Nakatani Takeshi

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Team Leader
Board of Directors
Project Management

Moving Forward to Go Beyond Limits

The concept of this competition is to only use robots to perform autonomous underwater exploration. If this becomes a reality, it'll fit exactly into the vision we have for the future. We believe that refining our skills and technology through this contest will yield great progress toward the development of next-generation AUVs and ASVs.
Besides finishing in the top echelon of the contest and trying to surprise people around the world by what we do, I want to see us demonstrate the high level of technology we have in Japan by giving it a clearly visible form. As one of the team's leaders, I will not only be providing direction to the project, but also helping to move it forward through enthusiastic discussion with members in the field.
I'm thankful to all of our sponsors, suppliers and everyone supporting us, and I'll be giving my all together with the incredible members of the team.

Nakatani Takeshi

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Team Leader Board of Directors Project Management

Career
Research scientist at JAMSTEC's Marine Technology and Engineering Center (MARITEC). In 2009, he received his doctorate in environmental and ocean engineering from The University of Tokyo's School of Engineering. Assumed his present position in 2011 after working as a researcher for the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science at The University of Tokyo. His specialty is underwater robotics and his work at JAMSTEC has primarily been the development of the Jinbei, Yumeiruka and Otohime AUVs. He wants to venture into the unknown world of the ocean depths with a fun and adventurous spirit but also a no-compromise attitude.

Blair Thornton

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo ］

Board of Directors

Coming Soon

Blair Thornton

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo ］

Board of Directors

Nishida Yuya

［ Kyushu Institute of Technology ］

Board of Directors
Development & Operations

An All-Japan team opening up a new era of AUV ocean floor exploration

With a major oil company like Royal Dutch Shell as the main sponsor, you could say the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition certainly looks to answer a global need. Until now, scientists and researchers studying the oceans have often received numerous requests from various other fields, but there has never been one with such clear and specific objectives. The four of us young researchers formed Team KUROSHIO with a strong desire to answer this global need and show the world the high level of Japan's oceanographic technology.
Team KUROSHIO is made up of experts from a number of fields and organizations, ranging from underwater robot development and their operation to analysis and communications, making it a truly All-Japan effort. We're all in this competition because we really want to be the leaders of international ocean floor exploration in the years to come.

Nishida Yuya

［ Kyushu Institute of Technology ］

Board of Directors Development & Operations

Career
Began full-fledged research in underwater robotics after being appointed as a project researcher at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo. In this post he worked on developing AUVs and ASVs, and on devising more efficient methods for surveying using multiple AUVs. From this experience, he also conducted surveys for ocean-floor resources. In 2015, he became a specially-appointed assistant professor at the Kyushu Institute of Technology, since which he has concentrated mainly on R&D of AUVs for capturing live specimens and 3D measurement systems.

Takeshi Ohki

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Board of Directors
Project Management
Development & Operations

I want to use robots to explore the nearby but unknown world of the ocean floor.

I originally worked on mobile robots for land and space exploration, but later switched fields to underwater robots so I was really surprised when I first heard about the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE. It was the first time for me to learn that we really don't know all that much about the topography of the ocean floor. With the chance to explore a completely unknown world so much closer to us than the reaches of outer space, I felt that this competition was a chance we just couldn't afford to miss.
Everything started from a small team of just three researchers and me sharing ideas, but now we have the KUROSHIO name and have become a big team consisting of eight companies and organizations working together. I'm currently a co-leader of the team and involved in overall management as things move forward, like the progress of our vehicle development, preparations for international transport, promotional activities and fundraising.

Takeshi Ohki

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Board of Directors Project Management Development & Operations

Career
Research scientist at JAMSTEC's Research and Development Center for Earthquake and Tsunami (CEAT). In 2013, he received his doctorate in engineering from the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Tohoku University's Graduate School of Engineering. After working as a postdoctoral researcher at Tohoku University, he took his present position in 2014. His specialties are mobile robotics and ocean-floor cable systems. At JAMSTEC, he is involved in a project to create a large-scale Dense Ocean-floor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET). Since 2016, he has served as a co-leader of Team KUROSHIO, Japan's team for the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition.

