NYK sponsored a booth that introduced oceangoing ships and the appeal of the seafaring life to children at the summer 2023 “Manabi no Fes” (Festival of Learning) held on August 23 at Jissen Women’s University in Tokyo. Young marine officers and engineers from NYK introduced the work of ships and sailors through hands-on activities.

On the day of the event, after a presentation about oceans and ships, the children operated a ship-handling simulator with marine officers and disassembled and assembled a small engine model with engineers. Using the ship-handling simulator, they piloted a small boat in Tokyo Bay. The young navigators commented, "It was difficult to change the ship's course" and "It was interesting to be able to maneuver the ship in night and storm settings." In the small engine model disassembly and assembly experience, participants used tools found on ships to open the engines. Comments included "I enjoyed disassembling the engine models using tools" and "I enjoyed having access to a variety of tools."

At the end of the NYK event, children interacted with the J-Crew Project’s* mascots and could elect to be photographed.

In addition, commemorative gifts were distributed, including a sun visor, a drill that children can use in a fun way to learn about ocean shipping and the work of seafarers, and clear files.

This event has been held in the spring and summer since 2014 to allow companies and organizations to give children hands-on experience with jobs in industries they are rarely exposed to. Approximately 2,000 elementary school students and their parents participated on the day of the event, taking part in activities at the booths of 31 companies and organizations.

While demand for seafarers has been increasing in the global ocean shipping industry in recent years, the work of seafarers is not well known among young people in Japan. Therefore, NYK has been providing opportunities to the public to become more familiar with ships through the Mirai Project so that the seafaring profession will gradually see greater interest. Participation in this event is part of such efforts. We will continue our activities through the Mirai Project to encourage children to become more interested.

*J-Crew Project
A project launched by the All Japan Seamen’s Union (JSU) and the International Mariners Management Association of Japan (IMMAJ) to communicate the appeal of seafarers to young people and to help recruit and train Japanese oceangoing seafarers (see https://j-crewproject.jp/about/ (Japanese)).

On March 10, 2023, the NYK Group released its medium-term management plan “Sail Green, Drive Transformations 2026 — A Passion for Planetary Wellbeing.” The NYK Group is promoting growth strategies with ESG at the core, based on the Group’s mission statement of “Bringing value to life” and a new corporate vision for 2030, which reads, “we go beyond the scope of a comprehensive global logistics enterprise to co-create value required for the future by advancing our core business and growing new ones.”