Japan Extends Warm Welcome to the Ministry of Education’s Training Ship Wind Rider 御風 on Its Maiden Voyage to Japan
The Ministry of Education training ship Wind Rider 御風 (Yufeng), operated by National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, arrived in Tokyo on March 3 after its five-day maiden voyage, carrying 60 teachers and students. The Tokyo Port dispatched a water-spraying vessel to welcome Wind Rider 御風 as it entered the port.
Dr. Lin Po-Chiao 林伯樵, Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Lee Yi-Yang 李逸洋, Representative at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, greeted the ship at Ariake Pier and then went on board and spoke with the students and their teachers.
A grand celebratory banquet was held that evening at the Tokyo Bay Ariake Washington Hotel for nearly 200 guests. They included Furuya Keiji 古屋圭司, Chairman of the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council and a member of the House of the Representatives; Tanizaki Yasuaki 谷崎泰明, President of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association; Dr. Ida Ryuichi 位田隆, Senior Managing Director of the Japan Association of National Universities and former president of Shiga University; representatives of academic groups, and overseas Taiwanese scholars and students.
The atmosphere at the banquet was warm and friendly, with people from various fields engaging in lively discussions, showcasing the deep friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Japan in maritime education.
Six of the dignitaries present performed a traditional Japanese kagami biraki ceremony, breaking open a sake barrel to wish Wind Rider smooth sailing on all her voyages. From left in the photo: Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association President Tanizaki, Consultative Council Chairman Furuya, Ministry of Education Chief Secretary Lin Po-Chiao, Representative Lee Yi-Yang, Dr. Yang Ching-Yu 楊慶煜, president of National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, and Sea Captain Saito Naoki 齋藤直樹, General Manager of Management Systems and Maritime Training Certification Department at ClassNK (a ship classification society).
In his remarks at the banquet, Chief Secretary Lin Po-Chiao said that Wind Rider 御風 marks a significant step toward internationalization in Taiwan’s maritime education. Cross-border voyages and cultural exchanges will allow students to acquire navigational skills and also enhance their international communication abilities, and global vision. Representative Lee said that the training ship’s maiden voyage represents a new milestone in maritime education exchanges between Taiwan and Japan and reflects their strong friendship.
Furuya Keiji, Chairman of the Japan–ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council, expressed hope that Wind Rider 御風 would become a new symbol of exchange between Japan and Taiwan, which are both island nations, and strengthen cooperation between their maritime institutions. Tanizaki Yasuaki expressed wishes for Taiwan–Japan relations to advance smoothly, just like the training ship Wind Rider 御風—her Mandarin Chinese name means "sailing with the wind."
This celebration of the successful maiden voyage of the Wind Rider 御風 training ship was also a celebration of a significant milestone in the internationalization of Taiwan's maritime education and showcased the deep friendship and cooperation between Taiwan and Japan related to maritime education.
