Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information and that has been the situation for quite a while but fears are now growing about their eventual fate as the human population continues to dwindle a 50-minute ferry ride from Tadotsu Port in Kagawa Prefecture is one of several islands in the Seto Inland Sea known as “cat islands.” The felines seemingly make themselves at home just about anywhere on the island; in the shade of the waiting space at the port behind abandoned homes or perhaps in a side ditch near an embankment Visitors to Sanagijima are pretty much assured of a warm feline welcome and even an occasional meow for food None of the 100-plus cats on Sanagijima has a specific owner A family of four from Taiwan said they learned about Sanagijima through Instagram posts They were among around 10 sightseers who arrived by ferry one recent weekend morning “We are happy to be here because our daughters adore cats,” said one of the parents in between snapping photos A woman in her 40s from Tottori Prefecture was visiting for the first time to take pictures of the felines with friends she had gotten to know via social networking sites Whipping out a cat toy she brought to Sanagijima the woman started playing with several curious cats “I love both taking photos and spending time with cats,” she said The human population on Sanagijima has halved over the past 10 years Islanders estimate there now are only about 30 inhabitants because many residents relocated to live with their children or moved to elderly care facilities on the mainland without updating their official resident registers Cats were always part of the island scene but not as pets Strays always used to prowl around homes in bygone days Although the islanders had no direct connection to the felines they got into the habit of feeding them leftovers from their dinner tables A turning point came in the 2010s after a photographer visited and his shots of the felines on Sanagijima earned it the online nickname of “cat island.” Visitors began descending on Sanagijima in droves especially after a guesthouse fitted with a cafe remodeled from a former elementary school building started operations in 2017 Hordes of tourists visit Sanagijima to spend the day with the cats who is 63 and a resident of the Nagasaki district in the northern part of Sanagijima Ikeda moved to Sanagijima three years ago with the aim of looking after his family’s grave when his mother died His life changed dramatically a few months later when he was asked by a neighbor who was moving to a welfare facility on the mainland to feed the cats in his absence “I had never kept a pet before,” Ikeda said he quickly became absorbed in taking care of them He became so captivated by cats that his life now centers around them Ikeda even built a specialized play area for them in the grounds of his home “I did all this for my own sake,” said Ikeda One problem he faces is the cost of feeding 40 felines four times a day It comes to several tens of thousands of yen the equivalent of several hundreds of dollars Ikeda also makes a point of removing their excrement around graves and street drains to prevent the cats from becoming a nuisance to residents who has sold ferry tickets for more than 20 years at a waiting area in the Honura district of southern Sanagijima Yamaji shows up at the facility in time for the ferry’s arrival four times daily Yamaji distributes food to cats from a pushcart “They must know I have something to eat,” said Yamaji with a grin sometimes forgetting to bring other belongings from home that I needed.” Few people apart from Ikeda and Yamaji volunteer their time to look after the cats as they return to their own lives after a day spent petting the animals is the youngest person living in the Nagasaki district at the moment along with the shrinking population and growing cat population could at some point render it impossible to control the animals effectively There are concerns that an explosion in the cat population could bring a range of problems to the islanders Another fear is that the animals could starve to death Tadotsu has a subsidy program to cover the costs of sterilization procedures for “community cats,” which are not kept by particular owners islanders who catch an untreated stray can take them by ferry to a veterinary hospital on the Honshu mainland to be sterilized The situation is pretty similar on nearby Shishijima island in Mitoyo prompting authorities there in 2016 to invite veterinarians from the mainland to carry out mass sterilizations A total of 70 cats were sterilized in one go under the Animal Action Fund program Officials from the local residents’ association and other entities sought help insisting that a “further increase in the feline population would wreck the people’s life on the island.” “Sterilization is the most effective method to ensure that islanders and cats coexist peacefully,” said a representative of the Animal Action Fund “Both island authorities and residents need to be aware of how to perform the surgery as this process will constitute the first step toward addressing the problem.” Meet the ‘god’ of stray cats; vet works tirelessly to save them 2 cafes feature cats playing role of monsters in railway diorama Study: Cats know masters’ location through hearing 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 the compact project was built out of a desire to pass along the traditions of the japanese culture to younger generations the relaxing space aims to inspire peace to any guest welcome into the house takashi okuno and associates believes that a space designed for host and guest alone has a heightening effect on the senses making people aware of the slightest interplays of light and sound the house is meant to feel like a representation of the world’s changes in condensed form the architects explain how ‘great masters of the old tea ceremony could find the whole universe within this minimal space.’ the material palette of the tea house include locally-sourced earth the natural materials also bring nature into the space in subtle yet powerful ways the floors are covered in tatami mats and the square windows asymmetrically frame different parts of the  exterior garden the designers hope that ‘someday when it has finished serving its purpose the structure will return to the earth.’ lead architects: takashi okuno and associates designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Lin Miarak will sail under the flag of Panama Japan-based shipping firm Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has received a new eco-friendly bulk carrier The 90,000dwt vessel was constructed at Tadotsu Shipyard which is a unit of the Imabari Shipbuilding Group K Line will deploy the Lin Miarak for the shipment of coal the company signed a long-term consecutive voyage charter contract (CVC) with steel manufacturer Kobe Steel The overall length of the vessel will stand at 249.99m while the width will be 43m the vessel will have a depth of 18.7m and deadweight of 90,991t Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Lin Miarak will operate under the flag of Panama and has been classed by classification society ClassNK the vessel has been equipped with the MITSUI–MAN B&W 6S60ME-C10.5-EGRBP as its main engine The newbuild has been developed and constructed in line with Tier III compliance under Regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI by controlling nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions the company aims to fulfil regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and also promote decarbonisation the company said: “As a member of the international community K Line offers its customers a unique range of transport services while striving to promote environmental conservation measures K Line will remain committed to flexibly and actively responding to diversifying needs for shipments.” Earlier this month, Kawasaki Heavy Industries struck a co-development contract with K Line to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven marine machinery operation support system to support autonomous vessel operations in the future Nominations are now open for the prestigious Ship Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network part of Japanese shipbuilding major Imabari Shipbuilding Group a 7,000 CEU car carrier powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) The 78,300 GT pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) will be chartered by Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) and is owned by compatriot company Shoei Kisen it will be deployed on the Japan-Europe route to support the global logistics the newbuild features a length of 199.9 meters and a beam of 38 meters Using environmentally friendly LNG as fuel and equipped with a high-pressure dual-fuel engine the vessel is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in international shipping and contribute to a sustainable future Compared to conventional fuel oil-powered vessels the new vessel can achieve a 25-30% reduction in CO₂ emissions and reduces NOx emissions by 80-90% through the use of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system The LNG fuel tanks continuously generate boil-off gas which can be utilized in the generators and boilers enhancing the vessel’s environmental friendliness MOL operates car carriers with names comprising ‘ACE’ meeting the export needs of local automobile manufacturers MOL adopted a new series name and a new hull color design for its car carriers fueled by LNG The shipping company ordered a total of eight 7,000 CEU LNG-powered PCTC units which are being delivered in succession between 2024 and 2025 the first newbuild in the company’s BLUE series The car carrier will transport cars produced by Japan’s car manufacturer Mazda Motor Corporation Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox The Pioneers of Offshore Engineering GustoMSC part of NOV’s Marine and Construction business is recognized for providing advanced design & engineering consultancy for mobile offshore units and reliable equipment and technical knowledge into realistic & innovative ideas The performance of new and existing jack-ups the project involved demolishing an existing building that had stood on the site for over a century the architects intended to create a structure with longevity one which will offer a constant source of shelter in the years to come all images © shigeo ogawa the architects took advantage of the L-shaped site by building a separate tea house annex in addition to the main residence a small entrance room first greets residents before they are led into the kitchen and living spaces the more private and service functions unfold the house offers shading from the sun and a good degree of privacy the design also provides a more introverted architecture as the windows are sheltered by deep eaves and timber screens these elements work together to create a more intimate residence one that reflects inwards and does not impose itself onto the site the house is constructed from a structure of japanese cedar wood the presence of timber is felt throughout the design as it is left exposed on the ceiling and makes up the majority of the furniture the building becomes a calm and inviting place lead architects: takashi okuno & associates photography: shigeo ogawa 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 Copyright THE MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS. All rights reserved. Tsunieshi Group (Zhoushan) Shipbuilding was incorporated in 2003 as a stern blocks and hull-body maker. It was in 2007 that it officially entered the shipbuilding arena after receiving approval from the Chinese government to construct a full vessel. However, due to Beijing’s clampdown on capacity, the yard was only allowed to build ships up to 100,000 dwt — and this policy still stands today. