Tokyo’s claim that it was killing whales for scientific purposes The Sea Shepherd repeatedly sabotaged Japan’s research whaling program in the Antarctic Ocean Japan has placed Watson on an international wanted list for assault through the International Criminal Police Organization (This article was written by Masayuki Shiraishi and Hironori Kato.) Japan whaling mother ship calls it a day amid industry stupor　 Japanese whaler hopes to beat the odds with new mother ship Japan proposes expanding commercial whaling to fin whales EDITORIAL: Japan’s whalers should reduce dependence on state subsidies Yamaguchi — A replica of a ship used to carry out Korean diplomatic missions to Japan in the Edo period (1603-1867) recently made a port call in Shimonoseki please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent The crew of the replica ship then reenacted in August a procession of the diplomatic missions The parade received applause from the audience The restored ship is a 34.5-meter-long wooden diesel ship with a 22-meter-high sail pole built in 2018 by South Korea’s National Research Institute of Maritime Cultural Heritage It made its first visit to Japan in August 2023 when it stopped in Tsushima Iki in Nagasaki Prefecture and Ainoshima in Fukuoka Prefecture All of these ports were once ports of call for the delegation the crew participated in the Bakan Festival in Shimonoseki where about 200 citizens of the city and South Korea’s Busan dressed in the costumes of the envoys and samurai and paraded through the area playing Korean folk instruments the length of the replica of the Korean delegation’s ship was mistakenly described as 27 meters The length was corrected to be 34.5 meters on May 1 Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Launch ceremony at the MHI Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company based in Yokohama today held a launch ceremony for a demonstration test ship for transport of liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) to be utilized in conjunction with initiatives by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for its demonstration projects (CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project / Large-scale CCUS Demonstration in Tomakomai / Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation / R&D and Demonstration Project for CO2 Marine Transportation) conducted in the presence of representatives of the ship’s owner Sanyu Kisen Co. was held at the Enoura Plant of MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Shimonoseki The Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (ENAA) one of the consignees for the NEDO demonstration projects and install and operate the LCO2 marine tank system used to conduct research and development will be commissioned by ENAA to conduct R&D on the pressure control and stability of the LCO2 transported on the ship as well as develop and demonstrate technologies for safe and low-cost CO2 transport Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is in charge of all aspects from the ship design through construction applying its gas handling technologies and expertise cultivated through the construction of liquefied gas carriers (both LPG and LNG types) the ship is scheduled to be handed over in the latter half of fiscal 2023 and storage (CCUS) is gaining attention as an effective means of achieving a carbon-neutral society Because the sources of CO2 emissions are often located distant from the sites selected for carbon utilization or storage demand is expected to increase for LCO2 carriers able to transport such cargo safely and economically Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will draw on its experience constructing this vessel to bolster its business for MHI Group’s energy transition strategy and will develop the various technologies for LCO2 vessels necessary to establish a CCUS value chain MHI Group is pursuing strategic measures to strengthen its business for the energy transition in its “MARINE FUTURE STREAM” growth strategy has laid out a vision for the decarbonization of the maritime economy through renewable energy and the carbon cycle along with a safe and secure society through autonomy and electrification and is working to generate new ideas in marine-related innovation and make them a reality Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will actively pursue development and commercialization of LCO2 carriers Conceptual image of the LCO2 demonstration test ship Christening and Launch Ceremony of Koyo Maru today held a christening and launch ceremony for a salvage tug currently being built for Nippon Salvage Co. is scheduled for handover to Nippon Salvage in June 2024 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials The vessel has a length overall (LOA) of 80.6 meters and beam of 15.5 meters originally constructed at MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works and which has been in continuous service since 1998 The new vessel has one of the highest pulling capacities (bollard pull) in Japan to respond to large-scale marine accidents while optimal placement of fire extinguishing equipment such as water cannons provides enhanced efficiency when firefighting on other ships The Koyo Maru is also equipped with a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to comply with environmental regulations allowing it to operate in designated areas where nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are restricted such as the coastal waters of the United States and Canada the vessel utilizes a new hull form (semi-vertical stem) to improve propulsion performance and has been designed to allow temporary equipment such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to be mounted on the exposed deck (Note) as necessary Private rooms for supervisors have also been made provided to improve livability Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will contribute to the various salvage activities carried out in seas around the world by building vessels with excellent fuel efficiency and environmental performance and that contribute to the safety of society Mitsubishi Shipbuilding aims to provide solutions to the various societal issues facing its customers in Japan and overseas ■ Comparison