Some shorelines are still struggling to escape from the oil pollution caused by the Russian tanker "Nakhodka" even though more than five years have passed. In this article, Japan's insufficient countermeasures are examined and a better system for dealing with an accident is proposed. Preventing the accident is essential. But accidents will happen. We have to accept this fact and be prepared with the countermeasures.
Selected Papers No.4(p.14)

Marine transportation by ships with high loading capacity, as a matter of course, is expected to have lower cost than land transportation like trucks, but it has been unrealizable. Reductions in total cost of shipping are needed. However, ports left behind in the feudalistic system, inhibit the streamlining of marine transportation. We should work on the modal shift towards the sea, integrating road administration, port administration and the administration of physical distribution.

The Maritime Self-Defense Forces have been carrying ocean voyages into effect continuously since 1957 for newly commissioned Self-Defense officials. The purpose of the ocean voyages is to instill a sense of seamanship in young officials through a broad range of training at sea, hoping that they will become international commanding officers and leaders after 10 or 20 years.