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Your data on TradeWinds TradeWinds is part of DN Media Group AS From November 1st DN Media Group is responsible for controlling your data on TradeWinds We use your data to ensure you have a secure and enjoyable user experience when visiting our site. You can read more about how we handle your information in our privacy policy DN Media Group is the leading news provider in the shipping, seafood, and energy industries, with a number of English- and Norwegian-language news publications across a variety of sectors. Read more about DN Media Group here TradeWinds is part of NHST Global Publications AS and we are responsible for the data that you register with us and the data we collect when you visit our websites We use cookies in a variety of ways to improve your experience such as keeping NHST websites reliable and secure personalising content and ads and to analyse how our sites are being used For more information and how to manage your privacy settings please refer to our privacy and cookie policies which is part of the Imabari Shipbuilding Group the 90,000DWT bulk carrier “LIN MIARAK” has been completed and delivered The vessel will be regularly engaged in coal transportation for Kobe Steel under a long-term consecutive voyage charter contract (CVC) The ship was designed and built to be TierⅢ compliance under Regulation 13 of MARPOL Annex VI By reducing the amount of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emitted into the air as state-of-the-art environmentally friendly ship she will be complying with the regulations published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and will be expected to greatly contribute to the conservation of the global environment As a member of the international community “K” LINE offers its customers a unique range of transport services while striving to promote environmental conservation measures “K” Line will remain committed to flexibly and actively responding to diversifying needs for shipments Main Engine    :        MITSUI–MAN B&W 6S60ME-C10.5-EGRBP Builder             :        Tadotsu Shipyard Co. Top News,Greece Greece has approved an international tender for hydrocarbon exploration in four blocks in the Mediterranean Sea Top News,World Top News,Energy World,Word newsletter The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) participated in the 2025 edition of Sea Asia one of the premier maritime industry events in the Asia-Pacific… Leading mental health support provider MHSS is proud to confirm its commitment to diversity and inclusion with the appointment of two psychologists… Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER Design & Development by P.KAN.DESIGNER (JR Shikoku) will introduce a second-generation train for its popular Iyonada Monogatari sightseeing service in Ehime Prefecture on April 2 It will retain the ambience of the retro-themed inaugural train The exterior will have a metallic finish so that it shines in the setting sun “I took over the design of the first-generation train and improved the quality,” said Tetsuya Matsuoka head of the section in charge of design projects particularly on occasions such as journeys and celebrations.” The new train was shown to media representatives at JR Shikoku’s factory in Tadotsu It will operate between Matsuyama Station and Iyo-Ozu or Yawatahama stations on the JR Yosan Line in Ehime Prefecture The third carriage contains a private compartment called the “Fiore Suite,” that is limited to two to eight passengers The cabins in the first and second carriages are the same type as those used for the first-generation train The company said all seats are more comfortable than those for the inaugural train Lights on the ceiling and other parts of the train can be switched to sunset-inspired orange and other colors with Tobe ware ceramics used for the wash basins and other accessories Train attendants will also be given new uniforms JR Shikoku’s sightseeing train hits big ridership milestone Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Yellow Pumpkin’ in Shikoku swept away in typhoon JR Shikoku to run open-deck sightseeing train in Tokushima New Anpanman train with host of designs to make debut on July 18 Imabari Shipbuilding Group's Tadotsu Shipyard in Japan has commenced construction of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled car carrier for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) Imabari Shipbuilding Group’s Tadotsu Shipyard in Japan has commenced construction of a new liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled car carrier for Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) The vessel is scheduled to be delivered by the end of the year the vessel will feature a dual-fuel diesel Mitsui MAN B&W ME-GI engine with exhaust gas recirculation system (EGR) K Line placed an order for the vessel in 2018 The vessel will feature a fuel gas supply system (FGSS) that is engineered by TGE Marine Gas Engineering The FGSS will include high-pressure pump and an LNG fuel tank Given that the boiling point of methane in LNG is -161.5℃ LNG is continuously vaporised due to heat drawn from outside of the tank the pressure in the tank increases and the type C tank enables the vaporised gas to remain in the tank for a longer duration It will feature auxiliary engines with a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) to meet NOx tier III requirements even when the carrier is in diesel mode the maximum count of vehicles that the vessel can load is approximately 7,000 Kagawa Prefecture--Celebrating its 20th anniversary a newly designed Anpanman Train will go into operation on July 18 The anime series-themed special train will run on the Dosan Line of Shikoku Railway Co the creator of the original superhero picture book series The company unveiled the new train to media representatives on June 22 at its Tadotsu factory here Remodeled from eight cars of the new 2700-series express diesel multiple unit introduced last year the interiors and exteriors of the trains are decked out in illustrations of Anpanman and other characters The red-colored train features Anpanman characters in 84 versions on its exterior while the yellow-themed train is decorated with 72 varieties The anime characters are also featured on the seats The Anpanman Train service initially went into operation on the Dosan Line in October 2000 JR Shikoku also operates Anpanman-themed sightseeing trains The YuYu Anpanman Car train mainly runs between Tokushima and Awa-Ikeda stations while the Anpanman Torokko train connects the Takamatsu and Okayama stations and elsewhere 20 million or so passengers had ridden on the Anpanman trains Test runs begin to resume trains along Hakone mountain route Train’s eternal flame design honors founder of Enryakuji No reproduction or republication without written permission.