Press Release

2023.10.24 ZERI Japan Blue Ocean MIRAIE Newly Appointed as a Special Supporter of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

(From the left: TAKEUCHI Mitsuo, Specified Nonprofit Corporation ZERI JAPAN, KOBAYASHI Koji, Director General, Public Relations and Promotion Bureau, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exhibition; Peey; SARAYA Yusuke, Chairman, Specified Nonprofit Corporation ZERI Japan, and MYAKU-MYAKU, the official character of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan)

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition (hereinafter referred to as “the Association”) is pleased to announce that BLUE OCEAN MIRAIE (hereinafter referred to as “MIRAIE”) has been newly appointed as a Special Supporter, thus becoming part of a group of supporters for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
MS Porrima, appointed as a Special Supporter of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan in March 2023, visited Dubai and after participating in the ceremony to pass the baton from Expo 2020 Dubai to Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan as a Special Supporter, the ship encountered an accident on its way to the next port in the Maldives and was unfortunately unable to continue its voyage. Therefore, the mission has been handed over to MIRAIE, owned and operated by the specified nonprofit corporation ZERI JAPAN.
MIRAIE will cooperate in various promotional activities for Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as a Special Supporter.

【BLUE OCEAN MIRAIE】
Tall ships, which were active during the Age of Discovery (early 15th century to 17th century), have achieved zero CO² emissions in their motive power without the use of fossil fuels when sailing with wind power. In addition, tall ships themselves were packed with established carbon-neutral technology accumulated over the course of history. MIRAIE is the only tall ship in Japan that is open to the public, allowing everyone to easily get on board and enjoy an on-board experience.
MIRAIE, which sails mainly along the Pacific coast, provides hands-on activities that bring people closer to the ocean, such as sail training and marine environmental learning, with the aim of giving people opportunities to think more about the ocean and environmental issues, thus leading people to change their behavior as global citizens. The ship will also play a wide range of roles as a representative sailing vessel of Japan, including being used as an environmental research vessel to conduct surveys of things such as the distribution of microplastics in the ocean. In addition, the ship will be even more newly transformed in collaboration with scientists and various companies by equipping it as a demonstration site for cutting-edge technologies, such as EV conversion, fuel cells, and the use of biodiesel fuel in power generators.

BLUE OCEAN MIRAIE

On-Board Experience

【Comments from the specified nonprofit organization ZERI Japan】
The Expo’s theme is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. Collaborations with various initiatives aimed at achieving the SDGs are being planned. During the voyage of the MIRAIE, information about Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan will be shared at ports of call, and information on beautiful nature, environmental issues, the history and culture of the ocean, and more will also be shared.
Through the ship’s activities as a Special Supporter, we hope that people will become more aware of issues, that civic movements and corporate activities will interact well, and that solutions to various social issues will be found.

References

■ What is a “Special Supporter”?
Special Supporters are groups of supporters for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan where people, groups, characters, etc. with many fans or supporters can use their influence to convey the appeal and philosophy of the Expo.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition will continue to increase the number of people interested in the Expo by having various people join as Special Supporters.

Specified Nonprofit Organization ZERI Japan

ZERI is an acronym for “Zero Emission Research and Initiative” and was established in 2001 as a specified non-profit organization in order to realize the zero-emission concept in Japan. As a hub of the “Zero Emission Concept” idea, saying that in line with the natural circulation that does not generate waste, Mr. Yusuke Saraya established ZERI Japan and became chairman. Since then, ZERI Japan has been raising awareness of and practicing environmental education in Japan, establishing industrial linkages, etc., and working to realize a recyclable society.

Inquiries

Public Relations Department, Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition
E-mail: media@expo2025.or.jp