The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) designs and delivers training programmes for government officials, scholars and representatives of civil society from developing countries, in the areas of international peace and security, and economic and social development. Its Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific (HOAP) has been established in July 2003 as the third operating base of the Institute after the Headquarters in Geneva and a New York Office in USA. UNITAR Hiroshima office covers over 50 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. UNITAR's Project on Sea and Human Security aims at studying multiple dimensions of human security pertaining to seas, so as to support national policy making and institutional capacity building in the management and protection of seas and oceans.

From analyzing the causes of accidents at sea in the Philippines, we encountered the problem of the traditional and most popular boats, so called the bunker boats. Bunker boats are loaded with remarkable features that seem to be the origins of the most advanced technology, but they also cause many accidents and research on their safety is lacking. In this case, I will discuss the problem of bunker boats that will induce future Japanese technological development, and as a case that will clarify the problematic areas of Japanese assistance to developing countries.

Japan's defeat in World War II resulted from its negligence of marine transportation. Japan still remains as a country without natural resources. Marine transportation is Japan's lifeline, so the country should implement a policy to ensure minimum requirements for Japanese registered ships and Japanese crew as a means of precaution.