ARTICLES
Loving Monbetsu, the Sea, and Drift Ice. ~Katsutoshi Murai, Okhotsk Garinko Tower: His Dreams and Challenges
On September 15, 2020, the Japan Coast Guard Commissioner's Commendation was presented to the Okhotsk Galinco Tower Corporation in Monbetsu City as a token of appreciation for its role in providing marine information. Mr. Katsusi Murai, Manager of the General Affairs Section and Tower Receptionist of Okhotsk Galinco Tower, Inc. was deeply moved from behind at the presentation ceremony. 
(Courtesy of Monbetsu Coast Guard) Okhotsk Tower rises above the port where the drift icebreaker Garinko, a familiar sight during the drift ice season, arrives and departs. As Japan's only observation tower on the frozen sea, it is a facility where you can see the drift ice from above and below. It is also usually used as an underwater observatory to exhibit marine life representative of Okhotsk (undersea floor: about 8 m below sea level). 
What exactly is the provision of marine information at such an Okhotsk Tower? We asked Mr. Murai what kind of work is usually done at the tower. Mr. Murai moved to Monbetsu to write his university graduation thesis. He studied under a professor who was called "Dr. Drift Ice" at the time. Although he wanted to work in Monbetsu and be involved in drift ice, he then worked for a long time in observation at an oceanographic research company in Sapporo, and in 2013, he moved to Monbetsu of his dreams when he started working at the Monbetsu Tourism Association. He then joined his current company. He is usually in charge of managing the Okhotsk Tower exhibition. As for providing oceanographic information, we provide ocean observation data in the summer and sea ice observation data in the winter. Okhotsk Tower was originally opened in February 1996 as the Okhotsk Sea Ice Research Institute. In the past, there was a drift ice research facility at Hokkaido University, but it has since disappeared, leaving no base for visual observation, which prompted the city of Monbetsu to build the Okhotsk Tower as a tourist facility and observation base to support young researchers. The tower was later merged with the company that operated the Garinko in 2003, and has remained in operation to this day. 
(Icebreaker Garinko) What exactly is the point of providing oceanographic information? I used to be an oceanographer, and I used to be a marine surveyor, but I have never been able to find out what was going on. When I was conducting oceanographic research in the past, I had the bitter experience of not being able to reproduce the results of an event even if I investigated it after it had happened. There are many things that come to light through years of observation, and we not only accumulate data but also analyze it." 
(Observation) Mr. Murai is usually involved in a wide range of activities, including reviewing Okhotsk Tower's exhibits and disseminating information. I asked him what he would like to do with Okhotsk Tower in the future. I asked him. I want to keep it exciting, and I want to make it a place where children come back and say, "I'm coming back! I would like to make Okhotsk Tower a facility where children can come and say, "I'm back! And in terms of research, with the development of computers, it is becoming possible to simulate the situation without going out into the field, but I want this to be a place where young researchers can learn in the field. 
(A scene from the exhibition at the Okhotsk Tower) Loving Monbetsu, the sea, and drift ice, and protecting the lives of many people by extending the steady work of research. The Okhotsk Tower was the base for Mr. Murai's work.
(Courtesy of Monbetsu Coast Guard) Okhotsk Tower rises above the port where the drift icebreaker Garinko, a familiar sight during the drift ice season, arrives and departs. As Japan's only observation tower on the frozen sea, it is a facility where you can see the drift ice from above and below. It is also usually used as an underwater observatory to exhibit marine life representative of Okhotsk (undersea floor: about 8 m below sea level). What exactly is the provision of marine information at such an Okhotsk Tower? We asked Mr. Murai what kind of work is usually done at the tower. Mr. Murai moved to Monbetsu to write his university graduation thesis. He studied under a professor who was called "Dr. Drift Ice" at the time. Although he wanted to work in Monbetsu and be involved in drift ice, he then worked for a long time in observation at an oceanographic research company in Sapporo, and in 2013, he moved to Monbetsu of his dreams when he started working at the Monbetsu Tourism Association. He then joined his current company. He is usually in charge of managing the Okhotsk Tower exhibition. As for providing oceanographic information, we provide ocean observation data in the summer and sea ice observation data in the winter. Okhotsk Tower was originally opened in February 1996 as the Okhotsk Sea Ice Research Institute. In the past, there was a drift ice research facility at Hokkaido University, but it has since disappeared, leaving no base for visual observation, which prompted the city of Monbetsu to build the Okhotsk Tower as a tourist facility and observation base to support young researchers. The tower was later merged with the company that operated the Garinko in 2003, and has remained in operation to this day. (Icebreaker Garinko) What exactly is the point of providing oceanographic information? I used to be an oceanographer, and I used to be a marine surveyor, but I have never been able to find out what was going on. When I was conducting oceanographic research in the past, I had the bitter experience of not being able to reproduce the results of an event even if I investigated it after it had happened. There are many things that come to light through years of observation, and we not only accumulate data but also analyze it." (Observation) Mr. Murai is usually involved in a wide range of activities, including reviewing Okhotsk Tower's exhibits and disseminating information. I asked him what he would like to do with Okhotsk Tower in the future. I asked him. I want to keep it exciting, and I want to make it a place where children come back and say, "I'm coming back! I would like to make Okhotsk Tower a facility where children can come and say, "I'm back! And in terms of research, with the development of computers, it is becoming possible to simulate the situation without going out into the field, but I want this to be a place where young researchers can learn in the field. (A scene from the exhibition at the Okhotsk Tower) Loving Monbetsu, the sea, and drift ice, and protecting the lives of many people by extending the steady work of research. The Okhotsk Tower was the base for Mr. Murai's work.
