The Nippon Foundation Presents Izawa Takushi and MEGURI2040 Onboard Quiz Tour ~Challenge Letter from the Future of the Sea~ to be Held in Okayama on Sunday, July 5th! Applications Open from Friday, April 3rd! 100 Junior High and High School Students to be Invited by Lottery!

The Nippon Foundation (Minato-ku, Tokyo, Chairman Takehisu Ogata) will hold the "Nippon Foundation Presents Izawa Takushi and MEGURI2040 Onboard Quiz Tour ~Challenge Letter from the Future of the Sea~" on July 5th (Sunday) aboard the "Olympia Dream Seto," which departs from and arrives at Shin Okayama Port in Okayama Prefecture, as part of the "MEGURI2040" project aiming to realize autonomous vessels and stable transport of people and goods. Lottery applications for participation in this event will begin at 10:00 AM on April 3rd (Friday).

This event is a quiz rally event for junior and high school students, held by actually boarding the autonomous vessel "Olympia Dream Seto." Takushi Izawa of the intellectual entertainment group "QuizKnock" will appear. Through a stage appearance by Izawa and onboard quizzes and mystery-solving challenges, participants can experience the depth of ships and the sea. Special experiences are also planned for those who answer correctly. We look forward to your applications for this summer's learning and memory-making opportunity.

Furthermore, a new TV commercial featuring Takushi Izawa will begin airing in the Okayama and Kagawa areas from April 6th (Monday).

Featured Event Content

■ Board the Autonomous Vessel "Olympia Dream Seto"!

The "Olympia Dream Seto," a passenger ship connecting Okayama and Shodoshima, is the world's first "commercial operation" for a regular passenger vessel utilizing autonomous navigation functions (Level 4* automatic driving). For this event, you will actually board the ship and embark on a quiz tour! You can enjoy a new ship travel experience.

※A technological stage where fully autonomous operation is partially possible. It refers to complete autonomous driving without human intervention in specific areas and under certain conditions. (The definition of autonomous navigation for ships is currently under discussion by the International Maritime Organization [IMO] and others. The definition for automobiles is being used for convenience.)

Reference: https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001226541.pdf

■ Solve mysteries while adventuring on the ship with Takushi Izawa!

Onboard the ship, you will tackle various quizzes and mystery-solving challenges scattered throughout. Additionally, Izawa is scheduled to appear on stage. Special experiences are also prepared for excellent performers.

■ Event Outline

Date and Time: Sunday, July 5, 2026, Departure 12:30 PM - Return 14:20 PM (scheduled)

Venue: Chartered Ship Olympia Dream Seto (Departure/Arrival Location: Shin Okayama Port)

Participation Fee: Free *Transportation costs to the venue are the responsibility of the participant.

Number of Participants: 100 people

Target Audience: Junior high school 1st year to high school 3rd year students (ages 12-18) and one accompanying person.

Lottery Application Outline

▼ Click here for application details ▼

https://meguri2040.nippon-foundation.or.jp/

【Application Period】

From Friday, April 3, 2026, 10:00 AM to Sunday, May 17, 2026, 11:59 PM

【Eligibility】

The following conditions must all be met to apply:

・Individuals from 1st year of junior high school to 3rd year of high school (ages 12-18).

※For individuals under 18 years of age, parental consent is required for application.

※Applications are accepted in pairs of two. At least one applicant must be a junior or high school student (ages 12-18) at the time of application.

※There is no age restriction for the accompanying person.

・Must be able to participate on the day of the event.

・Must consent to the use of photos and videos of participants (including companions) taken or recorded by the Foundation for general public relations activities of The Nippon Foundation on the day of the event.

【Application Method】

Please fill in the necessary information on the application form for this event and submit your application.

[Inquiries Regarding Onboard Quiz Tour Event]

[MEGURI2040] Onboard Quiz Tour Secretariat

• Email: [email protected]

• Support Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays *except July 4th - July 5th, 2026*)

• Secretariat Operation Period: Friday, April 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – Friday, July 10, 2026, 5:00 PM

About the New TV Commercial

In preparation for the onboard quiz tour event, a new TV commercial featuring Takushi Izawa will begin airing in the Okayama and Kagawa areas from Monday, April 6th. This CM was produced to widely inform children about The Nippon Foundation's unmanned vessel project "MEGURI2040" and to spark their interest in the maritime and shipping industries. In the video, Izawa acts as the quiz master, contemplating the future of the sea together with the children. The innocent reactions of the children challenging the quizzes are also a highlight.

About "MEGURI2040"

"MEGURI2040" is an unmanned vessel project promoted by The Nippon Foundation, aiming to achieve the automation of 50% of domestic ships by 2040. Over 50 companies and organizations from across Japan are participating, advancing development in an all-Japan framework. By leveraging technologies such as AI, IoT, and image analysis, the project aims to reduce the burden on crew members and improve operational safety.

https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/what/projects/meguri2040

About The Nippon Foundation

Pain, hope, future, together.

Since its establishment in 1962, The Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest foundation, has been promoting activities in a wide range of fields, including children, persons with disabilities, disaster relief, maritime affairs, and humanitarian aid, transcending race and borders, funded by grants from boat race revenue.

https://www.nippon-foundation.or.jp/