Throughout Japan, many small and medium-sized cities and tourist areas remain outside the high speed transportation network of Shinkansen lines and airports. The concept of a water airport network for seaplanes that we are promoting would provide high speed transportation to these small and medium-sized cities. As movements towards making seaplane transport a viable enterprise are now underway, it won't be long until seaplanes can be seen traversing Japan's skies and waters, both coastal areas and lakes.

The Shimoda Underwater Aquarium is located near the tip of Izu peninsula, with several sandy beaches along the coasts nearby. Through survey activities beginning in 1991 we now know that Loggerhead turtles spawn almost every year, a fact gradually coming to be recognized by local residents. However, because of this, we are also beginning to get glimpses of problems. There is a sense that local aquariums have a large role to play.

The plan of the Umi-no-Mori (Sea Forest) project is to transform the landfill of refuse and surplus soil known as "garbage mountain," that floats in Tokyo Bay, into a beautiful forest through the planting of tree saplings. Based on the concepts of a building a resource-circulating forest and collaboration through public participation, work is proceeding in hopes of a partial opening of the park in fiscal year 2016.