OREANDA-NEWS. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that it held a dialogue event aboard a cruise ship "Nippon Maru", which is operated by its group company Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line, Ltd. (MOPAS; President Motomu Kobayashi). The event was part of the MOL Group's activities aimed at promoting reconstruction of communities affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

MOL and MOPAS invited Miyako City mayor Masanori Yamamoto and 21 university students and adults living in the city aboard the ship during a call at the port of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture. The visit provided an opportunity for the younger generation, which will create the future of the region, to rediscover the attractiveness of the area and strengthen their ties with each other. During the dialogue, the participants shared their ideas of "My Favorite Miyako" that they prepared in advance of the event, and discussed ways to promote the region's attractions more to people.

A university student who took part in the dialogue commented, "I came to Miyako from outside the prefecture. For me, who grew up in an urban city, Miyako's nature itself is very attractive."

"I was moved to find out that scenes we see every day are amazing to people coming to Miyako from outside the prefecture," said another participant. "I usually have few opportunities to meet people of my generation, so it was very good that MOL and MOPAS provided an opportunity for exchange. I want to continue this exchange," she added.

Mayor Yamamoto observed, "I heard some very valuable opinions. Everyone has the same feeling about wanting to promote the attractiveness of Miyako City. I hope the young people come up with a lot of ideas and measures to do this. The government does exist in order to develop such ideas."

After the event, MOPAS invited the student participants for an overnight cruise aboard the "Nippon Maru" to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the opening of Miyako Port, creating another opportunity for them to interact with each other.

The event was the latest in the MOL Group's activities to support the reconstruction of Miyako City. Previous events included a port call by the cruise ship "Fuji Maru" in April 2011, allowing quake-displaced citizens to eat, bathe, and rest aboard the ship, and a career education program at local junior high schools in November 2011.