One of the first sailors in Asia to sign up for Summer Sailstice was circumnavigator Yoh Aoki who runs the Aoki sailing school in Japan and can help you earn the pictured Japanese boating license. Yoh circumnavigated in his own, home-built 21' plywood sailboat in 1972! We know he and all is fellow Japanese sailors will help support the goals of Sailors for the Sea.
Here's the complete story from Sailors for the Sea on their new affiliation:
Newport, Rhode Island - January 30, 2012 - Sailors for the Sea, the only ocean conservation nonprofit focused on the sailing and boating community, is proud to announce its first overseas affiliate office in Yokohama, Japan. On November 8, 2011, Sailors for the Sea Chairman David Rockefeller, Jr. signed the agreement allowing its affiliate - official name is "Sailors for the Sea/Japan" - to extend the mission, vision and programs of Sailors for the Sea/US to Japan. Also present at the signing at a Tokyo meeting for Sailors for the Sea/Japan was its new Chairman, Ryu Matsumoto, a member of the Japanese Diet and a former Minister of the Environment.
Minako Iue of Kyoto, Japan will serve as the Vice Chair of Sailors for the Sea/Japan and will perform the role of Senior Operating Officer. Ms. Iue organized a gala celebration ceremony following the signing at the Hotel Seiyo Ginza in the heart of Tokyo's commercial district. Others in attendance included: Takeshi Maeda, Transportation Minister who is also responsible for ocean health; Seiji Tsutsumi, founder of Seibu Saison Group; his brother and Chairman of Yokohama Grand InterContinental Hotel,Yuji Tsutsumi ; and Hirobumi Kawano, Chairman of Japan Sailing Federation.
Sailors for the Sea/Japan - Origin and Mission
Following a meeting between Minister Matsumoto and Mr. Rockefeller in New York City in the fall of 2010, the idea of a Japanese affiliate for Sailors for the Sea was first raised. In spite of the terrible impact of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in Northeast Japan, the Advisory Group to Sailors for the Sea/Japan decided to proceed with the plan to form a Yokohama affiliate.
Yokohama was chosen as the home office for Sailors for the Sea/Japan because of the great initial support from the Yokohama Grand InterContinental Hotel and their Chairman Yuji Tsutsumi , as well as the city's importance as an international seaport.
"Japan is a rising power in the sailing world, having placed several entries in America's Cup competition, the Olympics, and other notable international sailing championships," said David Rockefeller, Jr. "In addition, Japan as an island itself has a very large Exclusive Economic Zone (out to 200 miles from shore) in which fishing and mineral rights are carefully controlled. The ocean is extremely important to Japan's economy, and ocean protection and conservation of great significance to the country's government. It is only fitting that our first overseas affiliate office would be based in Japan."
Sailors for the Sea/Japan hopes to form an initial supporting membership of at least 50 prominent sailors and other Japanese dignitaries. In addition to its responsibility for translating into Japanese all Sailors for the Sea materials produced by the home office in Newport, Rhode Island, the affiliate organization has pledged support to the Newport office. Chairman Rockefeller expects to pay visits to the Yokohama office at least once every other year.
The mission of Sailors for the Sea/Japan mirrors that of Sailors for the Sea/US - to educate and engage the boating community in the worldwide protection of the oceans. Both organizations recognize the importance of ocean health to our planet. It is this acknowledgement of the fragility of the ocean that motivates both organizations to:
serve as primary resources for helping boaters to protect the ocean environment
inspire boaters to become environmental stewards
encourage citizens to join in support of programs that help improve the health of the oceans and local waters worldwide
Sailors for the Sea/Japan also plans to focus energy on the youth of Japan, including but not limited to promising young sailors.
Sailors for the Sea/Japan Advisory Board and Committee Members
Founding members of the Sailors for the Sea/Japan advisory board include:
Honorary Chairman, Mr. David Rockefeller, Jr.
Chairman, Mr. Ryu Matsumoto, Member of Diet, former Minister of Environment
Vice Chair, Ms. Minako Iue, Founder, Iue International Co., Ltd.
Executive Advisor, Mr. Hirobumi Kawano, Chairman of Japan Sailing Federation
Committee Members are as follows:
Mr. Kusuo Oshima, Member of Diet
Mr. Atsushi Aoyama, Environment Committee Chair, Japan Sailing Federation
Mr. Azuma Umemura, President, Yokohama Grand Intercontinental Hotel
Mr. Toshio Furuta, Hayama Marina Committee, Lawyer
Ms. Maki Saito, Environmentalist, author, lecturer at Tokyo University
Mr. Keiichi Isono, Founder of Meidiya
Mr. Bunta Inoue, Artist Mr. Masakazu Kusakabe, PR Committee of Japanese Olympic Committee
Mr. Katsuya Hashiba, International Judge, International Sailing Federation
Mr. Yuzo Matsumoto, Chairman, Matsumotogumi Corporation
Mr. Ichiro Yokoyama, Yacht designer President, Marine Design System
Mr. Kiichi Sasaki, Chairman, Seiki Group
About Sailors for the Sea
Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers the boating community to protect and restore our oceans and local waters. For more information or to participate in any of the Sailors for the Sea programs, or to become a member and support the organization, visit www.sailorsforthesea.org.