Kazunori Nagano

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo ］

Development & Operations

Kuroshio – Using Japan's technology to change the “flow” around the world

I like underwater technology. The tethered ROVs (remote operated vehicle) that we used to only see in comics, anime and movies exist and are actually in use. AUVs can explore and survey areas like drones, with no human intervention at all. But what makes them different from drones is the rather harsh environment they must operate in. For example, you can't use radio communication, the water pressure will crush the vehicle without a pressure-resistant container, water currents flow at several knots, and survey target areas can be several thousand kilometers away, all of which make operations quite difficult.
The global Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition will be an important event in which we can show the world Japan's technological prowess with this kind of underwater technology. ROVs and AUVs are robots, and when it comes to robots, Japan has a big presence through anime. But we decided to enter this competition with the aim of showing that Japanese technology is also among the most advanced in underwater robotics.
My main role will be everything from operation and maintenance to data processing for the AE2000-f AUV and its payload, the SeaXerocks3. I'm also a member of the development group, doing work related to the AUV itself, the surveying equipment, data processing, transporting the AUVs to the survey area and more.

Kazunori Nagano

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo ］

Development & Operations

Career
He has been studying underwater technology under Associate Professor Thornton Blair at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo. He has previously worked on the operation of small ROVs, and the development and operation of underwater equipment and AUVs. He has participated in a variety of projects, like studying ocean floor conditions resulting from the Great Kanto Earthquake, surveying ocean-floor soil for radiation following the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant disaster and ocean-floor surveys for potential resource quantity at cobalt-rich oceanic crusts. His current goal is to make using AUVs and other underwater equipment possible for non-specialists.

Kotohiro Masuda

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo］

Development & Operations

It's make or break in one second as we strive to be the first to build a completely autonomous underwater exploration system

I'm responsible for the device that will release the AUVs from the ASV. You could compare it to the separations in a multi-stage rocket. Even if the AUVs overcome numerous difficulties and reach the target destination, if they can't be released successfully from the ASV, the entire mission will end in failure.
In conditions where there are waves and currents, the task of automatically releasing a sensitive high-tech device into the water requires incredible know-how and reliability. Until now, the task of releasing an AUV into the water was done manually and with great care, so to perform the release automatically in rough waters with poor visibility and to then conduct the ocean floor survey represents a serious jump in difficulty.
My task will be completed in the span of a second, but to complete the task successfully at that moment, I've been coming up with prototypes, developing them and testing them countless times. At first there was nothing but failure. Through our “KUROSHIO-style” development, which has to be done mostly on weekends and holidays, we finally got a device that could be used on the water. Still, no matter how well prepared you may be, you never know what may happen out on the ocean. But, continuing the challenge through to success will surely open up new horizons for the future.

Kotohiro Masuda

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo］

Development & Operations

Career
After building backbones for industrial equipment in the private sector, he decided to follow his dream of operating robots to explore harsh environments never seen before, and is currently a project researcher at the Center for Integrated Underwater Observation Technology at the Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo. Driven by what he calls his “extreme curiosity,” he wants to go in search of things no one has seen before by using robots to do things humans can't do, from the depths of the sea to the black of outer space.

Shogo Inaba

［ National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) ］

Development & Operations

Taking AUVs from the waters of Japan to the oceans of the world

Because radio signals can't reach the ocean depths where the AUVs will be working, transmissions and measurements must be done using sound waves and acoustic equipment. However, there are noises generated by the AUVs that interfere with the acoustic equipment and on top of that, the wavelengths and characteristics of the noise generated by each of the AUVs are different. My job is to analyze the different noises generated by each AUV, find wavelengths (frequencies) that can be used by the acoustic equipment, and then to set and adjust the frequency band of the acoustic equipment for each AUV so that they can be actually used in the ocean.
To be successful in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition, we'll have to overcome a variety of technological challenges. The road ahead is difficult and there will undoubtedly be tough times to get through, but the knowledge and experience we will gain in the process will be valuable and basically unobtainable through other means. And more than anything else, the opportunity to work with a team of colleagues like this toward the huge goal of being the best in the world is gratifying to say the least. Though I'm certainly not the most experienced member of the team, I'll dedicate myself to whatever the task is at hand. I hope everyone will look forward to our results.