of the New and Current Vessels Yamaguchi — A new whaling mother ship owned by a Tokyo-based company departed for its first expedition from Shimonoseki the world’s only mothership whaling operator It sailed from its base at Shimonoseki Port on the western tip of Honshu The ship is scheduled to enter Tokyo Port on Thursday and then head to seas off the Tohoku region and Hokkaido to catch whales on Saturday The Kangei Maru has a displacement of 9,299 tons It is 113 meters long in total and 21 meters wide Its cruising distance is 13,000 kilometers The ship is capable of landing a large fin whale The Fisheries Agency is considering adding the whale species to a list of those subject to Japanese whaling Construction of the ship was completed in March organized by the Shimonoseki city government including crew members and administrative officials told reporters: “It has a significant meaning that the Kangei Maru can go out to catch whales replacing the [predecessor mother ship] Nisshin Maru in less than a year Sendai Ikuei beat Shimonoseki Kokusai 8-1 on Monday to be crowned summer Koshien champion and become the first school from Japan's northeastern region of Tohoku to win either version of the national high school baseball tournament The Miyagi Prefecture-based school won the title behind a strong seven-inning performance by pitcher Yo Saito and a grand slam by Ikuya Iwasaki while 32 take part in the spring invitational Both are held at Hyogo Prefecture's Koshien Stadium "Congratulations to everyone from Miyagi and Tohoku," Sendai Ikuei manager Wataru Sue said we received a lot of messages from fans in Tohoku so I'm glad we were able to pay them back for their support." Tohoku is continuing to rebuild and recover from the 2011 earthquake tsunami and subsequent disasters that cost nearly 19,000 lives and massive amounts of damage While Sendai Ikuei is Tohoku's first national champion the region has produced a number of renowned talents including Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi both alumni of Iwate Prefecture's Hanamaki Higashi High School The Chiba Lotte Marines' 20-year-old pitching sensation Roki Sasaki To have the latest news and stories delivered to your inbox Simply enter your email address below and an email will be sent through which to complete your subscription Please check your inbox for a confirmation email Thank you for reaching out to us.We will get back to you as soon as possible 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. today held a christening and launch ceremony for the TRANS HARMONY GREEN the first of two LNG-powered roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ships* under construction for Toyofuji Shipping Co. The ship's handover is scheduled for late January 2025 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials The TRANS HARMONY GREEN will serve as a RO/RO vessel on shipping routes in Asia The TRANS HARMONY GREEN is approximately 195 meters in overall length *RO/RO ships are equipped with a ferry-type ramp enabling direct vehicle access including cargo-loaded trucks and trailers.About MHI Group Christening and Launch Ceremony of " SUNFLOWER MURASAKI " today held a christening and launch ceremony for the SUNFLOWER MURASAKI the second of two large LNG-fueled ferries being built for Mitsui O.S.K The ceremony took place at the Enoura Plant at MHI’s Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture This followed a christening and launch ceremony in March 2022 for Japan’s first LNG-fueled ferry following completion of interior work and sea trials The new vessel will go into service on a regular route between Osaka and Beppu operated by Oita-based Ferry Sunflower Limited replacing the SUNFLOWER IVORY and SUNFLOWER COBALT ferries in service since 1997 The SUNFLOWER MURASAKI is 199.9m long and 28.0m wide with gross tonnage of approximately 17,300 The vessel has capacity to accommodate 716 passengers The main engine is a high-performance dual-fuel engine – the first of its kind featured on a domestic ferry – that can run on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and A-type heavy oil It offers outstanding environmental performance achieving a reduction of more than 20% in CO2 emissions and close to zero emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) the SUNFLOWER MURASAKI also features significantly more loading capacity for trucks and substantially greater space per passenger Expansive public areas include enlarged bathing facilities and an atrium extending through three stories the new ferry responds to today’s modal shift in the transport industry(Note2) while simultaneously achieving advances in the casual cruise business As part of MHI Group’s strategic initiatives to advance the energy transition Mitsubishi Shipbuilding is reducing the carbon footprint of the maritime industry through construction of LNG-fueled ships as a way of contributing to realization of a carbon neutral society Japan today is undergoing a modal shift from land transport to maritime transport in a quest to reduce carbon emissions as well as to offset a shortage of long-haul truck drivers and achieve workstyle reform demand is increasing for ferries and RoRo ships(Note3) and for ever-larger ships will continue building fuel-efficient and environmentally harmonious ferries and cargo-passenger ships supporting stable operation working closely with its business partners to solve diverse issues needing to be addressed is home to a market specializing in the deadly sea creature Trained specialists need to remove the liver roe and kidneys before the fugu can be served Japanese fish breeders have developed a nontoxic version '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" Christening and Launch Ceremony of KEYS Azalea today held a christening and launch ceremony for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering vessel built under contract for KEYS Bunkering West Japan Co. conducted in the presence of representatives from the companies involved took place at the Enoura Plant at MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture is scheduled for handover in March 2024 following outfitting work and sea trials The KEYS Azalea is equipped with a dual fuel generator engine capable of