Vol. 17 No. 6 November/December 2020

I
N
S
I
D
E

Voicesfrom theSeafarers
Page 6

JSU holds 81st annual assembly—remotely
Satellite halls at 5 locations linked up to limit risk of COVID-19 infection among attendees
All possible measures taken—social distancing, wearing masks, taking body temperatures, using sanitizers, proper ventilationT

he All Japan Seamen’s
Union (JSU) held its
81st annual assemblyon Nov. 11, 2020,
linking its main venue at Tokyo
International Exhibition Center(Tokyo Big Sight) with five satellite
halls in Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku,
Kansai, Chubu and Shikoku, andKyushu).
The meeting was convened as
the novel coronavirus outbreakraged on, and having an overwhelming impact on the entire
world. For this reason, the JSU
decided to organize it at one location and take all possible measures,
urging attendees to social distance,
wear masks, sanitize their hands
and monitor body temperatures.
Report on the JSU’s 81stannual national assembly
The JSU’s 81st annual national assembly began at 9:30 a.m. on Nov.
11, 2020. Mr. Junzo Suzuki, president of the preparatory committee
for the meeting, gave the opening
address. Then, Mr. Daisuke Noguchi, president of the credentialcommittee, unveiled results ofqualification screenings.
When Mr. Noguchi confirmed
the official start of the annual national assembly, Mr. Hiroshi Saito,
director of the Kanto Regional Office, was assigned to preside over
the assembly. Mr. Nariaki Takamiya, acting director of the Kanto

JSU officers lead a recorded chanting of gambaro three times at the end of the 81st Annual National Assembly, which was held linking six different locations.

Regional Office, and Mr. Raian
Morimoto, another acting directorof the Kanto Regional Office anddirector of the Shizuoka Branch,were appointed to report to Mr.
Saito.
After their addresses, all executive organization members wereconfirmed, and members of allcommittees were then designated.
On behalf of the assembly organizer, Mr. Yasumi Morita, presi-

dent of the JSU, delivered a speech.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is
still devastating the world. Even in
Japan, a number of people are getting infected every day. In preparation for organizing our annual
assembly set forth in the Labor
Union Act and our rules and regulations, as such, the Central Executive Board Committee had conducted studies from various angles
on how we can help people move,

JSU Officers re-elected at National Assembly

Mr. Yasumi Morita
President

Mr. Yoshiyuki Ikeya
General Director
Int’l Affairs Bureau

Mr. Kenji Takahashi
General Director

Fisheries Affairs Bureau

Mr. Shinichi Tanaka
Acting President

Mr. Hidehiko
Hiraoka
General Director

Domestic Affairs Bureau

Mr. Mitsuharu Matsuura
Acting President

Mr. Hiroyuki
Tachikawa
General Director
Policy Bureau

Mr. Junzo Suzuki
General Director

General Affairs Bureau

stay and keep social distances; thetechnical feasibility of this meeting; among others, making it a toppriority to ensure safety for thoseof you, representatives from acrossthe nation.
“As a consequence, we decided
to hold our annual assembly in thismanner,” Mr. Morita said. “Eventhough we are in these times of thecoronavirus disaster, we must continue to work hard to overcome
challenges and realize policies. I
hope that those of you who havecome to attend this meeting willhold constructive discussions in aserious manner.”
After Mr. Morita’s speech, thenational assembly held discussions
on a report on the activities that it
carried out in its 75th year and accountings for the year in question.
They were both approved by an absolute majority.
Then, Bill 1 was proposed foraction policies for the 76th year.
Views were exchanged on regionalbills that had been submitted tothe assembly together with Bill 1.
When the assembly promoted a
deeper understanding of the regional bills through question-andanswer sessions with attending
representatives, the JSU leaderspresented their perspectives, leading to an approval for Bill 1 by anabsolute majority.
Afterward, the Ocean Going
Seafarers, Fisheries and Domestic
Seafarers departments met to discuss Bills 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