Shogo Inaba

［ National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) ］

Development & Operations

Career
After joining the National Maritime Research Institute, he has worked on various ocean-based survey projects using AUVs. He has previously been tasked with the operation of acoustic positioning equipment for tracking AUVs underwater, analyzing data from the various sensors on AUVs, measuring the sound underwater produced by AUVs in motion, and more. More recently, he was selected as the leader for the ASV developed by the team for controlling the AUVs, and in addition to operating the ASV itself, he is also working on the various adjustments and fine-tuning of the AUVs' control functions.

Saori Yokota

［ National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) ］

Development & Operations

Coming Soon

Saori Yokota

［ National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) ］

Development & Operations

Kenji Nagahashi

［ Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co.,Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

KUROSHIO Tech + KUROSHIO Teamwork = Surprise the World!

In the future, development of the oceans' resources will move to greater depths. This is a field where JAMSTEC and other organizations have led Japan's technological development. Now the time has come for us to compete with the world under the same rules and regulations to see whose engineering and manufacturing is superior.
With mainly younger scientists and engineers taking on this challenge, I want to support them by putting my experience to date with unmanned vehicles to work. I believe that once this competition is over, there will be renewed recognition of Japanese technology.

Kenji Nagahashi

［ Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co.,Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Since joining Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (present Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co.,Ltd.), he has worked mostly on AUV development. His work began with the development of the R-one robot in the 1990s, and he has continued to work in AUV development and operation down to the most recent SIP #1 and SIP #2.

Hitoshi Kakami

［ Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co.,Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Focusing the world's attention on Japanese technology

On Team KUROSHIO, I'm responsible for the ASV that will be used in the competition. The ASV will be assisting the AUVs in making measurements and mapping the ocean floor, as well as serving as a communications relay between the AUVs underwater and the team's base on land.
I see this as a great opportunity for the ASV to transmit to the world the incredible amount of Japanese technology packed into the AUVs. Also, in addition to relaying communications between the AUVs underwater and the land base, the ASV is also the interface connecting the robots to human operators. I hope to use this competition as an opportunity to also think about how humans and unmanned robotic vehicles will interact with each other in the future ahead.

Hitoshi Kakami

［ Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co.,Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
He is involved primarily in the design and development of surface and underwater robots like ASVs and ROVs. He also develops peripheral equipment to aid in the operation of these robots.

Masaya Katagiri

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Taking on the world with Japan's strength in the field

As a member of the Development and Operations group, I'm working on operating Team KUROSHIO's AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles).
The mission presented by this competition is an incredibly difficult one that can only be accomplished by taking today's ocean surveying technology and upping it by several levels. By working together as a team to clear the challenges that lie ahead, I hope to progress with my own skills as well. Also, since scientists and engineers from around the world are tackling the same problems from different approaches for this competition, I hope to learn from what I see of their creative strategies and ideas.

Masaya Katagiri

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Works in the Deep Sea Operation and Engineering Department of Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. After joining the company, he served as co-pilot in the Shinkai 6500 manned research submersible, contributing to deep-sea research in various parts of the world. Currently, he belongs to the team operating the underwater instruments on the Kaimei wide-area ocean-floor research vessel, conducting work like ocean-floor resource sample collection.

Akihisa Ishikawa

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Looking to take the top prize as a maritime nation with leading deep-sea exploration technology

As a member of the Development and Operations group, my responsibilities primarily involve operating the AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles). About 15 years ago when I was just starting out, I boldly proclaimed to the president of JAMSTEC at the time that I would become someone whose name was always associated with AUVs. It was the kind of big claim people only make when they're young, I guess, but it's something I still keep close today, and it's helped me tackle one issue after another while operating the Urashima AUV.
I wondered if I'd managed to become that someone I proclaimed I'd be so long ago, and I joined Team KUROSHIO thinking that the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition might provide an answer. Team KUROSHIO's young “samurai” from industry, academia and government agencies are competing as Japan's sole entry against teams from around the world! I hope you will cheer us on!

Akihisa Ishikawa

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Joined Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. in 2000 and currently serves as head of navigation for the Urashima deep-sea cruising AUV. He is hard at work in the field aboard survey ships for about six months every year. In addition to serving on outings for the Urashima, he also serves as the pilot for the Shinkai 6500. He is involved in virtually all roles related to deep-sea surveying, from data processing for ocean-floor topographical maps, exploration vehicle maintenance and acoustic positioning to AUV development consulting, piloting submersibles and improving underwater probe functions.

