YouTube

official x

Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

A department that integrates humanities and sciences, which can be taken by liberal arts students.
Meet students with the same aspirations,
I enjoy every day.

Yayu FujimotoFaculty of Marine Life Sciences, Department of Marine Policy and Culture, 4th year (at that time)

Q1. Why did you choose a department/faculty?
You can learn a wide range of fields related to the sea, and there is a lot of practical training.
When I was in high school, I lived near the ocean, and at that time I witnessed firsthand the current state of ocean pollution. Every time she went to the beach, she brought back trash that had washed ashore on the beach, and through these activities she became interested in issues related to the ocean, such as marine plastic issues. My preparatory school teacher introduced us to our university, and as I looked at various departments on the website, I learned about the sea, things I had always loved, such as marine sports and sea creatures, and things I had never touched before, such as the fishing industry and marine literature. I applied to the Department of Ocean Policy and Culture because I was attracted to the fact that I could learn a wide range of fields related to the field and that there was a lot of practical training.

Q2. What was the good thing about choosing this department/faculty?
There are many types of practical training, and you can discover new interests through hands-on experience.
The good thing about choosing this department is that there is a lot of practical training. There are various opportunities such as hands-on training in marine sports, training in marine education for elementary and junior high school students, training in visiting fishing ports and fishing villages to learn about fishing, and experiments in measuring organisms (fish and shellfish) that serve as marine resources. Through these internships, I learned about the fishing industry in specific regions, and by going to those regions to talk to people involved and conduct research, I became interested in the fishing industry, which I had not known before entering the university. In addition, although it is the only department at Maritime University that is easy for liberal arts students to enter, you can also study science fields such as biology and chemistry experiments, and gain a variety of knowledge. We have a large number of faculty members compared to the number of students, so it's easy to consult with them and dive into fields that interest you, which I think is a very nice feature.

Q3.What is your research theme?
Pursuing ways to increase the value of marine products and remain in the market
We are researching how to increase added value in the current state of trade in marine products between Japan and South Korea. In Japan, the consumption of seafood is decreasing as people are moving away from eating fish, while the demand for marine products is increasing around the world, and exports of marine products are being promoted. In recent years, when intra-industry trade has increased due to lower tariffs and transportation costs, it is necessary to produce high-quality products in order to remain in the market. Therefore, we focused on adding value to marine products, such as branding and maintaining high freshness, and exporting high value-added marine products. It is difficult to read a lot of papers and compile statistical data, but I feel the joy of research when I can focus on something familiar to me or when I find out something that I don't understand.

how to spend the holidays

Visit a fishing village to experience the fishing industry firsthand.
An opportunity to gain a new perspective

On my days off, I usually spend time with friends or go to work part-time, but when I have some free time, I go to a fishing village. It's a lot of fun because I get a ride on a friend's fishing boat and talk with fishermen, which gives me a different perspective than what I would get at university, and allows me to experience the fishing industry firsthand. Another attraction is that you can see and eat fresh fish that you can't find in Tokyo or that you can't find in supermarkets. Someday I would like to visit fishing villages all over Japan (lol).

Q4.What is your ideal future image?
I want to acquire a wide range of knowledge and practical skills and contribute to Japan's fishing industry while interacting with overseas countries.
My future goal is to contribute to the development of Japan's fishing industry. In class, I learned about the current state of decline in Japan's fishing industry, but when I went to a fishing port for fieldwork, I learned about the vibrant fishing industry. It would be a shame to see Japan's fishing industry decline. With this in mind, I decided to study fisheries economics and go on to graduate school in order to further deepen my knowledge and acquire a wide range of knowledge and practical skills. I am still considering where I will work after graduating from graduate school, but I am interested in the relationship between Japan and the overseas fishing industry, so I would like to take a position in the fishing industry that has strong ties with other countries, so that I can learn about Japan's fishing industry from both inside and outside of Japan. I want to contribute to development.

Message to those aiming to enter Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
At Maritime University, you can not only learn a wide range of things about the ocean, but also have a lot of fun every day, as we have a variety of students who like the ocean, fish, and fishing. Those who already love the sea and fish can meet students with the same aspirations, and students who don't currently know what their interests are can discover a new world. We offer an environment where you can learn and explore a wide range of academic fields related to the ocean, so please take the exam. keep it up!