The departments also unveiled
reports on the discussions, whichwere all approved. The general assembly went on to discuss Bill 5
now, which was plans for a generalbudget and facility development
for the 76th year. When an adoption was encouraged, the bill wasapproved by an absolute majority.
An election was also held for themembers of the Central Executive
Board Committee. Mr. Yasumi
Morita, president; Mr. Shinichi
Tanaka, acting president; Mr. Mitsuharu Matsuura, acting president;
Mr. Yoshiyuki Ikeya, General Director, International Affairs; Mr.
Kenji Takahashi, General Director,
Fisheries Affairs; Mr. Hidehiko Hiraoka, General Director, Domestic
Affairs; Mr. Hiroyuki Tachikawa,
Policy Bureau; and Mr. Junzo Suzuki, General Director, General
Affairs were all re-elected.
At the end of the annual national assembly. Mr. Morita madeclosing remarks on behalf of theCentral Executive Board Committee. Afterwards, the chairman
and vice chairmen also gave closing addresses, and Mr. Morita
called for playing of a recorded
three gambaro (Let’s work hard)chant—a recording was made inadvance for the safety of attendees
against COVID-19 infection that
could be transmitted by yelling ina crowd—and led to the end of the
JSU’s 81st annual national assembly.

LocationsTokyo: Tokyo International Exhibition Center (Tokyo Big Sight)

Hokkaido: ANA Crown
Plaza Sapporo

Tohoku: JSU Tohoku
Regional OfficeKansai: JSU Kansai
Regional Office

Chubu & Shikoku: JSU
Chu-Shikoku Regional
OfficeKyushu Kanmon: Shi-monoseki Grand HotelHEALTH & FITNESS(2)NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

On-board Exercises

Actress Kaoru Yumi presents the Nishino Breathing Method

応
応
空
空 応涯

O-ku—Imagine that you move your body freely as if you were adjusting to the surrounding air.

The following O-gai, O-ten, O-kyo and O-chi are a set of exercises, collectively called O-ku. It means that you move your body freely as if you were adjusting to thesurrounding air. You can do O-ku with your natural breathing. O-ku helps you train your body to be able to cope flexibly with anything.

O-gai—As if reaching to the horizon
Do O-gai by relaxing your arms so they reach as far-right and left as possible.
Always keep your arms relaxed, and wave them so gently as to be able to feel air
movements. It can help ease your stiff shoulders.

1. Relax your whole body withyour legs apart shoulder-width.

5. While breathing in through your nose, thistime, turn your body around slightly to yourright. Raise your left arm chest high.

2. While breathing in throughyour nose, twist your bodyaround slightly to your left.
Raise your right arm chesthigh.

6. While breathing out through your mouth,
keep your left arm chest high and wave horizontally to your left as if you were throwing away
your hand.

3. While breathing out throughyour mouth, keep your rightarm chest high and wave horizontally to your right as if you
were throwing away your hand.

7. Relax your shoulders and arms. When you
wave your left arm to your left, let it down
naturally.

4. When doing so (3,4), lookat your fingertips. When you
wave your arm to your right,
let it down naturally.

8. Repeat a set of movements 2 through 7 some
20 times, and return to your starting position.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

HEALTH & FITNESS

that energy flows from earth to応天 O-ten—Imagine
the sky.
When doing O-ten, imagine that you raise your arms freely to the sky. Have yourfeet firmly on earth, relax your body. Breathe and move your arm as if energy flowfrom earth to the sky through your body accordingly. Fully relax your shoulders
so as not to move the axis of your body. O-ten boosts blood circulation and isgood for people having a cold constitution and/or suffering from insomnia.

5. While breathing in through your nose, twist your body toyour left.

1. Relax your whole body with yourlegs apart shoulder-width.

6. Breathe out throughyour mouth and raise
your left arm above
along your median line(the axis of your body)(5-7)

2. While relaxing your knees andbreathing in through your nose, twist
your body to your right.

7. When you do it(6-7),
pay attention to relaxing your shoulders andarms. Then, lower yourleft arm.

3. Breathe out through your mouth
and raise your right arm above along
your median line (the axis of yourbody).(2-4)

8. Repeat a set of movements 2 through 7 some
20 times, and return toyour starting position.
4. When you raise your arm, look at
your fingertips. Relax your knees andlower your right arm.

(3)

HEALTH & FITNESS(4)

that air waves generated from
応響 O-kyo—Imagine
your arms will travel endlessly.

