Japan Floats Its Wares
pp. 62-63 · Read in the full issue
Around The Pacific
Japan comes to the South Pa cific in a big way in September.
First ports of call on the Japan Floating Fair ’7B cruise of the 13 200-tonne ship Shin Sahara Mara will be Port Moresby (September 8-10) and Suva (September 15-16). Later, it will visit Australia and New Zealand and the five ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and
Philippines).
Since the inception of the floating fair voyages in 1956, there have been 12 cruises dur ing which the products of
Japanese industry have been
displayed in 131 ports in 112 countries around the world.
For the first three floating fair voyages converted cargo vessels were used. In 1962,
however, the specially desig
ned floating fair ship Sahara Mara was constructed for the
Japan Industry Floating Fair
Association, laying the foun dation for stronger develop ment of the floating fairs.
Then, in 1972, the Shin Sahara Mara was built, using Japan’s most up-to-date shipbuilding
techniques, and in its turn replaced the Sahara Mara.
The new ship is a high-speed craft with a computer-run, highly automated engine and controllable pitch propeller. It incorporates various newly de veloped facilities such as the Navy Navigational Satellite System (NNSS), and modem circulation-type sanitation facilities conforming to the re quirements of Japan’s sea pol lution prevention laws.
Exhibition space extends over the second and third decks and a hold covering a total area of 3391 square metres. Visitors ascend the gangway, move through the entrance hall and go to the exhibition floors by escalator. Exit is also by escalator.
The programme at ports is along the following lines, with the necessary adjustments for length of stay: First day: Preview display and press conference, inaugural ceremony to which about 400
people, representing political
and economic circles, will be invited.
Second day: Specialists’ day, to which government officials, businessmen, industrialists and people concerned with edu cation and culture will be in vited. About 5000 expected.
Third day: Public day. The fair is open to the general public, including students and schoolchildren. About 7000
expected.
The Shin Sahara Mara is owned by the Japan Industry Floating Fair Association
President of the floating fair mission, Kanichi Oshima, of the Nippon Steel Corporation
M.S. "SHIN SAKURA MARU" (13,082 6. T[?] Japan floating Fair Ship
(JIFFA) and operated by Mit sui OSK Lines Ltd. JIFFA was formed following the original initiative of the Japan Machin ery Exporters’ Association in launching the floating fairs.
The floating fair voyages have the full backing of the Japanese Government’s departments of Trade and Industry, Foreign Affairs and Transport.