During three years since the adoption of the Basic Act on Ocean Policy, the public became keenly aware of the importance of ocean policy due to an increased interest in marine resources and environmental problems, the North Korean spy ship incident, and the Chinese fishing vessel issue. However, as in the past, it cannot be said that current conditions are conducive to the creation of a responsive ocean policy and the obtaining of sufficient budget allocations. In order to comprehensively promote ocean policy, it needs to further strengthen relevant government structures.

The "Senkaku Islands problem Eis a problem of Japan's national strategy, in the sense of how Japan should deal with China's ocean and foreign policy strategies. It is clear that Japan will not be able to deal with this problem merely by reacting to circumstances and giving leeway to China, as it has until now. Instead, Japan has to think not only how to defend the Senkaku Islands, but also how to deal with China's ocean and foreign strategies, and, by extension, China itself as a great power.
Selected Papers No.14(p.22)

Research on the ocean is both broad and deep. Formative experiences in the ocean can be a major motivation for future interest. My formative ocean experience was in the Akashi Straits. There I learned of ocean currents and that there are such things as rapids. In this age, when it is becoming more and more difficult to have formative ocean experiences, my hope is that studies conveying the richness, wonder, and value of the oceans will increase appreciation of ocean science.