using both LNG and marine diesel oil as fuel it will provide exceptional environmental performance with considerably reduced emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) LNG has a smaller environmental impact than the heavy oil conventionally used as marine fuel and is expected to be a bridge solution for fuel decarbonization Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime industry by building ships to supply LNG fuel KEYS Bunkering West Japan is a joint venture company established in February 2022 to supply LNG fuel for ships and operate a coastal transportation business in the Kyushu and Setouchi Regions with investment from Kyushu Electric Power Company The company is promoting decarbonization in the marine industry through this business project handling LNG fuel will make use of the gas handling technologies and experience it has accumulated from building LNG carrier vessels Through this business project involving low environmental-impact LNG fuel aims to further the decarbonization of the marine industry and two others remain unaccounted for after a South Korean chemical tanker capsized off the western Japanese city of Shimonoseki on Wednesday The 870-ton Keoyoung Sun's crew radioed for help around 7:05 a.m. reporting that the ship anchored near Mutsure Island off Shimonoseki was capsizing according to the Moji Coast Guard Office near the area On board the tanker at the time of the incident were 11 crew members -- eight Indonesian The eight confirmed dead were among nine rescued with the remaining survivor having no life-threatening injuries Search continues for the two missing crew members The vessel was carrying 980 tons of acrylic acid Warnings about strong winds and high waves had been issued at the time of the incident ・ Vessel for NEDO project to develop and demonstrate technologies to establish large-volume marine transport of CO2 a Demonstration Test Ship for Liquefied CO2 Transport today held a christening and handover ceremony for a demonstration test ship to transport liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO2) The ship will be used for the "CCUS R&D and Demonstration Related Project / Large-scale CCUS Demonstration in Tomakomai / Demonstration Project on CO2 Transportation" (the demonstration projects) being conducted by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) in the presence of the ship owner Sanyu Kisen Co. Utilization and Storage) is gaining attention as an effective means of achieving a carbon-neutral society MHI Group utilized its expertise and advanced gas handling technologies cultivated through the construction of liquefied gas carriers (both LPG and LNG types) to handle the entire design and construction of the vessel which is jointly conducting the NEDO project to collect and analyze operational data through CO2 transportation demonstration tests ("K" LINE) and Ochanomizu University will be commissioned by the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan (ENAA) as subcontractors to conduct safety assessments of LCO2 transportation operations along with research and development for the ship's LCO2 pressure control and stability in its "MARINE FUTURE STREAM" growth strategy Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will actively pursue commercialization of LCO2 handling systems a new whaling mother ship that will succeed the decommissioned Nisshin Maru A signing ceremony for its delivery was held March 29 at Kyokuyo Shipyard Corp a consecration ceremony was held on the Kangei Maru’s bridge to pray for the safety of voyages and operations The ship’s first whaling expedition is scheduled for May off the Tohoku region Shimonoseki will be sending out messages to broad audiences of the world about how good whale meat tastes,” said Shintaro Maeda during a news conference following the signing ceremony Shimonoseki will be the home port for the Kangei Maru mother ship-type whaling forever,” said Hideki Tokoro the Tokyo-based whaling company that placed the order for the ship which cost 7.5 billion yen ($50 million) to build is an electric propulsion ship that is 112.6 meters long according to officials of Kyodo Senpaku and Kyokuyo Shipyard It has a capacity of 100 crew members and a cruising range of 13,000 kilometers The slipway on the Kangei Maru was designed with a slope angle of 18 degrees to allow large cetaceans weighing around 70 tons to be easily hauled aboard Atop the ship is a deck for a large drone that can find whales Raw whale meat sells for a record price in auction in Shimonoseki Christening and Launch Ceremony of OSHIMA MARU today held a christening and launch ceremony for the OSHIMA MARU a training ship for National Institute of Technology (Kosen) The new vessel will go into service providing students with practical training in ocean navigation and conducting surveys and experiments related to operations and the ocean The OSHIMA MARU is the fourth-generation training vessel for the school This is the second vessel Mitsubishi Shipbuilding has built for the school following the third-generation training ship currently in operation From the standpoint of convenience and security the new ship features a dedicated area for female students as well as elaborate interior lighting and design and a comfortable learning and living environment The vessel also has functions that allow it to serve as a support ship during disasters such as supplying outboard water and electricity Consideration has also been given to ease of use including a multipurpose toilet and sick bay located near the ship entrance and fewer level differences within the ship to allow for smooth movement the ship is equipped with an electric propulsion system and lithium-ion batteries which is expected to provide energy efficiency through parallel operation with the onboard generators a reduced environmental load by running exclusively on batteries near shore and a better living environment from reduced inboard noise and vibration Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to support its customers and the advancement of society by building ships with exceptional fuel efficiency and environmental performance and that contribute to the training of next-generation maritime officers Christening and Launch Ceremony