Scientific Exploration Schooner 'Tara' Ports in Onomichi for the First Time in 9 Years
The French scientific exploration vessel 'Tara' will port in Onomichi, Hiroshima for three days in April 2026. A commemorative lecture bridging science and art on issues like blue carbon will also be held.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:00
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The scientific exploration schooner 'Tara', operated by the Paris-based Tara Océan Foundation dedicated to marine research and conservation, visited Japan in April 2026 for the first time in 8 years.
It will make a port call in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, from Tuesday, April 28 to Thursday, April 30, 2026. This marks the first visit to Onomichi in 9 years, since the "Tara Pacific" expedition.
On the first day of the port call, Tuesday, April 28, a special inspection tour featuring the Mayor of Onomichi will take place. The following day, Wednesday, April 29 (national holiday), a lecture event will be held featuring artist Katsuhiko Hibino, scientist Sylvain Agostini, and Hiroshima University professor Shigeki Wada.
Navigating the world's oceans, the Tara investigates climate change and marine ecosystems. This port call provides an opportunity to consider the future of the Seto Inland Sea and the Earth from a cross-disciplinary perspective of science, art, and education.
*Image: The Tara visiting Tokyo after sailing the world's oceans.*
You will only have 3 days to see the Tara up close in Onomichi.
Tara Schooner Related Events
[Special Mayoral Inspection: Welcomed by Host Katsuhiko Hibino]
Katsuhiko Hibino (President of Tokyo University of the Arts / Director of Tara Océan Japan) will host and guide the Mayor of Onomichi, Yukihiro Hiratani, aboard the ship.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 9:00-10:00
Venue: Tara Schooner (Nishigosho Public Wharf, in front of ONOMICHI U2)
Attendees: Yukihiro Hiratani (Mayor of Onomichi), Katsuhiko Hibino, Sylvain Agostini, Tara Crew
Contents: On-board photo session, ship tour, presentation of commemorative gifts, etc.
[Tara Port Call Commemorative Lecture]
"Unveiling the Invisible Ocean World through Science and Art"
Blue carbon ecosystems, such as seaweed and seagrasses, play a crucial role in absorbing and fixing carbon through photosynthesis, garnering increasing attention as a countermeasure against climate change.
This lecture will introduce the achievements of the "Tara JAMBIO Blue Carbon Project" promoted by Tara Océan Japan and JAMBIO, as well as the results of microplastic surveys conducted at 15 locations nationwide.
Furthermore, it will explore how to visualize ocean challenges and communicate them to society through the lenses of science and art.
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (Holiday), 14:00-15:30
Venue: Onomichi City Hall Main Building, Multipurpose Space 1 (1-15-1 Kubo, Onomichi, Hiroshima)
Speakers:
- Shigeki Wada (Professor, Seto Inland Sea Carbon Neutral International Joint Research Center, Hiroshima University)
- Sylvain Agostini (Director of Tara Océan Japan / IRD Researcher)
- Katsuhiko Hibino (Director of Tara Océan Japan / President of Tokyo University of the Arts)
Contents: Activity introductions, research results, Art x Science talk, Q&A session
The lecture is open to the general public.
Registration: https://forms.gle/iL8uXmDEppb3Vo8CA
While the on-board and interior viewing tours quickly reached capacity due to advance notice on social media, everyone is free to enjoy the sight of the Tara floating in the Onomichi sea from the wharf.
Please take this opportunity to see the Tara up close as she returns to this land after 9 years.
About the Scientific Exploration Schooner Tara
The Tara is a scientific exploration vessel purchased in 2003 by Agnès Troublé, founder of the apparel brand 'Agnès b.', and her son Étienne Bourgois. It was later donated to the Tara Océan Foundation, co-founded by the two and recognized as a public interest foundation.
To date, it has sailed 580,000 km around the world and completed 13 major exploration projects. It first visited Japan in 2017 and 2018 during the "Tara Pacific" expedition to survey coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. Now, 8 years later, the Tara is making a special port call in Japan before commencing research for its new "Tara Coral" project in the Coral Triangle of Southeast Asia.
The purpose of the Tara's visit to Japan this time is to share the results of the nationwide coastal microplastic survey announced by Tara Océan Japan in August 2025 with a broader audience. At the same time, it aims to share the importance of the ongoing "Tara JAMBIO Blue Carbon Project" in Japan and broadly call for understanding and interest in the marine environment.
Tara Océan Japan
The Japan branch of the French public interest foundation Tara Océan, specializing in the ocean, launched by Agnès b. in 2003.
It introduces Tara Océan's activities, such as the "Scientific Exploration Schooner Tara" which advances research on the impact of global warming and environmental threats on the ocean, while also conducting projects unique to Japan.
