Challenge to Resolve Problems in the Ocean and Coastal Waters in Future Earth with Stronger Cooperation Between the Two Societies Franco-Japonaise of Oceanography

Abstract

In 1958, Bathyscaphe FNRS-III visited Japan to carry out deep-sea expeditions in Japan Trench and Kuril Trench with Japanese scientists. Inspired by this event, Prof. Tadayoshi Sasaki and his colleagues founded the “Société franco-japonaise d’Océanographie de Japon” in 1960 to stimulate scientific exchanges between Japanese and French scientists and research groups working on oceanography and fisheries. Based on active exchanges of fisheries scientists between France and Japan since 1970s, Prof. H. J. Ceccaldi founded the “Société franco-japonaise d’Océanographie de France” in 1984 with his French colleagues. Two societies have continued scientific exchanges through French-Japanese symposiums of oceanography and other related fields. In the 21st century, we are facing the limit of the planet which will be followed by abrupt and irreversible consequences for human communities and ecological systems. It is very important to challenge to resolve such problems in the ocean and coastal waters in future Earth with stronger cooperation between the two societies between Japan and France because the conception on relation between humankind and nature is different between the two countries and the differences in conception bring more prospective perspectives on their solutions.