A new tide of affairs began about three years ago. Japan's maritime industries and relevant ministries are working to acquire growing market in the development and transportation of undersea energy. MLIT is supporting technological development and project development, which are seen as keys to market entry. Initiatives towards gaining new market are also expected to have a multiplier effect on existing maritime industries, leading to projects by Japanese companies in the development of resources and energy in Japan's EEZ.

Remote islands play diverse roles for the nation and its people, such as securing territory and conserving the oceans. In view of this, support measures need to be implemented under state responsibility for people to continue living freely on remote islands. However, because each remote island has hugely differing targets and basic conditions for development, a scheme like a "Remote Island Special Zone System Eshould be introduced to individually address the characteristics of each island.
Selected Papers No.18

The deep sea probe Edokko1.jp is an industry-government-academia-financial sector joint project aimed at revitalizing small urban factories in Tokyo. Industry is represented by the small and medium-sized companies that rose up to make the dream come true; government by the ocean specialists at the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology; academia by those at Shibaura Institute of Technology and Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, who do research and provide analytical support; and the financial sector by the Tokyo Higashi Shinkin Bank, which not only manages the budget but oversees the total technological efforts. Progress to date has been made possible by assistance from the government, academia, and the financial sector, offsetting weaknesses among the small and medium-sized companies.