On Tuesday 23 August, The Mission to Seafarers (MtS) and its volunteer committee held a special Presentation Lunch at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo, to thank attending sponsors for their support of next year’s Adventure Race Japan.
The event will take place 18 – 21 May 2023 and will be the first bespoke maritime industry challenge of its kind in Asia. Participants will either run or hike a trail running along the Izu Peninsula, under the watchful eye of Mount Fuji. The evenings will be filled with networking dinners and drinks.
So far, 42 teams of 3 have signed up for this unique challenge. They will take on team-building activities, have the opportunity to connect with peers in the shipping industry, and support the all-important cause of seafarers’ welfare.
The Presentation Lunch was MC’d by Committee Member, Chris Eve, Informa Director Japan, and was well attended, including senior figures from the Japanese shipping community. Mr. Takeshi Hashimoto of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Capt. Tomoyuki Koyama of NYK were both in attendance. Both are long-standing supporters of MtS, having also attended our maritime service and lunch in 2019, at which HRH The Princess Royal was our Guest of Honour. We are very grateful for their continued support.
Gold sponsors that attended the lunch included Arrow Shipping, Swire Shipping, APM Terminals Japan, Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd, Fleet Management, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Ocean Network Express. Other attending organisations included North, Lockton Edge, Thomas Miller KK, UK P&I Club, Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, Uyeno Group Holdings, Star Marine PR, Japan Maritime Daily, Eastern Pacific Shipping Japan, Ben Lines, Norstar, Kumiai Senpaku Co Ltd, Swire Bulk and LIBERA Corporation.
Speaking at the event, Jan Webber, MtS’ Director of Development, shared details of the charity’s work to improve seafarer welfare and outlined where the funds raised from the Adventure Race Japan would be allocated.
Committee member Sakura Kuma, CEO of APM Terminals Japan, gave a presentation on the upcoming race in Japanese, and Tom Bonehill, CEO of Norstar Shipping, encouraged attendees to spread the news of the event with their industry networks. MtS Chaplain in Yokohama, Andrew Dangerfield, told moving stories about his work to help seafarers in Japan and Ken Hasui, Norstar Shipping Group Japan representative, gave further insight into the course that participants will follow during the Adventure Race, which he had recently run himself.
Places in the Adventure Race Japan for participants and sponsors are limited. For more information, including details on how to take part or donate, please visit: https://www.mtsadventurerace.org/