Morifumi Takaesu

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Seeing the world in the small contours of the ocean floor, KUROSHIO is out to cover it all

When I was a student, my field of study was the warm-water belt of the Okinawa Trough. My aim was to learn about its make-up and the process of its development with maps of the ocean floor as my main source of information. At the time, ocean surveying was still in a period of transition. The resolution of ocean floor topographical maps—the base for such research in the first place—was still poor and the only data we could get was at a horizontal resolution of about 100 meters, or 50 meters at best.
This was enough for thinking about the genesis of the ocean floor on a large scale, but it was difficult to draw conclusions about localized events like warm-water currents; it made me wonder if this was really the limit of technology. Then, several years after starting to work in the field of oceanographic surveying, the appearance of AUVs like the Urashima was suddenly shining dazzling light through the darkness of the long-hidden ocean floor. The ocean floor at a few thousand meters deep that looked flat in the rough data gathered from the surface actually turned out to be a sharply contoured area when surveyed from a submerged AUV closer to the bottom. I still remember how shocked I was at this revelation.
For this competition, we'll be going even further, looking at the topography of the ocean floor with a horizontal resolution of 5 meters. As one who has been involved in oceanographic measurement and observation for some time now, there's no way I could resist joining this contest.

Morifumi Takaesu

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Joined Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. in 2003. Serving mainly as the central control operator in seismic reflection surveys, he has participated in some 70 ocean-based surveys involving various different types of observation and measurement data. He is involved in the assembly and maintenance of survey equipment and processing survey data. In recent years, he has been working to establish the Dense Ocean-floor Network System for Earthquakes and Tsunamis (DONET). After eight years of experience in the field, he was stationed at JAMSTEC to work on processing and management of earthquake and tsunami data, and created a database from his results before returning to field work. His most recent efforts are toward creating a database of oceanographic observation data using geographic information systems (GIS).

Mamoru Sano

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Taking on the world!

I handle data processing for the team. Although I have previous experience in processing the data acquired by an AUV, I had no experience with processing data from multiple AUVs, and the idea of taking on the challenge drew me to join Team KUROSHIO.

Mamoru Sano

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
For two years after joining Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd., he worked as an operator in seismic reflection surveys. Following that, he has been managing the data collected by JAMSTEC ships. “Data” can mean all different kinds of data, but the type he handles is topographical data of the ocean floor.

Tohru Kodera

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Bringing together the best of Japan's underwater survey technology and aiming for No. 1 in the world with a young team

Being regularly involved in oceanographic surveys, I had the opportunity to exchange opinions with others about this project before the actual forming of Team KUROSHIO. In the process, I became excited about the prospects of forming a new oceanographic community and the concept of no use of manned motherships. I was also excited especially by the idea of taking on the challenge with a young team of scientists and engineers.
I joined as a data processing specialist, but I'm now doing back-end support and management in order to facilitate the work of the young team members, so they can do their best and be proud of their results in this challenge. Now, I'm constantly battling my desire to be out with them in the field!

Tohru Kodera

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
He has provided marine technological support for numerous survey projects aboard different types of ocean survey vessels. After working in data management and clerical jobs on land, he joined the DONET project and assisted in creating its network on the ocean floor. He is currently performing managerial work while also handling storage and maintenance of measurement and testing equipment aboard the Kaimei.

Jun Takao

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Making Team KUROSHIO known around the world in the AUV field

I'm in the team's Development and Operations group. My responsibilities include managing and making arrangements within my company, making preparations with people outside the company and assisting with team management. Although I'm not directly involved in developing or operating the AUVs (autonomous underwater vehicles), many people from our company will be handling their operation, data processing, etc. For them to do their jobs effectively, I believed there was a need for someone to handle making all the arrangements—both inside and outside the company—as well as overall management, and I also thought that joining the team would help my own growth as well. Going forward, I believe the world's AUV industry will continue to grow steadily. Within this context, our involvement in AUV operations will require that we improve our skills and continue learning about the world's leading technologies, and this competition is definitely a great opportunity to do that.