of FUGAKU MARU today held a christening and launch ceremony for the FUGAKU MARU a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ship under construction for FUJITRANS Corporation The handover is scheduled for April 2024 following completion of outfitting work and sea trials The new vessel will replace the current FUGAKU MARU originally constructed at MHI's Nagasaki Shipyard & Machinery Works which has been in continuous service since 1997 The new FUGAKU MARU is 165 meters in overall length 27.6 meters in breadth and has gross tonnage of approximately 13,000 It can simultaneously transport up to 50 trailer chassis and 1,511 passenger cars Fuel efficiency has been significantly improved in the new vessel with the adoption of a vertical stem in the bow to reduce propulsion resistance complemented by high-efficiency propellers and use of low-friction paint The onboard power generator can be shut down through connection of an onshore power receiving system installed in the engine room and power distribution equipment slated for installation in ports this advance will enable zero emissions while the ship is in port The new FUGAKU MARU features a wider beam than its predecessor and structural innovations have enabled the elimination of pillars on the trailer loading deck the ship will provide greater turning space for trailers a modal shift is underway toward marine transport in a quest to reduce CO2 emissions from land transportation modes offset shortages of long-distance truck drivers going forward Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will work with its business partners to solve diverse issues through construction of ferries and RO/RO ships that will contribute to stable navigation while also providing outstanding energy and environmental performance ■ Comparison of the New and Current FUGAKU MARU Yamaguchi Prefecture--A high-end camping site is offering overnight stays before it becomes fully operational in March this year Glampdome Shimonoseki is equipped with 10 dome tents for those keen on glamping (glamorous camping) and barbecuing while overlooking the Kanmon Straits between the main islands of Honshu and Kyushu The vacation facility was founded by Restoration Co. limited to one group of guests of up to 10 people per night There are also two sections for dog lovers Guests can enjoy barbecues with ingredients directly brought from the Karato Ichiba market in Shimonoseki as well as take meals in all-weather dining spaces The site will be complete with saunas when it fully opens "We want to make the site a facility that represents Shimonoseki offering great views of the Kanmon Straits and promoting the food culture of Shimonoseki," said company president Hikaru Moriwaki For reservations, visit the official website at (https://www.glamping-yamaguchi.com/) Retro-themed Moji Port area in Kita-Kyushu all lit up until March Town famous for snow to turn old school into a ‘glamping’ site ‘Glamping’ site to open in Shiga Prefecture near Lake Biwako Residents turn to balconies for recreation amid long pandemic Tourists climb aboard to visit scenic unstaffed train stations mines from WWII found at wind farm in Kanmon Straits Infielder Ikuya Iwasaki hit a grand slam in the seventh inning on Monday, August 22 to lead Sendai Ikuei to an 8-1 win over Shimonoseki Kokusai in the final of the 104th National High School Baseball Championship It was the first time for a school from the Tohoku region to win the summer tournament played at historic Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya Iwasaki connected off Shimonoseki pitcher Shin Nakai with a towering blast that cleared the wall in left field and gave the school from Miyagi Prefecture a comfortable 8-1 lead the second pitcher to take the mound for the school from Yamaguchi Prefecture got into trouble when he hit the leadoff batter in the seventh Koga Hashimoto then hit a triple to right-center that scored the runner from first to make it 4-1 A walk and another batter hit by a pitch loaded the bases before Iwasaki put the game out of reach with his big hit “We got a lot of messages from the people in Miyagi Prefecture after winning in the semifinals so we wanted to come through for them,” said Sendai Ikuei manager Wataru Suei “[Kosei] Koga (Shimonoseki’s starting pitcher) pitched well in the first half but our batters did a great job as the game went on.” which defeated Seiko Gakuin 18-4 in the semifinals opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Hinata Saito’s single to left Sendai scored two more runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Hashimoto and Yamada knocking Shimonoseki starter Koga out of the game Kenshin Akasei hit a leadoff triple and scored on Shin Nakai’s groundout to first with one out Sendai starting pitcher Yo Saito struck out four and gave up one run on three hits over seven innings Yuki Takahashi completed the game with two scoreless innings “Saito threw a great game for us and Takahashi did well the rest of the way,” added Suei “I want to tip my hat to all the players in this tournament They all came through very trying times in the past several years.” It was the first time in three years that the tournament was held without restrictions on attendance put in place but there were several COVID-19 protocols Under rules set by the Japan High School Baseball Federation verbal cheering was prohibited and the number of brass band members was limited to 50.  