From 2020 to 2023, they conducted the "Tara JAMBIO Microplastic Joint Survey" to research and raise awareness about microplastics in coastal waters across Japan.
https://jp.fondationtaraocean.org/exped
It will make a port call in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, from Tuesday, April 28 to Thursday, April 30, 2026. This marks the first visit to Onomichi in 9 years, since the "Tara Pacific" expedition.
On the first day of the port call, Tuesday, April 28, a special inspection tour featuring the Mayor of Onomichi will take place. The following day, Wednesday, April 29 (national holiday), a lecture event will be held featuring artist Katsuhiko Hibino, scientist Sylvain Agostini, and Hiroshima University professor Shigeki Wada.
Navigating the world's oceans, the Tara investigates climate change and marine ecosystems. This port call provides an opportunity to consider the future of the Seto Inland Sea and the Earth from a cross-disciplinary perspective of science, art, and education.
*Image: The Tara visiting Tokyo after sailing the world's oceans.*
You will only have 3 days to see the Tara up close in Onomichi.
Tara Schooner Related Events
[Special Mayoral Inspection: Welcomed by Host Katsuhiko Hibino]
Katsuhiko Hibino (President of Tokyo University of the Arts / Director of Tara Océan Japan) will host and guide the Mayor of Onomichi, Yukihiro Hiratani, aboard the ship.
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 9:00-10:00
Venue: Tara Schooner (Nishigosho Public Wharf, in front of ONOMICHI U2)
Attendees: Yukihiro Hiratani (Mayor of Onomichi), Katsuhiko Hibino, Sylvain Agostini, Tara Crew
Contents: On-board photo session, ship tour, presentation of commemorative gifts, etc.
[Tara Port Call Commemorative Lecture]
"Unveiling the Invisible Ocean World through Science and Art"
Blue carbon ecosystems, such as seaweed and seagrasses, play a crucial role in absorbing and fixing carbon through photosynthesis, garnering increasing attention as a countermeasure against climate change.
This lecture will introduce the achievements of the "Tara JAMBIO Blue Carbon Project" promoted by Tara Océan Japan and JAMBIO, as well as the results of microplastic surveys conducted at 15 locations nationwide.
Furthermore, it will explore how to visualize ocean challenges and communicate them to society through the lenses of science and art.
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (Holiday), 14:00-15:30
Venue: Onomichi City Hall Main Building, Multipurpose Space 1 (1-15-1 Kubo, Onomichi, Hiroshima)
Speakers:
- Shigeki Wada (Professor, Seto Inland Sea Carbon Neutral International Joint Research Center, Hiroshima University)
- Sylvain Agostini (Director of Tara Océan Japan / IRD Researcher)
- Katsuhiko Hibino (Director of Tara Océan Japan / President of Tokyo University of the Arts)
Contents: Activity introductions, research results, Art x Science talk, Q&A session
The lecture is open to the general public.
Registration: https://forms.gle/iL8uXmDEppb3Vo8CA
While the on-board and interior viewing tours quickly reached capacity due to advance notice on social media, everyone is free to enjoy the sight of the Tara floating in the Onomichi sea from the wharf.
Please take this opportunity to see the Tara up close as she returns to this land after 9 years.
About the Scientific Exploration Schooner Tara
The Tara is a scientific exploration vessel purchased in 2003 by Agnès Troublé, founder of the apparel brand 'Agnès b.', and her son Étienne Bourgois. It was later donated to the Tara Océan Foundation, co-founded by the two and recognized as a public interest foundation.
To date, it has sailed 580,000 km around the world and completed 13 major exploration projects. It first visited Japan in 2017 and 2018 during the "Tara Pacific" expedition to survey coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. Now, 8 years later, the Tara is making a special port call in Japan before commencing research for its new "Tara Coral" project in the Coral Triangle of Southeast Asia.
The purpose of the Tara's visit to Japan this time is to share the results of the nationwide coastal microplastic survey announced by Tara Océan Japan in August 2025 with a broader audience. At the same time, it aims to share the importance of the ongoing "Tara JAMBIO Blue Carbon Project" in Japan and broadly call for understanding and interest in the marine environment.
Tara Océan Japan
The Japan branch of the French public interest foundation Tara Océan, specializing in the ocean, launched by Agnès b. in 2003.
It introduces Tara Océan's activities, such as the "Scientific Exploration Schooner Tara" which advances research on the impact of global warming and environmental threats on the ocean, while also conducting projects unique to Japan.
From 2020 to 2023, they conducted the "Tara JAMBIO Microplastic Joint Survey" to research and raise awareness about microplastics in coastal waters across Japan.
https://jp.fondationtaraocean.org/exped