The relief activities of the U.S. armed forces in the immediate aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami were carried out with a high level of competence, allowing many Japanese to see another aspect of their mission here and re-appraise the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. At the same time, it clearly demonstrated to neighboring countries the mutual confidence in the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty arrangements and the capabilities of forward deployed American forces.

Kuroshio is the world's largest ocean current. As the energy potential from its strength and temperature differentials is enormous and these are relatively constant and steady year round, it is a leading candidate as renewable energy resources. This article introduces a compound electrical power generation plan that makes use of the energy of the Kuroshio current.

With the world's sixth largest Exclusive Economic Zone, ocean development is of great importance for Japan. As ocean space is characterized by severe dynamics, its development requires research, including on peripheral technologies. Along with its research into ocean development, including floating platforms, seabed resource development, and floating wind turbine systems, the National Maritime Research Institute is also developing technologies for marine environment conservation, in which it hopes to make international contributions.