ABSTRACT: Optimal ways of management around coastal areas are different in each area, because of their ecosystem and their culture. So, it is important to take the difference of the property in each areas into account when we manage coastal areas and we promote social communities. We investigated the structure of the interests around coastal areas in Notoro Lake , Yokohama Tokyo-bay , Osakikamishima Island in Hiroshima , Ishigakijima Island in Okinawa as typical objections to compare their structures. Each ecosystem services have regional difference, and there are some competitive relationship with other stakeholders in four areas. Many stakeholders used food supply service of the eelgrass beds in Notoro Lake area, and there are many stakeholders using various services of coral reef in Ishigakijima Island area. In addition, there are weak conflicts between stakeholders in Notoro Lake, because of the strong management regime by fisher mainly for fisheries resource conservation (spawning/nursery ground, sheltering). On the other hand, there are relatively strong conflicts between stakeholders in Ishigakijima Island because of using various services on large-scales (food supply services , cultural services , etc). We concluded the optimal ways of management around coastal areas are different.

ABSTRACT : The regional development of Okinawa has been regarded as an important issue among Isolated Islands Promotion policy in Japan. Even though the immigration is recognized as one of the effective means to promote the rural development, the conflicts also have been reported in Okinawan communities. Given such circumstances, it is urged to understand how local residents recognize their communities including both locals and immigrants, in order to promote the region’s development. This paper, therefore, aimed to capture the representation of community from the local residents’ perspective by utilizing the free answer questionnaire, and to suggest important factors for building social cohesion among them. Text data was collected in Shiraho village, Ishigaki, and content analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. As a result, we suggested the residents’ representation of community as follows: ideal community keeps developing the “living/natural environment” and “culture/tradition”, being well supported by the “local governance capacity” and “social relationships”. Based on the results, the factors for growing social cohesion among residents in Okinawan communities was discussed.

ABSTRACT: The improvement works of the coastal protection structures in the port areas requires considerate plans that take into account the existing structure, of which some parts be reused while other parts be demolished and rebuilt. It also needs to take into account the many constraints, both on the front (sea) and at the back (land) sides, in the design stage as well as the work execution stage. Thus the design and the work execution of the improvement works needs to be tailored according to the conditions of each and every case. In this study, we have conducted three case studies focusing on the improvement works of the coastal protection structures. In each case study, we have set up the detail conditions or assumptions on the following points: 1) constraints; 2) performance verification; 3) setting of the design cross sections; and 4) construction techniques taking into account the design constraints. As for the three case studies on the improvement works, we have chosen: height raising of the existing structures; the landside sand and soil suction prevention works behind the revetment; and the total replacement with new structures after the removal of the existing structures. This paper summarizes the key points derived from those case studies.

ABSTRACT : Several types of oscillating water column (OWC) type wave energy converters (WECs) are researched and developed in the world. They are floating types and fixed types. In case of a fixed type, wave dissipating caissons could be replaced to WECs of an OWC type. On OWC types, installation of the projecting-walls (PWs) is useful in order to improve PTO performance. In this study, it was considered that a double dissipating caisson was used as an OWC type WEC with PWs. A front caisson of the double caisson seems the area surrounded by PWs and a back caisson can be seen as an OWC. The paper studied basic property of the primary conversion from wave power to power of air with model tests in a wave tank. As a result, wave height strongly effects on behaviors of OWC motion as well as air pressure. Finally, the primary conversion and PTO performance was affected by wave height. Besides, the concept of use of a double caisson was useful from PTO performance estimated.

ABSTRACT : This paper aims to discuss the economic advantage/disadvantage of using oversea transshipment. We develop the aggregated Logit type shippers’ route choice model using MLIT’s survey data. Applying the model and then our results show that the total utility of Japanese shippers decreased from 2008 to 2013 with the decrease of direct call from Japan. Through the sensitivity analysis, we can say that reducing the oversea transshipment is useful for Japanese shippers in terms of reducing the additional cost relating to the oversea transshipment, but, on the other hand, it is very difficult to obtain the level of service that Port of Busan provides due to the high cost for improvement.

ABSTRACT : We developed a route selection model of Japanese international maritime container cargo flow by using sacrifice model. This model can estimate the impact on container cargo flow by the Panama Canal expansion, enlargement of container ships, and improvement in domestic transportation. It reproduces the volume of port cargo precisely although some portions of the model require further improvement. And by using this model, we estimated the impact on container cargo flow exported to North America by enlargement of container ships.

ABSTRACT : A method for the quantitative assessment of marine spiritual benefits was developed by treating marine power providing spiritual benefits as Shinto deities. Using this method the amount of modern marine spiritual benefits was compared between the Osaka Bay basin and the Tokyo Bay basin. Marine-associated Shinto shrines were selected using three indicators (holding or not holding Shinto rituals and festivals in relation to sea, the kind of Shinto deities, and the shortest distance between a main shrine and a marine shoreline). The quantity of marine spiritual benefits acquired by visitors to a Shinto shrine was determined by calculating the product of the degrees of proximity between sea and a Shinto shrine, and the number of people visiting a Shinto shrine during the first three days of the New Year (which would indicate an abundance of Shinto shrine users). As a result of analyzing Shinto shrines using this method, the quantity of marine spiritual benefits acquired in a marine-associated Shinto shrine was found to be higher in the Osaka bay basin. The total quantity of marine spiritual benefits per basin is considered to vary with 1) the presence of an influential Shinto shrine and its contributions to a place that many people have connected to sea for many centuries and 2) the conditions of sea and surrounding environments.

ABSTRACT : To continue the port logistic functions after large-scale tsunamis, the securing of work vessels for elimination of navigation obstacles and emergency restoration of port facilities is indispensable. The judgement of the usability of work vessels at disaster-stricken ports is the cornerstone for formation of work vessel convoys, because these vessels might be drifted. Based on this background, real-time monitoring system against drifting of work vessels was developed by using AIS data. AIS device of independence power supply type for unmanned work vessels was built, and warning system against drifting was developed. In addition, the expansion policy to remote monitoring system during normal operation was indicated.

ABSTRACT : If a large-scale tsunami disaster damages a wide area, there is a strong possibility that important functions of ports located in the area are not restored within a short time because of shortage of floating cranes and grab dredgers to clear flotsam at channels and basins of ports. In such a case, it is useful to transport important cargoes by using other ports. However, it is quite likely that a relatively small amount of flotsam appears at these ports. This paper discusses countermeasures against the flotsam.