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From Monday, April 28 to Sunday, May 4, the event highlighted the charm of the Seto Inland Sea, a multi-island sea, from various perspectives and explored through lectures and workshops what should be done to pass on a rich ocean to the future.
Nature Positive and Nature Coexistence Sites in Osaka Bay
On Monday, April 28 at 1:00 PM, a lecture was held in collaboration with the Kinki Regional Environment Office of the Ministry of the Environment, focusing on the keywords ‘Nature Positive’ and ‘Nature Coexistence Sites.’ ‘Nature Positive’ is an international goal aimed at halting biodiversity loss and putting it on a recovery trajectory. The Ministry of the Environment has designated areas where biodiversity is being conserved through private initiatives as ‘Nature Coexistence Sites,’ and introduced the ‘NPO Osaka Bay Coastal Area Environmental Creation Research Center,’ ‘Kansai Airports Co., Ltd.,’ and ‘Shinjo Fisheries Cooperative’ conducting conservation activities in the coastal areas of Osaka Bay. The presentation was made with the hope that residents of the Kansai region would recognize and take an interest in the environmental conservation activities being conducted nearby.
Setouchi Millennium Boat Journey Story
On Monday, April 28 at 3:00 PM, a talk session was held on the charm of the Seto Inland Sea, which has long developed as a ‘sea route.’ The speakers included Mr. Hiroshi Sakamoto, Executive Director of the Setouchi Tourism Promotion Organization, Mr. Yukio Shintani, President of Creation Co., Ltd., and Mr. Nigel Beatty, Founder and President of the SYL Group and Chairman of the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association (APSA), all specialists in boat travel. The session was moderated by Ms. Chizuko Konishi, President of SETOUCHI SEAWIND Co., Ltd., a publisher that has toured the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The talk session focused on ‘boats,’ introducing boat journeys from the past, present, and future. The discussion covered the evolution of boat journeys from the time of the Kentoshi ships to the end of the Edo period, the charm of the Seto Inland Sea from an external perspective, and prospects for new boat journeys around the Seto Inland Sea by superyacht.
Challenge of Regional Revitalization through Food: Setouchi’s Special Oysters
On Tuesday, April 29 at 1:00 PM, Mr. Kazuhira Fujii, President of Yuwa Fisheries, his son Mr. Hayato Fujii, and Mr. Koichi Sakamoto of Mizube Co., Ltd. gave a lecture on the theme of regional revitalization through food, focusing on initiatives being carried out on Kitagi Island, a remote island in Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture. Yuwa Fisheries is challenging regional revitalization through oysters and participated in ‘Gulfood 2024,’ one of the world’s leading food events held in Dubai in 2024. They succeeded in promoting Kitagi Island’s oysters to the world by winning the Grand Prix in the frozen/refrigerated category. However, when considering the future of the Seto Inland Sea 50 years from now, they realized that the deterioration of the marine environment and the decline in fish catches are already progressing, and felt the need for initiatives to ‘nurture’ the sea. It was conveyed that they are working with local schools and private companies, including Mizube Co., Ltd., to engage in activities to ‘nurture’ the sea together with the community and promote sustainable fisheries.
The Sanctuary of Sea Turtles: Hiwasa (Tokushima) – Its History and Legacy
On Tuesday, April 29 at 3:00 PM, a talk event was held with Mr. Keisho Matsuzawa, President of the Japan Sea Turtle Association and Director of the Shikoku Aquarium, and Mr. Koichi Hirate, Director of the Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum Caretta. They discussed in detail why there is a museum specializing in sea turtles at Hiwasa Ohama Beach in Minami Town, Tokushima Prefecture, and why it is called a sanctuary for sea turtles. Towards the end of the event, it was announced that the number of sea turtle nests in Tokushima Prefecture is significantly decreasing, threatening the survival of the ‘sanctuary for sea turtles.’ Research results suggest that nesting sites are likely being shifted from Tokushima to Wakayama, and the combination of widespread LED lighting and the tendency for ‘haze’ to form over Ohama Beach has been identified as causing ‘light pollution,’ making the sky too bright for sea turtles. The talk event concluded with the expression of a desire to implement measures to reduce light pollution, such as lowering the brightness of streetlights and installing cut-off louvers on lighting, to ensure that the ‘sanctuary for sea turtles’ continues into the future.