When doing O-kyo, imagine that when you look back and move your arms toyour back, air waves generated from your arms will travel endlessly. Try to haveyour belly button face far back as possible so that your shoulders are relaxedwhen looking back. O-kyo is effective for people suffering from backaches.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

4'. This is how you look fromyour back when you are in
Movement 4.

1. Relax your whole body withyour legs apart shoulder-width.

5. While breathing in throughyour nose, twist your body thistime slightly to your right. Raise
your left arm chest high.

2. While inhaling through yournose, twist your body slightly
to your left. Raise your rightarm chest high.

3. While exhaling throughyour mouth, keep your rightarm chest high and move yourright arm all the way to yourback.(3,4)

6. While exhaling through yourmouth, keep your left arm chesthigh.

7. Move your left arm all theway to your back.

4. When doing so (4, 4'), lookat your fingertips.

8. Repeat a set of movements 2
through 7 some 20 times, andreturn to your starting position.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

HEALTH & FITNESS

that energy flows naturally from
応地 O-chi—Imagine
sky to the earth.
When doing O-chi, lower your arms straight down along your median line once
they are raised. While feeling the weight of your hands, imagine that energy flows
naturally from sky to the earth through your body. Pay attention not to bend
yourself forward. Relax your arms and shoulders. O-chi helps you get rid of fatigue and give your entire body full of energy.

(5)

5. While breathing in throughyour nose and this time twisting your body to your left,raise your left arm.

1. Relax your whole bodywith your legs apart shoulderwidth.

6. When raising your left arm,
twist it so that your palm faces
inside. When you do this, pay
attention to relaxing yourshoulders.

7. While breathing out
through your mouth, haveyour left arm straight downin between your thighs along
your median line (the axis ofyour body).

2. While breathing in throughyour nose and twisting yourbody to your right, raise yourright arm.

3. When raising your rightarm, twist it so that your palm
face inside. When you do this,look at your fingertips.

8. Repeat a set of movements 2
through 7 some 20 times, and return
to your starting position.

Institute of Nishino Breathing Method
Email:
info@nishinojuku.com
Internet:

https://www.nishinojuku.com/
english/e_top.html

4. While breathing out throughyour mouth, have your rightarm straight down in between
your thighs along your medianline (the axis of your body).

All JApAn SeAmen’S Union
15-26, Roppongi 7-Chome,
Minato-Ku, Tokyo 106-0032
Tel.: (03) 5410-8320
Fax: (03) 5410-8336
E-mail: iss@jsu.jp
Internet: http://www.jsu.or.jp
Publisher: Mitsuharu Matsuura
Send inquiries to the attention of
Mr. Hiroyuki Watanabe,
Director, International Dept.

SEAFARERS’ CORNER/NEWS(6)

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

VOICES from SEAFARERS

Officers and crew of MV MALTO HOPE
After fulfilling months of safe stay on board, we finallymade it to sign off. This pandemic is so cruel, we were
locked into critical condition in maintaining not to be infected. This crew change has happened with the aid of ourcompany’s worldwide resources. Thank you so much foreverything.

Signing off crewmembers of MV TSUSHIMA
Christmas season is fast approaching. We wish and pray
this on-going pandemic will disappear in order to restore
our daily lives to normal in land and at sea. Everybody is
encouraged to keep a safe environment and be healthy.

Officers and crew of MV INABA
The end of the contract has come. Crew change is real.
We are humbly thankful to our company’s ingenuity andto the authorities who care for us to sign off. Thank you
and always think of safety.

Signing off crewmembers of MV EASTERN HOPEAt last, there is a crew change. We’re blessed and cherish
our company’s means in getting us off the ship safely on
the midst of pandemic. We wish everybody to be safe andin good health.

Signing off crewmembers of MV GARDENIA K
This is a surprise. We are glad to be a part of crew change
in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Likewise we are grateful toour company and we wish all the best to the joining crew
to have safe navigation in all their voyages.

Signing off crewmembers of MV BORACAY ISLANDThis crew change has occurred with the swift support ofour company making us home to join our families safely
on the forthcoming Christmas season. Thank you andMerry Christmas to all.

