Toba College of Maritime Technology Hosts Training Ship Experience for Kindergarteners

On May 20, 2026, Toba National College of Maritime Technology (Mie Prefecture) invited 16 children from Toba Municipal Kamome Kindergarten aboard the training ship Toba Maru for an experience voyage in Ise Bay. The event aimed to strengthen community ties and nurture children's interest in the ocean. The kindergarteners donned sailor uniforms and boarded as 'little sailors.' Maritime Department Head Koichi Kamada explained ship types and roles, after which faculty and 5th-year Navigation Course students guided the children through the wheelhouse, engine control room, engine room, and student cabins. Children enjoyed looking through binoculars, spotting their homes and other ships, and learning to read electronic nautical charts. Some expressed surprise at the loud engine room noise. Toba College of Maritime Technology, founded in 1881, is the oldest of Japan's five maritime colleges. It comprises the Maritime Department for training seafarers and the Information and Mechanical Systems Engineering Department. The school plans to continue community engagement and maritime education outreach.