celebrating the ocean

Source: National Geographic

Lying back on a beach holiday, having a cold drink and eating oysters – sounds like something I need to do for 6 months at a go, twice a year. Being anywhere beside the ocean brings peace to many a tired, urban soul. But more than that, it’s a source of food and minerals as well as the means of transport for almost 90% of cargo that’s sent around the world. Shipping by sea is by far the most economical and ecological as compared to the other modes of transport owed to the fact that the oceans allow for almost limitless amounts of cargo to be carried by a vehicles which emit less and less pollution per tonne of cargo carried.

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​The ocean is so important to every single living person on earth that there are 2 days dedicated to honouring this expansive being. The UN has dedicated the 8th of June every year to increasing awareness of the care we need to take of the ocean and its inhabitants in order to maintain the world’s eco-system; while in Japan, every third Monday of July is a public holiday to appreciate the blessings of the sea and wish for prosperity of Japan as an island nation.
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Japan certainly has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the sea – from supplying them with the bulk of their diet (Japanese consume the most fish and sea products per head in the world!) to enabling them to trade with the world and thus making them an economic super power. 

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Did you know?
Japan has a public holiday called "Ocean Day" to appreciate the ocean's bounty to the country! Guess what most Japanese do on this holiday...

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Picture: Shizuoka Sushi & Sashimi

There are over 200 ports and harbours in Japan which indicate how important waterway traffic is in this country. It also makes Japan very eco-friendly when it comes to transporting goods from the hundreds of manufacturers dotting the country. The team at Alien Logistics works with partners in Japan to navigate the waters of import and export for foodstuff, ceramics, electronics, manufacturing materials and other items on a weekly basis – so if you’re looking to buy and/or sell things to and from Japan, we would be a great sounding board for you to plan your shipping and distribution.
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So, what do most Japanese do on Ocean Day? 

​Go to the beach of course…