The Life of Satoumi and Human Endeavors: The Island of Etajima Surrounded by the Condensed Satoumi of the Seto Inland Sea
On Wednesday, April 30, lectures were held on the diverse life and human activities in the rich satoumi of Etajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, with the keywords ‘individuality’ and ‘connection,’ divided into three sessions: ‘Life,’ ‘Technology,’ and ‘Environmental Issues.’
In the ‘Life’ session, Mr. Naohisa Nishihara, Director of the Satoumi Science Museum, explained the biodiversity of the Seto Inland Sea, focusing on the natural environment of Etajima and species such as the horseshoe crab and the white-clawed fiddler crab.
In the ‘Technology’ session, nu. Co., Ltd., with technical cooperation from the Tazumi Laboratory at Kansai University, presented a video that allows viewers to experience the life rhythm of the white-clawed fiddler crab using AI and sensors, and a hands-on workshop by artist Minako Itai was conducted. On the theme of ‘Environmental Issues,’ the general incorporated association Fudo presented on the issue of marine debris, such as plastic waste, washing ashore. They introduced their activities addressing environmental issues, such as the ‘Sea Garbage Yokai’ project, which likens marine debris to mythical creatures.
From Setouchi to SETOUCHI
On Thursday, May 1st, key figures from the Kansai Economic Association, the Shikoku Economic Community, and the government took the stage to discuss how to realize the “Setouchi of the World.”
In the first half, Mr. Shinya Mori, Deputy Director of the Kansai Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Mr. Yoshiyuki Yamatani, President of Kansai Airports Co., Ltd., Mr. Hayato Saeki, Special Advisor of Shikoku Electric Power Co., Ltd., and Mr. Masato Takekura, President of Takekura Co., Ltd., made proposals for the promotion of tourism in Setouchi. In the latter half, a panel discussion will be held by Mr. Mori, Mr. Yamatani, Mr. Saeki, and Mr. Namba. They discussed what is needed to develop a golden sea route connecting Osaka Bay to Setouchi and to brand Setouchi as a new area.
The Charm of the Setouchi Area Viewed from the Sea ~Creating the Future Together with the Community~
On Sunday, May 4th, a talk session will be held with Mr. Manabu Goto, Deputy Director of the Regional Coexistence Department of the Regional Town Development Headquarters of West Japan Railway Company, and Mr. Norikazu Kawabuchi, Executive Director of Setouchi Sea Line Co., Ltd. We introduced the high-speed sightseeing cruiser “Sea Spica,” which creates a new tour route in the Setouchi area, the ferry “Sea Paseo,” designed with the theme of “Everyone’s Park to Enjoy Traveling in the Seto Inland Sea,” and the sightseeing train “”Etcetera,”” which runs leisurely between Hiroshima and Fukuyama, allowing passengers to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. Additionally, the website of the “Setouchi Palette Project,” operated by JR West, was introduced as a tool to easily enjoy the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. It was reported that the footage captured by the 360-degree panoramic camera from “”Sea Spica”” can be viewed on smartphones and computers.
▼The event is currently available on YouTube on the ‘BLUE OCEAN DOME Official Channel’. Please visit the site.
【#013】 Nature Positive and Nature Coexistence Site in Osaka Bay (ZERI JAPAN/Kinki Regional Environment Office)
【#014】 Setouchi Millennium Boat Journey Story (ZERI JAPAN)
【#015】 Challenge of Regional Revitalization through Food: Setouchi’s Special Oysters (ZERI JAPAN/Yuwa Fisheries)
【#016】 Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum Caretta (Minami Town))
【#017】 Satoumi’s life and human work – Etajima, an island surrounded by a satoumi sea that condenses the Seto Inland Sea (ZERI JAPAN/Satoumi Science Museum, nu. Inc./Kansai University, Fudo General Incorporated Association)
【#018】 From Setouchi to SETOUCHI (ZERI JAPAN/Kansai Economic Association)
【#020】The charm of the Setouchi area seen from the sea – Creating a future together with the region (ZERI JAPAN/West Japan Railway Company, Setonaikai Kisen Co., Ltd.)