attendance was limited to spectators directly related to the school playing in that day’s games Sendai Ikuei got a congratulatory tweet from former New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who now plays for NPB’s Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles “Congratulations to everyone from Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School,” Tanaka tweeted “It has been a long summer for Shimonoseki and Sendai Ikuei Author: Jim Armstrong The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for more than 25 years. You can find his articles here You must be logged in to post a comment ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " Yamaguchi Prefecture--A long-established sake brewery here is offering a tourism package that allows visitors to create blends that are “one-of-a-kind in the world.” aims to attract visitors from home and abroad with the tourism initiative Participants are given a tour of the brewery and a lecture on the sake business managing director at the brewery and a sake sommelier serves as a guide for the sake-making session offered for a fee of 5,000 yen ($37) Participants are encouraged to taste four different types of sake--dry Uchida helps them find the right blend ratio to suit their preferences They receive the blended sake in 720- and 300-milliliter bottles with labels showing their names The company keeps data on their blending ratios in case they want to order additional bottles Shimonoseki Shuzo marks its 100th anniversary this year “I’ve always thought it would be great to offer blended sake ever since I joined this company,” Uchida said “I want to promote the charms of Japanese sake.” The company has also joined hands with restaurants and other local businesses to offer a package for tourists to enjoy blowfish and other local specialties “I think inbound tourists visiting Shimonoseki will also be interested in making their one-of-a-kind sake,” Mayor Shintaro Maeda said at a ceremony on Jan 13 to announce the brewery's tourism efforts For more information, visit the official website at (https://www.sekimusume.co.jp/page/blend) Brewer of Dassai sake becomes sponsor of New York Yankees Bottle of sake made from finest rice auctioned for 840,000 yen Global warming pushes Gifu sake brewer north to Hokkaido town Sake breweries zero in on India’s vegetarian millions Niigata sake brewers turn to whisky to help bolster business The seaside city of Shimonoseki in southern Japan has a desirable specialty in the culinary world – the potentially deadly delicacy fugu fugu is available year-round in Shimonoseki about 90 miles west of Marine Corps Air station Iwakuni Fugu is so common in the city that it can be purchased ready-to-eat at the local fish market for less than $10 The Karato Market on the waterfront offers a large variety of ready-to-eat it’s a wholesale market where commercial buyers bid on the catch Finding a market stand that sells fugu is not difficult; many will have a decorative sign of the blowfish displayed with the trays of sliced fugu sushi ready to be served because only registered chefs with a special license can prepare fugu dishes Take a stroll around to look at all the stands just outside the market area next to the river you will find plenty of seating to enjoy your food with nice views With the tight regulation of fugu preparation licensing the chances of fugu poisoning is extremely low mostly anglers who tried to prepare their catch at home had died after eating fugu in the previous eight years A 2018 article on Nippon.com cited the Ministry of Health and Welfare and said half of all poisoning deaths in Japan each year are attributable to fugu The same article said about 50 people are poisoned each year After I had looked around for about 30 minutes I purchased a small plate of fugu sushi for about $9 white-colored flesh had a delicate taste to it If you’re planning on stocking up and bringing some food back home with you I recommend bringing a cooler with some ice in it for the drive home I parked at a 572-space garage next to the fish market for a little over five hours and I’m glad I was able to live to tell the tale Directions: About 90 miles from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni Food: There is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant on the upper floor An emergency call was made to rescue the South Korean-flagged tanker Keoyoung Sun (870 tons) that was near the west side of Mutsure Island off Shimonoseki saying: “The ship has tilted due to bad weather four patrol vessels saw a capsized vessel in the area Eleven non-Japanese sailors are believed to have been on board Yamaguchi Prefecture--Raw whale meat fetched 500,000 yen ($3,560) per kilogram at an auction here on Nov double the previous record of 250,000 yen set in Osaka in October “We are hoping to revitalize Shimonoseki with whaling and it is our shared determination not to accept a contract price lower than those in the Tokyo or Osaka markets,” said Yutaka Hasegawa a 39-year-old fish wholesaler in Shimonoseki He said he plans to ship the meat to restaurants in Hiroshima and Tokyo the same wholesale market at the Shimonoseki port set what was then a record 120,000 yen per kilogram for whale meat 14 came from the most coveted “onomi” portion of a sei whale caught off Nemuro in eastern Hokkaido by the Nisshin Maru whaling ship The whale meat was stored at temperatures near freezing to retain its original texture and taste Japanese whalers’ catch of sei whales is restricted to 25 heads a year in commercial whaling conducted in waters around the Japanese archipelago After exiting the International Whaling Commission in 2018 Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 for the first time in 31 years Locals are trying to make Shimonoseki recognized as Japan’s No A total of 1.4 tons of whale meat was sold at the auction A long line of shoppers formed when an outlet of the Daimaru department store in central Shimonoseki began selling 100 packs of raw whale meat after they were bid on at the auction A pack of 100 grams of onomi went for 3,600 yen Iwate museum destroyed in 3/11 tsunami reopens after 11 years Christening and Launch Ceremony of "FERRY FUKUOKA" a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group based in Yokohama held a christening and launch ceremony today (October 8th) for the second of two large ferries being built for Japan Railway Construction Transport and Technology Agency (JRTT) and Meimon Taiyo Ferry Co. The handover is scheduled for March 2022 following completion of interior work and sea trial The new vessel will replace the FERRY FUKUOKA II and enter service from March 2022 on a regular route between Osaka and Shinmoji in Kitakyushu built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and operated by Meimon Taiyo Ferry is jointly owned by Meimon Taiyo Ferry and JRTT an Incorporated Administrative Agency to support the provision and maintenance of transport facilities and other infrastructure based on Japan’s transport policy with gross tonnage of