Indepth Articles
[Nov. 14, 2008]
Many Tokyo residents make summer weekend visits to the long Pacific Ocean coastline and quiet beaches of Chiba Prefecture, a relatively short drive by car and train from the metropolitan center of Japan's capital city. Visitors there find tranquility and simple enjoyments such as walking along the beaches, fishing, and communing with nature.
During the regular vacation season the beaches are regularly patrolled by local lifeguard organizations, but even during the off-season, there is still a need for safety patrols and environmental checks along the coastline. These off-season patrols are being handled by a very pro-active NPO called the Japan Professional Rescue Organization (J-PRO).
J-PRO concentrates its efforts on three main priorities: 1) accident prevention, 2) keeping the beaches clean, and 3) looking out for the welfare of the coastal flora and wild life which inhabits the coastline such as birds and sea turtles.
In order to do this J-PRO needs vehicles to patrol the long stretches of coastline, and the Nippon Foundation provides funding to buy and maintain these vehicles. This directly contributes to life-guard protection, accident prevention in the area, and the on-going work to protect the environment, including keeping the coast clean for the enjoyment of the people who use it.
J-PRO patrols the coast passing out leaflets to visitors to provide information about facilities that are available, including medical hotline numbers in case of injuries from water accidents. Another important function they provide is storm information, or tsunami warnings in case of off-shore underwater earthquakes or tremors.
They also check and give cautions to groups or people who spoil the environment by attempting to throw unwanted trash or discard dangerous objects on the beaches.
J-PRO takes the protection of the coastal environment very seriously. This dedication contributes to saving lives as well as benefiting the numerous visitors who enjoy using the coastline facilities.