Yoshimi Nakamura
Yanmar Sunset Marina
Yanmar Sunset Marina
Hello, everyone. Yanmar Sunset Marina, located on Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, offers a safe, comfortable
marine lifestyle in harmony with the lake’s natural beauty. The adjacent hotel opened about two years ago
and provides a space where people of all ages can enjoy special moments amidst the tranquil lakeside scenery.
I serve as a boating license instructor at this marina and am also involved in Blue Flag activities. Last
November, an international yacht race was held here, bringing together approximately 100 top sailors from
13 countries and regions. Yachts powered by wind align with Yanmar’s philosophy of using renewable energy.
We are working to reduce our environmental impact toward realizing a “resource-recycling marina.” While
the high number of visitors during peak season increases our environmental footprint, we are focusing on
creating systems that minimize waste and promote resource circulation.
First, we have installed solar panels to generate renewable energy to cover a portion of the facility’s electricity needs. Depending on weather conditions, they can provide over 40% of the hotel’s electricity, and we monitor power generation in real time.
We have also installed an anemometer that utilizes wind power to assist with safe navigation and event
planning. Furthermore, our proprietary energy management system optimizes electricity usage, enabling
efficient operations with minimal waste.
Additionally, we are implementing an initiative to compost food scraps from the hotel and aquatic plants
from Lake Biwa using composters. This reduces waste and promotes resource circulation, and the resulting
compost is used in the marina’s vegetable garden.
In summer, large numbers of aquatic plants grow in Lake Biwa, contributing to water-quality deterioration
and navigation hazards. Therefore, we use a dedicated algae-harvesting boat to collect them efficiently. We
have established a circular model in which the collected aquatic plants are composted and reused to grow
vegetables.
Just as important as these facilities and systems is our staff’s mindset. Our primary focus in preparing for Blue Flag certification was changing the mindset of our on-site staff. Previously, trash and hazardous materials were sometimes left unattended, but through daily behavioral improvements and consistent communication,we have seen significant progress. Maintaining this awareness remains a key challenge.
Since obtaining certification, we have held Blue Flag symposiums to expand our initiatives and deepen
residents’ environmental understanding. We also provide environmental education for preschoolers and
children, as well as learning opportunities focused on microplastics.
Moreover, we are advancing new initiatives, including introducing uniforms made from eco-friendly materials and cultivating domestically grown cotton. In the future, we aim to develop original products utilizing local resources.
For us, Blue Flag certification is not the end goal but the beginning. Through annual applications and reviews,we will reassess our challenges, make continuous improvements, and evolve our sustainable marina
operations.
Moving forward, we will continue to collaborate with the local community, protect the natural environment,
and expand initiatives that benefit future generations. We aim to create a marina where facilities, people,
and nature are in harmony, and we intend to carefully build upon every initiative.
