Experience traveling overseas on Tokai University's Research and Training Vessel “Bosei Maru”
Tokai University’s Overseas Educational Cruise is a unique educational program, which allows students to visit overseas nations on a research and training ship, the Bosei Maru, owned by Tokai University. Its goal is to provide students with an opportunity to learn the importance of cultural differences, environmental issues and cooperation by experiencing firsthand, international communication through overseas cruising and living aboard a ship with their peers.
To recruit participants for the program, Tokai University solicits application submissions each fall from interested students of Tokai University, Tokai University Junior College, Tokai University Junior College of Nursing and Technology, as well as Tokai University Fukuoka Junior College and narrows the field eligible for interviews. About 2950 students have participated in the program since the first cruise in 1968.
Including the around-the-world cruise conducted in 1996, the program’s former destinations include Hawaii, Australia, Shanghai and various nations in the South Pacific, totaling 68 destinations where international exchange has been conducted with Universities and public organizations. Students take courses and engage in research of destinations in addition to participating in various club activities that are conducted during their stay on the ship.
The Tokai University Overseas Educational Cruise is designed to expand students’ field of vision by giving them the opportunity to experience the culture and society of foreign countries. The program’s goal is the cultivation of life values, an expansion of the worldview of each student, by allowing them to experience the ever-changing condition of the limitless sea and enabling them to develop a rich personality through the challenging environment of the ship.
The 40th Overseas Educational Cruise - 2009
Here we would like to introduce the 40th Overseas Educational Cruise which took place in February and March, 2009.
Departure Ceremony
The 40th Overseas Educational Cruise of Tokai University got its start on the sunny day of Sunday, February 15th, departing from the Shimizu Port in Shizuoka prefecture. It felt, on that day, like spring had just arrived. The Overseas Educational Cruise program, building on its beginnings in 1968, has since its inception, attracted numerous participants.
Emergency Aid Training
Emergency Aid Training involves the acquisition of knowledge about the use of AED devices that were recently installed in various locations, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic treatment of external injuries and other common emergency aid tasks. The usefulness of this knowledge is not limited to application during the overseas cruise, but also can be useful in everyday life.
Onboard courses
Onboard courses are offered a total of 13 times on the ship during the cruise. Each course is 30-40 minutes long and is taught by teachers, officers or other members of the ship, each specializing in their areas of expertise. The content of the courses range widely from a talk on the features of the Bosei Maru and an overview of the geographic location of the ship by the captain and sailors, to medicine and art.
Anchorage Port Pohnpei
After a week of living on the ship, the first anchorage port was Pohnpei. The first day was spent conducting group activities. Each group participated in a different set of activities such as going on an excursion of Liduduhiap Waterfall, snorkeling in the sea, and shopping.
On the second day, everyone boarded local school buses and departed to the ruined city of Nan Madol. After the excursion, students had lunch. In the afternoon, they each engaged in group studies based on a plan that each group proposed. During this time students not only conversed in English, but also communicated with locals using the basic vocabulary of the local language that they acquired during their preliminary studies about the port. On the last day, they left the Pohnpei city. 94 students all in good health, stood on the deck and manned the yards, a custom required before leaving the port. It appeared as though the bond between the students had grown deeper after two days of group studies in Pohnpei.
Equatorial Festival
The first onboard event of the Overseas Cruise, the Equatorial Festival, was conducted. This is a festival that students spent many days planning. Many rehearsals were conducted in the morning with the actual event to follow in the afternoon. The festival started under the burning sun with the captain’s greetings speech. Student and cadet teams enjoyed a play that celebrated the passing of the equator and games on the back deck of the ship. The Musical Club also demonstrated the results of their practice. The passing of the equator happened soon after the start of the second part of the festival, which followed a dinner that was served after the first part. Students participated in a countdown that took place in the cafeteria by keeping their eyes on a timer on the screen. The equator was passed on the sea at 6:32 pm at 167 degrees and 30 minutes of east longitude. Everyone received a certificate of passing that only those who have passed the equator can receive. Everyone was filled with happiness.
Anchorage Port Funafuti
On the 16th day of the cruise, Bosei Maru arrived at the international port of Funafuti of the atoll island country of Tuvalu. As this was the second anchorage port of the cruise after Pohnpei, the students stepped onto the ground with confidence. They were able to experience the life of this island nation by taking an excursion of the houses surrounding the main road, cemetery and other locations. At the same time, they witnessed what the media had been reporting about Tuvalu’s serious waste disposal problems. In the evening, cruise members watched a national Funafuti dance performance, danced and sang together with locals and enjoyed a cultural exchange at the gathering hall called Maneapa. For the second time, students participated in group activities under the blue sky. They spent a few precious hours sightseeing on the island and swimming in the ocean. With these pleasant memories and a better understanding of the environmental issues that they learned of during their preliminary research, they departed Funafuti in the afternoon.
Anchorage Port Vila
Students entered the third port, Port Vila, in the Republic of Vanuatu. Unlike places that they visited before, Vanuatu seemed like a tropical resort. After an excursion to a national history museum, a national village, and a coffee factory, students visited the University of the South Pacific. After a welcome speech by the Director of International Affairs of the University, the cruise leader and two students made a speech in English. After that, they participated in a commemorating tree planting ceremony and took photographs in front of it. They also saw a tree that was planted by cruise members during their visit 4 years ago, which had grown very healthily. They attached a commemoration plate to this tree.
