Multifaceted Activities Ensuring Maritime Safety

The Japan Coast Guard (JCG), responsible for maritime safety and security in Japan, is drawing public attention through its wide range of activities.

Recently, on July 22, the Hitakatsu Coast Guard Station successfully rescued a sea turtle entangled in a large amount of drifting fishing net using its patrol vessel "Hayagumo," while also recovering the net, which posed a navigational hazard. Furthermore, the Kamaishi Coast Guard Office held a maritime safety class for children at Ofunato City Okkirai Elementary School ahead of the summer holidays, conducting practical safety awareness activities such as letting children experience how to react if they fall into the sea and simple rescue methods. The Toba Coast Guard Office also participated in the "Marlin Festival," conveying the importance of life jackets and attracting children's interest by opening up the vessel for tours, which are not usually available. The Fukuoka Coast Guard Office also set up a booth at the "Seaside Carnival," deepening community interaction by allowing children to wear uniforms and take photos.

The JCG also dedicates efforts to preventing maritime accidents, conducting swift maritime rescue operations daily, such as the case where a man who fell into the sea near the Takahashi River estuary while trying to retrieve his smartphone was rescued approximately four and a half hours later. Moreover, with the slogan "Let's preserve the blue ocean for the future," they are focusing on environmental education for children, using a kamishibai (picture-story show) called "Umigame Marine's Great Adventure" to address marine debris issues. Unique public relations activities, such as collaborative paper bags with 551 Horai, are also being developed to make the general public feel closer to the Japan Coast Guard.

On the Front Lines of Territorial Security

Meanwhile, the Japan Coast Guard continues to stand on the front lines of territorial defense in Japan's waters, particularly around the Senkaku Islands. Vessels of the China Coast Guard have been confirmed in the vicinity of the Senkaku Islands for a record 251 consecutive days, marking the longest continuous period since the Japanese government nationalized the islands in September 2012, indicating a deepening threat of territorial incursions. In response, calls have grown louder asserting that "the Senkaku Islands are an inherent territory of Japan," accompanied by numerous opinions expressing gratitude to JCG officers and demanding resolute action from the government, with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as its superior agency. In frontline areas like Ishigaki City, the role of supporting the Japan Coast Guard's activities is becoming increasingly crucial.

Organizational Debates and Challenges

The environment surrounding the Japan Coast Guard generates diverse expectations while also sparking various debates. In the past, the leak of non-public footage by a former JCG officer influenced the establishment of the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, prompting a re-examination of confidentiality obligations and information management. Furthermore, discussions are ongoing regarding the organization's image versus reality and the ethics of its officers, including criticisms that the popular drama "Umizaru" serves as JCG propaganda, and opposition from active members to statements made by former officers purporting to represent the feelings of Self-Defense Force personnel.

Vulnerability to drone attacks on critical infrastructure such as nuclear power plants is also being debated, with calls for stronger cooperation among the police, Japan Coast Guard, and Self-Defense Forces. Amidst extremely demanding missions, recruitment for JCG officers continues, and securing personnel remains an urgent challenge.

The Japan Coast Guard continues its daily activities across a wide range of fields, including rescue, environmental protection, and territorial defense, to maintain the safety and order of Japan, a maritime nation. Its importance is only growing, and public expectation and support will remain indispensable.

The Context

The Senkaku Islands (known as Diaoyu Islands in China and Tiaoyutai Islands in Taiwan) are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Japan claims sovereignty over them, administrating them as part of Okinawa Prefecture, while China and Taiwan also claim them. The dispute intensified after the Japanese government nationalized some of the islands in September 2012, leading to increased maritime patrols by both Japanese and Chinese vessels in the surrounding waters. The Japan Coast Guard is on the frontline of these patrols, facing continuous incursions by Chinese Coast Guard vessels into waters Japan considers its territorial sea, making territorial defense a critical and ongoing mission.