Jun Takao

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Works in the Business Planning Department and General Affairs Department at Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. He joined the company as a navigational officer for survey ships and has since engaged in a variety of oceanographic survey work, including AUV operation. He currently works on land and his tasks at NME are mainly related to contracting, budgets and new businesses.

Junichi Kojima

［ KDDI Research, Inc. ］

Development & Operations

Coming Soon

Junichi Kojima

［ KDDI Research, Inc. ］

Development & Operations

Akihiko Nishitani

［ KDDI Research, Inc. ］

Development & Operations

The once-distant dreams and potential of the deep sea are closer to us than ever before as we connect the deep sea, space and land

Within the team, my role is in AUV and ASV communications software and technology. Making use of our technology for satellite communications and underwater acoustic communications, we'll be creating a broad-reaching communications network connecting the ocean depths with the ASV at sea, the communications satellites in space, the team's base in Japan, and the competition control base overseas.
I personally love the sea and have a long and deep connection to it. I've lived in a place surrounded by the water and I've received its numerous blessings, and even been protected by it. I've long wanted to contribute in some way to Japan's marine business with my skills and thought about what I could possibly do. So with a strong desire to take on the difficult challenges presented by this competition, I decided to join the team.

Akihiko Nishitani

［ KDDI Research, Inc. ］

Development & Operations

Career
After joining KDDI Research, Inc., his research has been in data analysis technologies like distributed file systems and silent failure detection, and in data clustering. He is also currently a member in the company's think tank that engages in market analysis and predictions for the future, and is working on R&D into devices for underwater acoustic communication.

Yuta Shindo

［ Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Venturing into one of the world's last frontiers!

I see the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE as a kind of race. I love races and Yamaha Motor, the company I work at, has been involved in racing ever since it was founded. It's also a company that places great value on taking on challenges. One day, I had the chance to hear about what Team KUROSHIO was doing and not only was I surprised to learn that we only have a very rough picture of the world's ocean floors, but I became inspired to take part in this “race” to reveal the topography of the ocean floor. That sparked the start of my challenge. For me personally as well as for our company, underwater exploration and the ocean floor are areas we have no experience in, but I'm determined to learn from the ocean science and technology specialists of Team KUROSHIO every day and contribute what I can to this fascinating race!

Yuta Shindo

［ Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Since joining Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., he has worked exclusively in motorcycle product planning and has been involved in numerous development projects for models destined for both developed and emerging markets. Since joining Team KUROSHIO, he has been stationed at JAMSTEC and is devoting himself full time to the XPRIZE challenge.

Tatsuya Aso

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Development & Operations

I want everyone to see the exciting steps Team KUROSHIO is taking

When I learned about the rules of this competition, it just sounded fascinating. Even for someone like me with no experience in this industry, I immediately understood how high the technical hurdles would be. But that's exactly why there's meaning to the challenge, and I could barely contain my excitement. Joining Team KUROSHIO was an opportunity I couldn't possibly refuse.
I'm in charge of things like making lists to ensure that transporting all our equipment overseas goes smoothly and ordering whatever equipment or materials we need. It's truly inspiring to see the team steadily clearing one problem after another.

Tatsuya Aso

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Development & Operations

Career
An employee at JAMSTEC's Marine Technology and Engineering Center with a technical background. In March 2017, he obtained his master's degree in physics from the Tokyo University of Science and specializes in superconductivity. While in graduate school, he worked on developing metallic superconducting rods at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Impressed by how cool the Shinkai 6500 manned submersible looked, he joined JAMSTEC in 2017 as a recent graduate and his main responsibilities are with the Yumeiruka AUV. Working hard every day as a new hire, he brings fresh presence and ideas to the team.

Mitsuteru Kuno

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Taking on the World Flying Japan's Colors!

In Team KUROSHIO, I'm mainly in charge of processing the data acquired by the AE2000a's interferometry sonar (GeoSwath). I want to use my knowledge and experience as a survey and observation engineer, and come up with the most efficient and effective processing approach—keeping the construction and peculiarities of AUVs in mind—before we go into the competition.
What led me to join the team was simply this irresistible interest that arose in me as an engineer whenever I watched my seniors in the company working on the team. Although I'm not a specialist in data processing, I asked to join hoping that I could make up for what I might lack in experience with my determination. It's been really stimulating working alongside engineers from so many different organizations, and as I learn and improve, I hope I can make some contribution to the ocean survey industry.

