Climate change countermeasures are an urgent priority for international community. The large-scale adoption of renewable energy is essential for achieving goals towards decarbonization, and expectations towards offshore wind power are rising in Japan, a country surrounded by the ocean. In this article, I would like to outline the three goals of the “Vision for Offshore Wind Power Industry (1st),” which was announced in December 2020, as well as recommend perspectives that the public and private sectors should hold to realize these goals and accelerate the adoption of offshore wind power.

As population decline and population aging continues, the medical care issue of remote islands, where there is an increasing difficulty of permanently placing doctors, is shifting from a problem of “assigning doctors” to “methods of delivering medical care”. In Toba City, Mie Prefecture, medical care on Toba’s remote islands is being conducted virtually thanks to the introduction of a platform which supports remote medical services, a development I consider highly useful. As there are unforeseen situations such as the spread of infectious diseases, I hope that new styles of remote medical care will continue to be provided, allowing residents of remote islands to lead long lives in peace and comfort.
Selected Papers No.27(p.26)

Since 2016, Hokkaido University has been hosting the Treasures of the Sea Academic Contest, the heart of the Marine Learning Event. Presentational works from junior high and high school students all over Japan are put on display; these are based on their personal “Treasures of the Sea” in the two categories of culture and science. Winning works from the first round of selections in 4 different areas nationwide are invited to Hakodate, where the final competition will be held. Through their experience of the various events and the contest, we hope to develop individuals who will shoulder the future of the oceans.