Japanese Lifeboat centenary commemorated at conference By Lt Cdr Brian Miles Director of the RNLI In July 1924, representatives from eight overseas lifeboat societies met in London at the invitation of the RNLI for a conference which was part of the RNLI's centenary celebrations. This was, in effect, the first formal International Lifeboat Conference, which have since been held every four years.

Among those at that first meeting in 1924 was Count Kozo Yoshii, President of the Imperial Japanese Lifeboat Institution. Since 1924 representatives of Nippon Suinan Kyusaikai, the Japanese Lifeboat Institution, and their colleagues from the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency have attended conferences regularly. The Japanese Lifeboat Institution was founded in November 1889 and provides lifesaving cover at more than 400 locations around Japan. The lifeboat crews are volunteers with the same tradition of service as our own crews and since 1889 they have saved more than 187,000 lives.

In 1989 the Japanese Lifeboat Institution celebrated its centenary and it decided, in co-operation with the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency, to convene an Asia and Pacific regional seminar on maritime search and rescue - a previous seminar having been held in Japan in 1986 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) - to promote discussion on the improvement of the provision and co-ordination of search and rescue services in the Asia and Pacific regions.

It is a great tribute to the RNLI that as RNLI Director I was invited to attend the seminar and to deliver a lecture on a search and rescue system which had been developed by an independent organisation - the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

All expenses for the seminar, including the cost of travel and accommodation were met by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation.

Gold Medal Various countries in the Pacific area were represented and much useful discussion ensued. At a formal reception, prior to the opening of the seminar, I was able to present an RNLI Gold medal and accompanying Vellum to the Chairman of the Japanese Lifeboat Institution to mark their centenary. In making the presentation I passed on the congratulations and greetings from everyone involved with the RNLI, which were most warmly received.

The Japanese Maritime Safety Agency (JMSA) was established in May 1948 for the protection of life and property at sea, and for the maintenance of maritime security.

It is modelled on the United States Coast Guard and its maritime safety missions include search and rescue, maritime traffic safety, preven-tion of pollution, hydrographic services and aids to navigation.

It is a sophisticated and obviously efficient organisation and its fleet of aircraft and vessels is extensive, including helicopter carrying patrol vessels and aircraft able to conduct surveillance and search and rescue activities over a vast area.

It is essential that the JMSA and JLI cooperate closely, and the relationship between the two organisations, one a Government agency and the other funded independently seems to be excellent.

Our Japanese hosts organised memorable week for their visitors, with many opportunities for official discussions and formal visits, interspersed with excellently organised sightseeing trips and free time to experience the unique character ofJapan.

In sightseeing terms, the highlight of our visit was a flight from Tokyo to Takamatsu on the Island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four main Japanese islands.

We flew to Takamatsu to see the recently-commissioned and extremely efficient Bisan-Seto Maritime Traffic Advisory Centre, which co-ordinates the movement of shipping traffic through the narrowest part of the Japanese inland sea.

Following this official visit the famous Japanese bullet train took us for a day's sightseeing in Kyotu before returning to Tokyo on the following day, again by bullet train.

There was so much to see and do during a week's visit to Japan and inevitably an impression is formed of an efficient country with hardworking and dedicated people. There are other abiding memories, including the splendours of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, and the sight of Mount Fujiyama viewed from the air, from the bullet train en route to Tokyo and from the centre of Tokyo itself.

Respected However the most abiding memory was the warmth of the welcome extended to my wife and me, and indeed to all the visitors. However, it was not only the personal welcome which was so much appreciated but also the satisfaction of knowing that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is so well-known and obviously respected, both by the Japanese Lifeboat Institution and the Japanese Maritime Safety Agency.

We are recognised by our Japanese counterparts as being the oldest lifeboat service in the world and it was made clear to me that the traditions and service of the RNLI have, in some measure, provided inspiration to our colleagues in Japan in the development of their own rescue services over the last one hundred years..