What kind of approach is necessary in order to use the ocean, a shared resource for those of us living on planet Earth, in sustainable ways in the future? Based on such an awareness of the issue, The Engineering Academy of Japan prepared an Ocean Terroir proposal in March 2021. This article examines the “Sea of Fertility”, a future vision for the ocean based on the proposal’s underlying philosophy, and also introduces approaches for developing the technology needed for creating high added value as mankind endeavors to coexist sustainably with nature.
Selected Papers No.27

In the transition to zero emissions for vessels employed in international shipping, developing technology for new marine engines and their fuel, as well as for reducing hull resistance is an issue of utmost importance. At the same time, it is imperative to respond to international environmental regulations, establish an infrastructure for supplying new fuels, determine future transport demand, investigate financing prospects, and ensure the steady growth of stakeholders in the shipping economy. The shipbuilding industry must conduct comprehensive and future-oriented examinations from the viewpoints of both technology and the economy, and through demonstrating this, combine forces with maritime clusters to propose and provide vessel systems optimized for the transition to zero-emission international shipping.

The Tango region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Here, traces of human interactions mediated by the sea can be found everywhere. Many excavated artifacts which can be considered as evidence for this have been discovered in ancient ruins and burial mounds. Such traces aren’t limited to things from ancient times, nor to physical objects. Even as eras change, it is possible to also find those traces in tales and festivals related to Shinto and Buddhism. I would like to introduce some examples of that here.