approximately 15,400 The largest ship ever operated by Meimon Taiyo Ferry the vessel has passenger capacity for 675 persons and vehicle capacity for approximately 162 12-meter trucks and 140 passenger cars The interior design concept is “sparkle of a bayside city,” evoking a modern waterfront The broad public space taking advantage of the vessel’s large size The space can also be efficiency utilized to provide improved service such as converting vehicle storage space into a passenger deck and eliminating Japanese style passenger cabins to create cabins with beds The propulsion plant utilizes a hybrid-type azimuth propulsion assist method which combined with an air lubrication system achieves considerable energy efficiency (approximately 35% reduction in fuel consumption for carrying a large truck compared to existing vessels) along with lower CO2 emissions realized from energy efficiency the adoption of a hybrid-type scrubber curbs atmospheric emissions of sulfur oxide (SOx) providing for environment-friendly operation shipping in Japan is undergoing a modal shift(Note1) to marine transport from the standpoint of reducing CO2 emissions in land transport demand is rising for ferries and RORO ships(Note2) Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to construct ferries and passenger/cargo ships that offer superlative fuel efficiency and environmental performance and contribute to reliable transport in order to help resolve various issues together with its business partners and contribute to environmental protection in which a fleet of vessels centered on a mother ship hunts large whales is expected to help maintain Japan’s whaling industry Ryo Imaizumi and Yukihiro UkedaThe Japan News the only whaling operator in the world that uses the mother ship method the prospects are dim for operators to whale in the open sea outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) we cannot pass on our whaling culture to the next generation,” said Kyodo Senpaku President Hideki Tokoro Tokoro was speaking at a press conference after a ceremony to pray for safety — held before the start of shipbuilding — at the head office of Kyokuyo Shipyard Corp. a Shimonoseki-based firm with which Kyodo Senpaku has a business contract The mother ship is used to load and dismantle whales caught by smaller vessels The Nisshin Maru vessel owned by Tokyo-based Kyodo Senpaku was built about 35 years ago It measures 130 meters long and 20 meters wide The new mother ship being built is 113 meters long It can sail for 60 days and travel 13,000 kilometers Kyodo Senpaku currently operates only within Japan’s EEZ but the new ship is capable of sailing as far as the Antarctic Ocean including container-type cold storage facilities and a deck for drones to search for whales The construction cost is approximately ¥6 billion and the ship is scheduled to be completed in March 2024 Japan whalers use two methods — in coastal whaling small boats go out on day trips to catch minke whales but catches obtained through this method have not reached the quota limit in recent years The mother ship method has reached the full quotas including those of larger Bryde’s whales and sei whales it is highly likely that these two species of whales will no longer be caught leading to fears that whaling and whale-eating may cease to exist Norway first conducted mother ship whaling in the 1920s as international public opinion grew increasingly concerned about the depletion of whale stocks in later years Japan has engaged in research whaling to survey the current population size and other information in the Antarctic Ocean and elsewhere Japan withdrew from the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and resumed commercial whaling leaving Japan as the only country that continues to use the mother ship method The Fisheries Agency is not subsidizing the building of a new mother ship but Kyodo Senpaku decided to build one on its own “We want to contribute to Japan’s food security,” Tokoro said “We designed the ship to be able to travel as far as the Antarctic Ocean in the hope it will be useful in times of food crisis.” there is a strong belief within the government that Japan needs to avoid opposition from anti-whaling nations such as the United States and Australia and there is no prospect of conducting whaling operations outside the EEZ an associate professor of marine policy at Tokai University said: “A new mother ship is also necessary to continue whaling offshore within the EEZ The government has a responsibility to create an environment in which operators can conduct whaling stably while maintaining consistency with international law.” which is considered to be the birthplace of modern whaling in Japan is aiming to become a home port for a fleet of vessels to be led by the new mother ship The city will provide ¥300 million in subsidies to Kyodo Senpaku to support the construction “It is our long-cherished wish to see a whaling mother ship built,” Shimonoseki Mayor Shintaro Maeda said at a regular press conference on Feb “I hope whale-eating culture will spread widely among our residents and the Japanese people in general.” Tokoro said: “By registering the vessel in Shimonoseki we will ensure that property taxes and other taxes will be paid in Shimonoseki If the maintenance of the ship can be handled in that city it will become a true home port,” indicating that the company will proactively continue talks with the city ･ Design concept of "connections," painted in "Tokyo Island Blue" as a color reflecting the island seas a Group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries held a christening and launch ceremony on November 27 for a cargo-passenger ship currently under construction for Tokai Kisen Co. The new vessel will inherit the name SALVIA MARU replacing the second ship bearing the name that is currently operated by the company The handover is scheduled for June 2020 upon completion of rigging work after which the vessel will enter service on a regular route connecting Tokyo with the Tokyo Islands(Note) of Oshima as well as for operating the "Tokyo Bay Night Cruise" during the summer season The well-attended ceremony was held at the Enoura Plant at MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture