Comprehensive ocean policies are being called for to ensure the security of maritime spaces. While Japan and France are widely separated by the ocean, the two countries realize that they face the same global challenges and security issues and so should be able to respond to a variety of ocean problems within the context of their close relations. This article examines the enabling conditions towards a common comprehensive maritime initiative between Japan and France, taking into consideration the existing ocean policies of the two countries.
Selected Papers No.21(p.20)

Among Tokyo Metropolitan Oshima Kaiyo-kokusai High School's ocean education activities, of particular note are the opportunities for students to conduct practical research activities, work on projects with universities and other institutions, and take part in hands-on education about ship operations. The school places particular emphasis on such hands-on ship education, stating it is one of the pillars in cultivating the students' character, and its educational benefits have also been well received over the years. We believe the special environment on the training ships helps to strengthen these benefits, and that its combination with hands-on learning creates an inspirational experience for the students.

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum held the exhibition "Boatbuilders - The Ocean and Isobune Boats of the Sanriku Coast." At the museum, which introduces visitors to the skills and knowledge of "people" and the calming spirit of woodwork culture, we showcased "boatbuilders," focusing on the history and characteristics of boatbuilding and Japanese traditional boats from the perspective of tool development, so that visitors could gain comprehensive understanding of these experts. We saw this firsthand from the efforts of an American boatbuilder, who reconstructed an "isobune," or small fishing boat, from the quake-stricken Tohoku region. The exhibition gave us an opportunity to consider the importance of combining knowledge from different fields as well as focusing on the craftsman's perspective when thinking about the concept of living with the ocean.