Successful results for Japan International Boat Show 2009 in Yokohama

Over the four days from March 12 (Thur.) to 15 (Sun.), the Japan Boating Industry Association (Chairman: Toru Hasegawa (Counsel of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.) / Offices: Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo) organized the Japan International Boat Show 2009 in Yokohama at the Pacifico Yokohama exhibition site (Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref.) and surrounding venues under the theme of “A Wonderful World with Oceans – Keeping Oceans Beautiful for the Future.”
This year’s show attracted 210 companies and organizations as exhibitors, including five from overseas, mounting displays with a total of 140 motorboats, 30 sailboats 30 personal watercraft (PWCs), 58 outboard motors and marine engines and 42 canoes and kayaks, etc. With the exception of some rain on Saturday morning, the four days were blessed with good weather and helped make this a lively and successful show with a 4-day turnout of 40,533 visitors. (See table below for detains)
On display at the indoor Pacifico Yokohama venue were new motorboat and sailboat models, navigational equipment and other marine equipment and accessories, as well as booths offering information about boat operator licensing, marina facilities and the like. The boat displays covered the wide variety of marine leisure with a “Boat Fishing Corner,” a “Sailboat Corner,” a “Small Boat Corner,” a “Canoe Corner” and a “PWC Corner” for various types of personal watercraft. Under the balmy spring skies at the nearby bayside floating exhibition area, displays of 28 larger boats and sailing yachts, including luxury cruisers of up to 18 meters, attracted many visitors with their promise of a wonderful world of marine leisure. During the Boat Show, visitors could also see attractions like PWC demonstrations and F3000 racing boat runs on the waters off Yokohama’s Rinko Park and ride on the Yokohama city publicity boat Hamadori. Other events like specially organized sailboat races helped turn the Minato Mirai district of Yokohama into one grand marine exposition during the show’s run.

Of particular note this year was the “Marine Wonder World” educational program organized with the support of the Yokohama City Board of Education for 4th to 6th grade elementary school children as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the opening of Yokohama Harbor. The curriculum included five courses in the areas of boat building, boat operation, the environment, weather and sea conditions and navigation. Many children learned about the wonders of the sea and nature and the fun of marine leisure by participating in these courses, such as the “Navigation Course” taught by ocean adventurer Kojiro Shiraishi as the participants cruised on the Yokohama city publicity boat Hamadori.
There was also a “Kids’ Marina” program of experiential and participation events like dinghy sailboat rides and remote-control boat operation using a temporary pool set up at the show venue, a workshop where children could learn to make boats from milk cartons and displays that showed the boat-building skills of carpenters and a canoe that can be paddled by a person in a wheelchair. Visitors also enjoyed well-received stage events on subjects like the environment and maritime adventures.


Visitor figures for Japan International Boat Show 2009 in Yokohama

2009 Weather Visitors Total Mar. 12 (Thu) Clear 5,297 --- Mar. 13 (Fri) Cloudy 6,535 11,832 Mar. 14 (Sat) Rain/cloudy 11,595 23,427 Mar. 15 (Sun) Clear 17,106 40,533

2008 Weather Visitors Total Mar. 6 (Thu) Clear 5,172 --- Mar. 7 (Fri) Clear 6,656 11,828 Mar. 8 (Sat) Cloudy 16,242 28,070 Mar. 9 (Sun) Clear 19,033 47,103

* Next year’s Japan International Boat Show 2010 is planned to be held from March 4 (Thur.) to 7 (Sun.) again at Pacifico Yokohama in the city’s Minato Mirai district.


< For more information about this release >
Contact: Japan International Boat Show 2008 in Yokohama operations desk
TEL: 045-681-2353 / FAX: 045-681-3735

Scenes at the Show
The Opening Ceremony on Mar. 12 at Pacifico Yokohama	Overall view of Pacifico Yokohama
The Sailboat Corner	Experiential program at the temporary pool
The floating exhibit venue	Marine show at Yokohama’s Rinko Park