The formal christening was conducted by Tokai Kisen President Junichi Yamazaki with a ceremonial rope cutting by the fourth Tokai Kisen Mascot Girl The new SALVIA MARU is a joint construction project of the Yokohama-based Japan Railway Construction an Incorporated Administrative Agency to support the provision and maintenance of transport facilities and other infrastructure based on Japan's transport policy The vessel is jointly owned by JRTT and Tokai Kisen built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding in accordance with a three-party contract with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding The new SALVIA MARU is 118m long and 17m wide with gross tonnage of approximately 6,200 tonnes It has prescribed capacity for 1,343 passengers and carrying capacity for 38 cargo containers and is able to cruise at a speed of around 20 knots The vessel's design concept is "connections," incorporating the idea of sea voyages linking people A distinctive feature of the ship is the stylish hull with color control in "Tokyo Island Blue," an azure color reflecting the island seas The propulsion system comprises variable pitch propellers and azimuth propellers with 360-degree horizontal rotation the SALVIA MARU offers stable operation and improved energy efficiency as well as a reduced environmental load and barrier-free accessibility Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will continue to construct passenger ships and transport vessels that offer superlative fuel efficiency and environmental performance and contribute to stable transport In this way Mitsubishi Shipbuilding would work together with its customers to solve their diverse challenges while vitalizing maritime transportation and contributing to environmental protection in the global community which connects Japan's main island of Honshu and Kyushu is a 1,068-meter-long suspension bridge built using an innovative construction method It represents a milestone in the history of suspension bridges in Japan The Kanmon Strait separates two of Japan's large islands Shimonoseki City of Yamaguchi Prefecture is on the Honshu side of the strait and Kitakyushu City of Fukuoka Prefecture is on the Kyushu side this waterway has been an important transport route The first bridge in history to span the strait the Kanmon Bridge was built as part of the Kanmon Expressway looking to solve the problem of increased traffic in the Kanmon Roadway Tunnel passing through the undersea Construction of the bridge began in 1968 and was completed in 1973 Fukamatsu Noriyuki from the Public Relations Department of West Nippon Expressway Company Limited (NEXCO West) tells us about the Kanmon Bridge "The Kanmon Strait continues to be an important logistical and transport hub with a lot of heavy vessel traffic Approximately 60,000 vessels of 500 gross tons or more traverse the straight each year averaging out to about 500 vessels per day.* When deciding on the type of bridge structure,** therefore the engineers had to consider the need to ensure a smooth navigational channel for ships passing through the strait the Kanmon Bridge was built as a long-span*** suspension bridge With a height of approximately 61 meters above sea level (at high tide) and a central span (distance between towers) of 712 meters the bridge was one of the top ten largest in the world at the time it opened." The two main cables supporting the suspension bridge and each cable uses 14,014 galvanized steel wires bundled in parallel to form a parallel wire cable This project was the first time this construction method was used in Japan cables were twisted to make them easier to handle on the construction site Twisting increased the total weight by 10% the engineers adopted a method of using the cables without twisting them called Pre-fabricated Parallel Wire Strand (PPWS) 91 wires were bundled into parallel strands in advance at a factory the strands were unwound from the reels and installed in a single operation This method was also used in the construction of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and it went on to influence other bridge construction projects." the bridge's location across the Kanmon Strait exposes it to constant sea winds This induces a severely corrosive environment making maintenance and management challenging the engineers took a step rare for that time applying an anti-corrosion coating to the stiffening girders**** that support the roadway This was the first attempt at a large-scale application of this highly durable coating method which has since been employed for a large number of public buildings "The knowledge and technology gained from the construction of the Kanmon Bridge were later used in the construction of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge (See: Seto Ohashi Bridge — The Dream Bridge That Connects Honshu with Shikoku) and other long-span bridges built in the 1980s It is a truly historic bridge that set an important precedent for the subsequent development of bridge projects in Japan." The Kanmon Bridge cannot be crossed on foot but it is possible to walk back and forth across the Kanmon Strait through a 780-meter-long undersea tunnel called the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel The Mekari Seaside Promenade on the Kyushu side of the Kanmon Strait in Moji Ward of Kitakyushu City (Fukuoka Prefecture) offers a spectacular close-up view of the Kanmon Bridge It is also fun to watch the various ships passing by and ponder the history of the ancient battlefield of Dan-no-ura.***** The Kanmon Bridge is especially beautiful in the evening when it is illuminated The area around Moji Port near the promenade is called Mojiko Retro Many overseas tourists visit this atmospheric district which still retains many historical buildings where the Kanmon Bridge touches the ground on the Honshu side a visit to the Kanmon Bridge and the surrounding areas is highly recommended No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form Today's print edition Home Delivery A struggle over the choice of an electoral candidate in Yamaguchi Prefecture between rival Liberal Democratic Party factions ended last week with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's caucus coming out on top after Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi was selected for the new No Shinji Yoshida won former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s old seat in April’s No 4 district by-election with the backing of Abe faction members and his widow but he will now be forced to seek a less prestigious proportional representation seat in the Chugoku regional block in the next election when Yamaguchi's seats are reduced from four to three.