WMU was established by the IMO in 1983 as a postgraduate maritime university, and is actively engaged in a wide variety of educational and research activities concerning the ocean. Since its founding more than 30 years ago it has made many contributions to fostering experts on ocean issues. The role of WMU in capacity development continues to grow, and, through its relationship with the IMO and its international character, it hopes to make even more contributions to capacity development for the ocean in future.

The Kerama Shoto National Park was born on March 5th of this year. With its focus on the Kerama region (Zamami Village and Tokashiki Village) in Okinawa Prefecture, it is Japan's 31st national park and the first to be established in 27 years. In this article I would like to look at how the Kerama islands came to be newly designated a national park and introduce the unique features of the park's areas and natural environment.

In the Japanese creation myth is known as Kuniumi, it is said the gods Izanagi and Izanami made the first island, Onogoro, by spearing and stirring the ocean with a pike while this island is said to likely have been an imaginary one．But I think there is a high possibility that it was Oro Island in the Genkai Sea. After investigating the surrounding area, I feel it is no coincidence that the most sacred plant of ancient times, the palm tree(Livistona chinensis), is to be found in the Shinto shrine on Oro Island.