Since its launch in October of 2008 the Japan Transport Safety Board has, along with its investigations into aircraft and railway accidents, carried out investigations into marine accidents that were formerly investigated by the Marine Accident Inquiry Agency. In the three years since its inception the Japan Transport Safety Board has made reports on 4,000 accidents (by year-end of 2011), including major accidents such as the sinking of fishing boats. In this article, using case studies, I would like to introduce the Safety Board's work in accident investigation.

With the advent of Korea's Arctic Initiative, I am convinced that the time has come for Japan also to carry out full scale Arctic research. Our progress in independent research is currently limited due to Japan's not having an Arctic research vessel with icebreaking capabilities. It is a cause for some concern, that for lack of an Arctic region icebreaking ship Japan might fall behind the rest of the world in Arctic research.

Muroto Geopark, which was granted membership in the Global Geoparks Network in 2011, is a place for thinking about the relationship between humans and nature. By making use of a variety of geological environments that formed due to subduction of an oceanic plate, Muroto has been flexible in making changes to its fisheries in accordance with changes in its social conditions. Traditionally, the ocean has been used to achieve self-sufficiency. Based on this historical relationship between humans and nature, we must seek a way for our local community to exist sustainably in the future.
Selected Papers No.16