Mitsuteru Kuno

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Joined the Marine Science Department at Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. in 2007. He then worked for four years mainly in mechanical engineering-related fields, handling the maintenance work for various types of equipment, designing towing apparatus, map-making and the like as an operator in seismic reflection surveys. After this, he was assigned to his present position and has worked as an operator in simpler seismic reflection surveys, performing data processing and other general tasks related to seismic reflection. In addition, he also works at JAMSTEC's Yokohama Institute for Earth Sciences (YES), processing data gathered by JAMSTEC ships on gravitational and magnetic forces, ocean floor topography, etc.

Tetsu Koike

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo ］

Development & Operations

The Aquatic Zone to the Future

My responsibilities on the team are maintenance of the AUVs and analysis of the ocean floor topographical data they gather. I've joined the team as a collaborative researcher from the Institute of Industrial Science at The University of Tokyo. I hope to contribute to the team with my experience as a narrow multi-beam echo sounder service engineer, my experience with marine product environment surveys and as a developer of survey equipment software. Until now I've worked mainly in fishery and I know that there are still a lot of resources in the oceans that can be developed. I hope that this competition will bring more attention to ocean-based industry and stimulate its R&D.

Tetsu Koike

［ Institute of Industrial Science (IIS), The University of Tokyo ］

Development & Operations

Career
Conducted research on fish in university, initially performing studies of fish and bird habitat conditions. He later worked in technical support—both hardware and software—for a distributor of acoustic exploration devices while also working in ocean-floor topography and exploration. From 2015, he has been a collaborative researcher for the private sector at The University of Tokyo's Institute of Industrial Science and is involved in ocean-floor resource exploration and AUV operation.

Yoshikazu Kuramoto

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Using cutting-edge Japanese technology to explore the ocean floor

On the team, I'm working on taking the data gathered by the multi-beam echo sounders on the AUVs and converting it into topographical maps. I decided to join the team wanting to grow as an engineer and learn about new technologies while working together with people from a wide variety of organizations toward the common goal of succeeding in the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE competition. I hope everyone will give us their support and look forward to our results.

Yoshikazu Kuramoto

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
Joined Nippon Marine Enterprises in 2010. He handles ocean-floor topography data processing, and acoustic positioning and maintenance for underwater exploration probes on JAMSTEC's Natsushima, Kairei and Yokosuka research vessels.

Wataru Tokunaga

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

We might someday be replaced by younger generations or even artificial intelligence. But right now, this might be something only we can do. I’ll do my best to process the topography data from the ocean floor with confidence, precision and speed.

I’ll be processing the topography data we get from the ocean floor and creating the maps. I like maps and topography, so I never get bored of looking at them. And since I’ll get to make maps of the ocean floor, there’s no reason for me not to join!

Wataru Tokunaga

［ Nippon Marine Enterprises, Ltd. ］

Development & Operations

Career
A measurement device technician on the Mirai oceanographic research vessel, he handles maintenance and operation of equipment like multi-beam echo sounders. As a member of the 54th and 55th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (summer team), he conducted ocean-floor topography surveys around the Antarctic Ocean. Moreover, when the Shirase icebreaker vessel ran aground, he investigated the damage to the bottom of the hull using an underwater camera.

Hidetoshi Fujimori

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

General Affairs

I want to help the entire team be ready and waiting at the starting line

When the team was still in its early stages, I heard about the competition from Nakatani-san and Ohki-san and decided to join in the challenge. I'm involved mainly in back-end support for the team and perform clerical duties such as filling out various applications and related paperwork, arranging international transport of our equipment, handling setup of the support structure at our base overseas and all kinds of coordination work.
For the competition, the team will need to transport the underwater robots and survey equipment to destinations overseas, and perform maintenance and adjustments at the base on-site before using them for exploring the ocean floor. No one has experience with a project of this scale, so I believe making all of the preparations for the project to run smoothly is another big challenge in itself.