IMO welcomes UN resolution on key worker seafarers

T

he United Nations
General Assembly has
called on UN Member States to designate seafarers and other marine
personnel as key workers and to
implement relevant measures toallow stranded seafarers to be repatriated and others to join ships,
and to ensure access to medicalcare.
In a resolution on international
cooperation to address challenges
faced by seafarers as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic to support
global supply chains—adopted
on December 1—the United Nations recognizes the need for an
urgent and concrete response fromall stakeholders, including the private sector, to resolve the situationof seafarers stranded at sea and/or unable to join ships because ofnational travel restrictions introduced across the globe as a result of
the pandemic.
The resolution also encourages governments and relevant
stakeholders to implement IMOrecognized protocols to ensure
safe ship crew changes and travel
during the COVID-19 pandemic,
thereby allowing stranded seafarers
to be repatriated and others to joinships, taking into account essential
preventive measures taken by port
states against COVID-19.
Welcoming the adoption of theresolution, International Maritime
Organization (IMO) SecretaryGeneral Kitack Lim said, “Sadly,
hundreds of thousands of seafarers,
who are vital to maintaining supply chains, remain stranded at sea
for months beyond their contracted time. This is causing immense
strain, fatigue and exhaustion andis unsustainable. I hope that thiscall to action will result in positive
momentum to resolve the crewchange crisis.”
Mr. Lim added, “I am grateful tothose countries who have alreadytaken steps to designate seafarers as
key workers and to all UN agencies and industry partners who
have been working tirelessly to findways to resolve the difficult situation. This is a human rights issue.
Seafarers’ lives are being made impossible through the crew change
difficulties and this can only havea detrimental effect on ship safety
and on the supply chain, the longer the situation continues.”
The UN resolution calls on international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, including
workers and employers organizations, to support governments,
upon their request, in the design
and implementation of their responses and policies aimed at ensuring the integrity and increasing the resilience of global supply
chains, decent working and living

conditions and human rights ofseafarers.
Vaccination for seafarers
Noting recent positive news regarding the development of vaccines against COVID-19, Mr.
Lim said the key worker designation should ensure seafarers andmaritime workers receive priority vaccination, to allow them towork and maintain vital global
supply chains.
“I hope that the key worker designation will ensure that seafarers
can be vaccinated expeditiously.
This will go some way to resolving
the ongoing crew change crisis,”
Mr. Lim said. (Source: IMO)

Japan pushes ahead with ammonia as a shipping fuel of the future
Japan is planning to introduce ammonia as fuel into the shipping
industry and make it commerciallyavailable in the late 2020s as partof its efforts to go carbon-neutral
by 2050.
The solution was examined attoday’s meeting of the fuel ammonia council, which was establishedback in October. The council ismade up of representatives fromthe public and private sectors tosolve technical and other supply-

chain hurdles to the introductionand expansion of using ammonia
as a fuel.
The council also wants to introduce ammonia into the fuel mix
for thermal power generation.
“Ammonia is expected to be introduced as fuels on a commercial
basis for thermal power generationand shipping in the late 2020s, and
it is expected to be used for a significant amount by around 2030,”
Ryo Minami, director-general ofoil, gas and mineral resources at
the Ministry of Economy, Tradeand Industry, told the council
meeting.
Ammonia joins renewable energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and biomass, as
it doesn’t emit CO2 even whenburned.
Being already mainly used for
fertilizer applications, it has an international trading infrastructure inplace, however, there still a need forsome technical issues to be resolved,
including safe pressurization, liquefaction and combustion before it
can become widely used as a fuel.
Ammonia can be stored in higher temperatures in a liquid form
under atmospheric pressure.
However, it is less energy-dense
than oil, meaning ships will consume up to five times as much fuelby volume. Ammonia production
would have to rise by 440 million
tonnes—more than treble current

production—requiring 750 gigawatts of renewable energy, according to the International Chamberof Shipping.
Green ammonia has been identified as one of the most promising low-emission fuels, with the
IEA predicting that its use forshipping will reach 130m tons by
2070, twice as much as was usedworldwide for fertilizer production
in 2019. (Source: World MaritimeNews)