The NYK Maritime Museum and the NYK Hikawamaru received the 10th National Maritime Award in 2017 for their outreach activities in communicating maritime ideas through the history of Japanese shipping in the modern era. Along with the Hikawamaru, which in April 2018 marked 88 years since it was built, the museum has worked for over 25 years to convey modern Japanese shipping history through the conservation and use of artifacts. The museum continues to raise awareness of the Japanese shipping industry in an effort to increase the number of people who would like to become sailors and contribute to the future of Japanese shipping.