From Ambassador (Antarctica and Japan)
2026/2/4
Following my previous essay on the Arctic and Japan, I wish to highlight Antarctica.
Japan has long relations with Antarctica. In 1912, Colonel Shirase of Japan landed on Antarctica as an adventurer. In Sydney where I served previously, there is a monument of Colonel Shirase, and I recall that Japan’s Antarctic research vessel “SHIRASE” was very much welcomed when the ship made a port call in Sydney. Japan established “Syowa Station” for Antarctic observation in 1957, and it became one of the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty which was adopted in 1959. The Antarctic Treaty came into effect in 1961, and Iceland became a contracting party of the Treaty in 2015.
“Syowa Station” has connections with Iceland. In short, there is an aurora oval stretching between Iceland and Antarctica. National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) of Japan found that Iceland and “Syowa Station” on Antarctica were connected with one magnetic field line to “constitute magnetic conjugate points” (the only one combination in the world). In 1977, NIPR dispatched geomagnetic conjugate observation to two places of Iceland, Husafell and Tjornes. From 1983, NIPR started full-fledged observation with cooperation with the University of Iceland.
https://polaris.nipr.ac.jp/~aurora/uapm/ConjugateObsTop.html
As Iceland’s contribution to Antarctica, I have found Arctic Trucks is one of the world-leading producers of special vehicles for Antarctica. Arctic Trucks initially started with production of polar-special vehicles by modifying Toyota Land Cruisers, and since 1997 it has supported Antarctic expedition teams from many countries. BBC broadcast a Polar Special in 2007 with Toyota Hilux AT38 driving to the Magnetic North Pole. Last December, I heard that a team of Arctic Trucks had a chance of visiting Dome Fuji Station of Japan on Antarctica. I feel heart-warming to see Iceland’s company playing an active role on Antarctica with deepening relations with Japan.
This is marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment diplomatic relations between Japan and Iceland, as well as the 70th anniversary of Japan’s Antarctica observation. In May this year Japan will host the 48th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM48) in Hiroshima. Like in the Arctic, Japan and Iceland are connected by science on Antarctica.
Japan has long relations with Antarctica. In 1912, Colonel Shirase of Japan landed on Antarctica as an adventurer. In Sydney where I served previously, there is a monument of Colonel Shirase, and I recall that Japan’s Antarctic research vessel “SHIRASE” was very much welcomed when the ship made a port call in Sydney. Japan established “Syowa Station” for Antarctic observation in 1957, and it became one of the original signatories of the Antarctic Treaty which was adopted in 1959. The Antarctic Treaty came into effect in 1961, and Iceland became a contracting party of the Treaty in 2015.
“Syowa Station” has connections with Iceland. In short, there is an aurora oval stretching between Iceland and Antarctica. National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) of Japan found that Iceland and “Syowa Station” on Antarctica were connected with one magnetic field line to “constitute magnetic conjugate points” (the only one combination in the world). In 1977, NIPR dispatched geomagnetic conjugate observation to two places of Iceland, Husafell and Tjornes. From 1983, NIPR started full-fledged observation with cooperation with the University of Iceland.
https://polaris.nipr.ac.jp/~aurora/uapm/ConjugateObsTop.html
As Iceland’s contribution to Antarctica, I have found Arctic Trucks is one of the world-leading producers of special vehicles for Antarctica. Arctic Trucks initially started with production of polar-special vehicles by modifying Toyota Land Cruisers, and since 1997 it has supported Antarctic expedition teams from many countries. BBC broadcast a Polar Special in 2007 with Toyota Hilux AT38 driving to the Magnetic North Pole. Last December, I heard that a team of Arctic Trucks had a chance of visiting Dome Fuji Station of Japan on Antarctica. I feel heart-warming to see Iceland’s company playing an active role on Antarctica with deepening relations with Japan.
This is marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment diplomatic relations between Japan and Iceland, as well as the 70th anniversary of Japan’s Antarctica observation. In May this year Japan will host the 48th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM48) in Hiroshima. Like in the Arctic, Japan and Iceland are connected by science on Antarctica.