Topographic data on shallow water areas is essential for coastal environmental prevention and disaster management, as well as for coastline conservation. Cooperating with coastal fishing communities, we were able to develop a low-cost method of monitoring regional nearshore bathymetry by collecting massive amounts of data concerning water depths and locations of the fishing vessels during their operations. Monitoring technology for coastal environments utilizing big data has great potential for the conservation of these areas.

In 2013, Matsushima Bay became the first bay in Japan to be inducted into the “Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club.” Three cities and three towns in the Matsushima Bay area and Miyagi Prefecture have used this as an opportunity to work together towards tourism revitalization. Nearly eight years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and under the Matsushima Bay “Wonderland” plan we are laying a foundation for initiatives in tourism revitalization and environmental conservation. In the future we hope to continue and improve our existing efforts for conserving the environment surrounding Matsushima Bay and revitalizing tourism in the area.

Hotelships refer to the use of cruise ships as accommodation facilities while they are temporarily anchored at ports. In June 2017 the Japanese government established the “Working Group for the Use of Cruise Ships as Hotels,” consisting of relevant government agencies, and made necessary reforms to existing systems as a measure to secure adequate numbers of accommodation facilities in Tokyo and its surrounding areas during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. There is hope that various uses of cruise ships will become a legacy of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.