Ocean Newsletter
No.404 June 5, 2017
-
Efforts towards Commercialization of Methane Hydrate in Sandy Sediments Offshore Japan
Masanori ABE
Director and General Manager of Planning Department, Japan Methane Hydrate Operating Co., Ltd.Research development has been steadily carried out for the future commercialization of methane hydrate in sandy sediments. While the second offshore production test has been started since April 2017 in Japan, many issues still remain. Going forward, it will be essential to implement offshore production tests on gradually larger scales. -
An Experimental Project to Reenact a Great Sea Voyage of 30,000 Years Ago
Yosuke KAIFUHead of the Division of Human Evolution, Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Nature and Science
Recent research has revealed that the first people to live on the Japanese archipelago arrived more than 30,000 years ago after an ocean crossing. In order to uncover the mystery surrounding our ancestors' journey across the ocean, we used funds obtained from crowdfunding to start a project integrating science and adventure. In 2016, we carried out a test crossing of reed boats near Yonaguni Island. This year, we moved our activities to Taiwan, and have continued to make experimental crossings, testing the possibilities of bamboo boat and wooden canoe. In 2019, we hope to reach our ultimate goal: to reenact a great ocean crossing from Taiwan to Yonaguni Island, passing through the Kuroshio current.
-
"Real Strength" is What Makes Children's Eyes Shine —The Japan Fisheries Association's "Fish Studies Class" to promote a fish diet—
Masahiro KAIFish Diet Promotion Center, Japan Fisheries Association
The Japan Fisheries Association began its "Fisheries Studies Class" in 2005, aimed at elementary school students. In recent years, we have carried out the "Fisheries Studies Class" each year at from several to more than 10 schools, mainly located in the Kanto region, combining activities such as seminars on fish, touch like fish small pools, simulated pole and line fishing experiences with model bonito, and fish cooking classes (on request) aimed at PTA members. Using the students' class time for such activities to promote a fish diet, we hope that through becoming familiar with the ocean and fish, both the students and their parents will learn to enjoy eating fish.