On the second day, the students, together with accompanying teachers and staff members, went on optional tours. The optional tours included visits to Hideaway Island and Cascade and Benjor Beach Resort. Those students who did not participate in tours formed groups of 3 and went on sightseeing trips of the city. On the last day, students busily prepared for the next port of visit and onboard party, exchanged photos taken on and off the ship, and did woodcraft using coconut shell.
Anchorage Port Noumea
Arrival at the fourth port, Noumea. After everyone's visit to La Fol Hill, an aquarium, and Mount Ouen Toro, it was time for group projects. Upon returning to the ship, everyone prepared for the onboard party that was going to take place the next day. The practice of the Soran Bushi dance, a key part of the program, was almost complete and everything was advancing smoothly.
On the second day, members visited The University of New Caledonia where they deepened their friendships by taking part in a tree planting ceremony, playing tug-of-war, and participating in a quiz game with the university students. That evening, the onboard friendship exchange party took place. This was the time to show off the results of many days of practice that the students endured for the event. The event went smoothly above all expectations and culminated with a touching scene of guests dancing Soran Bushi dance with cruise members on the deck.
On the last day, students and accompanying faculty and staff members split into two groups. The first group went to the Riviere Bleue National Park and engaged in trekking and cycling in the tropical forest. The second group went on a cruise of the Amedee Lighthouse. Students who did not participate in either one went on a final excursion of the city and enjoyed local food and shopping.
On board Club Activities
One form of entertainment on the ship is the club activity. Students form groups based on their interests and hobbies. There are many different clubs such as: “Editing videos and photos taken during the cruise using a computer,” “Enjoying Movies, Music and Dance Club,” “Fitness Club to overcome lack of exercise during the long cruise,” “Making an encyclopedia of wildlife from the South Hemisphere,” “Studying Constellations,” and others.
Sports Festival
The sports festival took place on the day of the second passing of the equator. The festival started after an opening speech by the cruise leader and an oath by two students. After a warm-up exercise, students made a circle and danced a folk dance. Competition then commenced between 8 teams comprised of students, cadets, and faculty and staff members. Competitions included tamaire, a ball-carrying relay (participants have to carry a water balloon on a table tennis paddle), pushcarts, tug-of-war and other games. One of the most enjoyed games was tug-of-war between the student team and the team of Bosei Maru officers, faculty and staff members. During the festival, team members united and fought to win. After dinner, a party under the beautiful starry skies was held on the back deck. Everyone enjoyed conversations with a drink in hand while listening to a performance by the music club. In the end, there was an astronomical observation session where everyone was dazzled by a view of the Southern Cross that can only be seen in the South Hemisphere.
Anchorage Port Kosrae
Entered the final anchor point - the port of Kosrae. Just like the first anchor point, Kosrae is one of the islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. Pohnpei has a lively capital city atmosphere with many tourists, but in Kosrae, students were able to witness the everyday life of island locals. Nearing the end of the cruise, personal relationships that were uncomfortable in the beginning had vastly improved with students finding those who understand them, those who support them, those who give them advice, and those who offer them a different perspective on things and allow them to grow.
On the second day, students spent time swimming on a private beach, Phoenix, playing beach volleyball and Sepak Takraw, and chatting. The 6 students who visited the mayor of Kosrae also returned and enjoyed their time with others on the beach. At around 1pm, they departed. The next stop would be Shimizu.
Onboard Graduation Ceremony
In Japan, it is common to have the start of new academic year in April with a graduation ceremony taking place the following March. The graduation of around 5700 students at the Shonan Campus took place on the same day that the graduation ceremony was held aboard the Bosei Maru. The ceremony involved students from different schools and departments, and although their numbers were limited, the ceremony was very impressive with a view of the vast sea. The ceremony ended when the sun was still shining brightly. At night, a farewell party for graduates took place. Cadets were all invited, and welcomed the graduates with laughter and tears. It was an eventful day, with many students saying in the end that they would also like to have their graduation ceremony on the ship.
Farewell Party
Around 6:30PM, a farewell party by the students, cadets and officers of Bosei Maru, and accompanying faculty and staff members started. The captain opened the party with a speech and led everyone in a strong “Cheers!” Following his speech, others followed. Partygoers were also treated with the appearance of a surprise dressed up singer and a performance by the music club. After that everyone sang an island song (shima-uta) together. Some students had tears in their eyes, but all had an expression of contentment, that they had accomplished something great.
The 40th Overseas Educational Cruise Returning Ceremony
The 40th Tokai University Overseas Educational Cruise returned to the Shimizu Port on Sunday, March 29th after a 43 day long cruise on the Pacific Ocean. A welcoming ceremony was held at the Shimizu Marine Building in Shimizu Port. In the presence of many family members and friends, group leader Nobutaka Kutsuzawa, captain of Bosei Maru Takashi Kawachi and student leader Yoko Arai reported on the results of the cruise and returned the school flag to President Tatsuro Matsumae. The ceremony concluded with the students being awarded with cruise completion certificates.
