The Sea Turtle Association of Japan is a nonprofit organization pioneering understanding of the nature and habitats of sea turtles through empirical and scientific research and promoting action for the advancement of sea turtle biology, conservation and recovery in Japan. As one of their purposes is the conservation of sea turtles as an endangered marine species, they began operating the Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium on April 26, 2018.
The aquarium has two important aims. One is to increase awareness of the need to protect our natural environment by raising, displaying and researching marine life, as well as by documenting fishing practices. The second is to stimulate Muroto City’s economy, as currently they face and aging and declining population. Because Muroto has no economic attractions, it is difficult for young people to stay in the city to find work. By providing English translations, PONO has helped to facilitate foreign tourism.
To spread awareness to a wider audience and attract tourists from not only Japan but also other countries, the English translations have proved indispensable to the aquarium. Although the aquarium could not afford most professional organizations to provide English translations, because PONO supports their aims, PONOprovided all translations free of charge.
The aquarium has successfully attracted tourism since then, and in only half a year, 100,000 people havevisited it. TV programs and newspapers even have reported about the aquarium.
Near the entrance of the aquarium, it shows acknowledgment that PONO provided all translations of its captions and explains that translation helps to promote conservation of marine wildlife in Muroto city.
Sample exhibit plate and translation.