The busy days of our recent port stay in Kobe, Japan are now behind us.  What we all experienced while in Japan will remain with each of us for a lifetime.  The Japanese people treated us, as honored guests, as we visited their country.  Their hospitality and kindness was, at times, overwhelming.  

Cruise is that unifying experience that many of us remember, most, as those other days fade away.  The crew aboard the GOLDEN BEAR experienced a new and different culture; one, that in many ways, is quite different than what we are used to. 
As the sun came up, on the morning of May 17, the Training Ship GOLDEN BEAR works it way through the busy waters of Osaka Bay.

Chief Mate Dan Lintz (white hard hat) conducting a safety brief before tying up alongside the dock in Kobe.  Safety is one of the most important aspects of what we teach.  Before this particular evolution, the Cadets are reminded of proper line handling techniques.

Chief Mate Dan Lintz

We picked up a Ships’ Pilot, Mr. M. Matsue (a skilled professional with knowledge of the local waters who is employed by the ship to offer advice to the Master) to help guide the vessel to its berth.  Here, our pilot checks in with Vessel Traffic Services (VTS).  VTS helps keep track of all vessels in the vicinity and can communicate information concerning traffic to other ships in the area.

In the background (seated), our special guest, Professor Willard Coursey enjoys his time on the bridge while observing events.

We started to get a better understanding of the importance of our visit, as we rounded one of the corners in the harbor and suddenly saw this fireboat, celebrating our arrival.  We soon realized that our hosts had arranged a tremendous welcoming ceremony complete with a large brass marching band!

Akashi City Mayor Kitaguchi presents a gift to First Engineer John Coyle with First Class Cadet Mike Rubino looking on.  Akashi city is the sister city to Vallejo.  Next year will be the fortieth anniversary of this special relationship between the two cities.  John Coyle participated in the GOLDEN BEAR’S last visit to Akashi, in 1987, as a Midshipman.

Later in the day we had a lunch hosted by the Vallejo-Akashi Sister City Association.  The restaurant overlooks the world’s longest suspension bridge at 3,911 meters (please see the photo album for a photo of the Akashi Bridge).

In the City of Akashi we were treated to a traditional Tea Ceremony.  Here the utensils are purified before being used to make tea.

A temple window display, in Kyoto.

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John Coyle, Professor Naouki Takagi from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, and TSGB Chief Engineer, Bill Davidson.

The beauty of Japan and the hospitality shown by our hosts will never be forgotten.