Ships that are below internationally accepted standards as well as substandard operators and flag States can cause serious harm to human life, the marine environment and the industry. Increasingly stronger steps are being taken to eliminate such ships particularly by major maritime countries in Europe and North America, and the EU. Can Japan, with 90% of its commercial fleet under open registries, remain unaffected, without any action?

Singapore, a country making the most of its huge hub port and still continuing its rapid economic growth. Learning from Singapore's success, Japan needs to rethink its priorities and create bold policy to revitalize its ports and shipping.
Selected Papers No.1(p.12)

Japan and Korea are very close, yet far apart, separated by the Japanese Sea that lies between them. The culture of appreciating blowfish, common to both countries but with different cooking and presentation styles, symbolizes the delicate relationship between the Japanese and Koreans. This relationship has been fermented by a history of human and cultural exchanges, many of which are very unhappy memories for the Korean people. The Sea of Japan has been the center stage through these exchanges, but despite the hard times that have existed between the two countries in the past, it shouldn't be understood as the sea that separates them, but as the sea that has linked, is linking and will link the two countries into the future.