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The decision marks the close of the latest round in a long-standing feud between the Abe and Hayashi families Experts say the decision was both expected and indicative of the weakening influence of the Abe family locally nearly a year after the former leader was assassinated In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Yamaguchi Prefecture--Eight crew members were killed and two remain missing after a South Korean-flagged chemical tanker capsized in western Japan early on March 20 The 870-ton Keoyong Sun sent a distress call at 7:05 a.m. The tanker was anchored 8 kilometers north-northwest off Mutsurejima island in Shimonoseki The Japan Coast Guard dispatched four patrol vessels and two aircraft were retrieved from the water by helicopter The Coast Guard will continue its rescue operations for the remaining two throughout the night (This article was written by Masayuki Shiraishi and Koichi Anzai.) MSDF sub lost all communications for more than 3 hours after crash Pentagon says Iranian drone 'attack' hit chemical tanker near India aircraft fight new fire on oil tanker off Sri Lanka While countries around the world are unbarring airports and ports which have been suspended for more than two years due to COVID-19 Pukwan Ferry announced that the Seonghee vessel and Hamayu vessel will operate daily carrying passengers to and from Busan and Shimonoseki The passenger ferry service resumed between Korea and Japan is the first time in nearly 3 years since international passenger transportation) was banned in March 2020 Read now > Sign up for our weekly newsletter of articles from Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture--The aging Nisshin Maru has finally retired after playing a central role in research and commercial operations for more than 30 years It will be replaced by a modern vessel next year but lackluster demand for whale meat suggests the industry that drew condemnation from around the world faces an uncertain future A large crowd that included the families of the crew members gathered at the wharf where they waved their hands in welcome and cheered loudly as the ship returned to its home port here for the final time on Nov “(The Nisshin Maru) encountered many troubles due to its age but it held up well until the end,” said its captain the factory ship first led a whaling expedition that lasted from 1991 to 1992 It was called a “moving processing factory” because the whales caught by catcher boats could be butchered on board and the meat frozen for preservation have been flensed and cut up in the Antarctic Sea the Northwest Pacific Ocean and waters around Japan Up until the 1970s when mainly European nations began to view whales as a “protected” species bones and meat were widely considered an abundant “resource.” the International Whaling Commission decided to slap a temporary ban on commercial whaling in 1982 Japan embarked on a “research whaling” program in the Antarctic Sea in 1987 and in the Northwest Pacific Ocean in 1994 to gather data on the rise in whale stocks The meat from the whales caught was later sold for food Australia and other countries blasted the research whaling as “illegal commercial whaling.” The Nisshin Maru was frequently targeted for sabotage by the Sea Shepherd and other anti-whaling groups recalled an encounter with the Sea Shepherd when he went out on deck and found discolored butyric acid sticking to the hull who now lectures at the National Fisheries University “I was catching whales to bring delicious whale meat to tables the International Court of Justice ordered the suspension of Japan’s research whaling after taking issue with Tokyo’s claim it was killing whales for scientific purposes Japan withdrew from the IWC in 2019 and resumed commercial whaling in its exclusive economic zone the whaling industry has remained stagnant the whaling company that owns the Nisshin Maru four organizations are engaged in commercial whaling Hokkaido; Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture; Minami-Boso in Chiba Prefecture; and Taiji in Wakayama Prefecture They are all struggling to survive in an increasingly tough business environment The Fisheries Agency permits the hunting of three large whale species: minke and the catches last year were half the maximum limit the Fisheries Agency plans to add one species to the list of whale species that can be caught if its ocean stocks are deemed to be plentiful Fin whales are considered the most likely candidate but an official decision will be made at the agency’s deliberative council has improved freezing and storage technology as well as sanitation features such as being able to process whale carcasses indoors “No other whaling ship in the world is as large and state-of-the-art as this one,” said Hideki Tokoro “It will be able to supply whale meat for 30 years.” The company has already started to bolster demand for whale meat with the opening of five Kujira (whale) Store outlets this year that feature whale meat vending machines in and around Tokyo and Osaka Construction of the Kangei Maru will cost 7.5 billion yen ($50 million) which reported a net profit of 150 million yen on sales of 3.16 billion yen in fiscal 2022 Yamaguchi — The political office of the late Shinzo Abe in the former prime minister’s constituency of Shimonoseki The political base was also used by Abe’s father Shintaro a former foreign minister who died in 1991 and others removed two signs that read “Abe Shinzo Office” and “The Liberal Democratic Party Yamaguchi Prefecture 4th Electoral District Branch.” “People in Shimonoseki supported Abe and his father for two generations and they developed into politicians who represented Japan We want to express thanks to the locals,” said Teruo Ito