Hidetoshi Fujimori

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

General Affairs

Career
Joined the Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (predecessor to JAMSTEC) and conducted R&D into ocean acoustic tomography, a measurement technique that sends sound waves through the water over long distances and measures changes in water temperature and flow speed. He later handled various roles at the Center, like assisting with numerous research efforts, doing paperwork for securing outside funding, budget management, and PR activities. He currently handles a host of duties related to next-generation deep-sea exploration systems and outside funding.

Yoshimi Yamakita

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

General Affairs

Let's work as one to shed light on a new frontier! Go Team KUROSHIO!

I'm in charge of running the Team KUROSHIO website at JAMSTEC, and work on making the team's posters, logo stickers and the like. I happened to be working in the same department as one of the main members of Team KUROSHIO and was asked to come aboard the project and help. Although my position is like "supporting the support crew," I feel very proud to play at least some part in this great challenge to explore an unknown frontier.

Yoshimi Yamakita

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

General Affairs

Career
Studied migratory birds as a student, but joined a completely different field in die-making and computer-aided engineering (CAE) before joining JAMSTEC in 2014. Putting her CAD, CAE and 3D printing skills to use, she is supporting the development of devices for deep-sea exploration while also assisting in creating presentation materials and illustrations for team posters.

Masahiko Kamei

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Communication

Providing the stage for the team to focus on the tasks at hand. Let's give it our best shot!

Although there are several organizations in Japan with AUVs that use them on a regular basis, the way they are used and relevant know-how have been unique to each organization until now. I believe this was due partly to the fact that each organization developed their AUVs to suit a specific mission. Without full cooperation between these organizations, there is no way that the team could take on the challenge of gathering several of these independently owned and operated AUVs and using them together in a new and coordinated way. Although I don't know about all the technologies involved, I joined Team KUROSHIO because I felt that I could at least be of assistance as a go-between and facilitate cooperation between the organizations involved.

Masahiko Kamei

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Communication

Career
Joined JAMSTEC after working in the private sector. He handles planning and project adjustments in the administrative department. His other dedication is to a long-term project to bring further innovation to marine science and technology. He is also focusing on bringing the findings of his research to private sector companies.

Masato Sugiyama

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Communication

Serving as the bridge for Team KUROSHIO

My job at Team KUROSHIO is facilitating arrangements with the team's sponsors and suppliers, planning team events and managing its web and social media platforms. My role is to get as many people as possible to hear about the team's activities, the passion of the members and the future potential of the work they are doing, and also to spread understanding about the XPRIZE competition and how cutting-edge and internationally relevant it is, so that as many supporters as possible join us in the challenge.
It's also important that we foster communication within the team. There are more than 30 young scientists and engineers from eight organizations on the team, but they all have their respective day jobs and are working whenever they have free time. Their passionate discussions, development work and various preparations are all a part of trying to show the world the high level of Japan's technology. Of course, there are differing opinions at times, so I also work as mediator for team members to overcome differences in perspective and truly work together as “one team.” To contribute to the success of Team KUROSHIO and to create new potential marine industries that lie beyond, I'll do my best to build dependable channels of communication inside and outside the team.

Masato Sugiyama

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Communication

Career
First joined JAMSTEC in March 2004. After working at the Research and Development Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the U.S., he took his current position at JAMSTEC in July 2015. He works on coming up with plans for promoting innovation, and coordinating efforts between JAMSTEC and other institutes, companies and organizations.

Takashi Okubo

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Communication

Showing Team KUROSHIO's passion to the world

My first contact with the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE and Team KUROSHIO came when my boss at work said to me, “There's a really tough but really interesting project I'm helping with. Are you interested in joining?” It was my first year out of college at the time, so I went with the flow and became a member of Team KUROSHIO.
Just as my boss had said, it's tough—much more than I imagined. But, much like the warm-water Kuroshio Current itself, there's definitely a fiery passion in the team. For me, every experience is a new one and I spend most days not knowing my right from my left, but I'm determined to keep moving forward so we can show people around the world just how much passion Team KUROSHIO has put into this project.

Takashi Okubo

［ Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) ］

Communication

Career
Studied the Salmonidae family of fish while at university and joined JAMSTEC in April 2016. He mainly works together with Sugiyama on coming up with plans for promoting innovation and coordinating efforts between JAMSTEC and other institutes, companies and organizations.