The Gunjo Foundation (the “Foundation”) announces that its Board of Directors resolved, at its regular meeting held on November 1, 2026, to separate the “Survey and Related Projects Concerning the Tsukishima Barge (Imperial Japanese Navy 15-Meter Motor Launch)” (the “Project”) from the Foundation and make it independent.
The background and future plans are as follows.
1. Reason for the Separation
As the Project reached the stage of considering the actual salvage and preservation of the vessel, the Foundation determined that it would go far beyond the scope of the Foundation’s purpose, namely activities conducted in the public interest (non-profit activities).
2. Establishment of a New Organization
In light of this, Ryota Ikeda, Director of the Maritime Department, who was in charge of the Project, proposed that the Project be separated from the Foundation and that a new organization dedicated solely to the Project be established. After deliberation, the Foundation approved the proposal.
- Name of the new organization (planned): Tsukishima Blue Boat Preservation Society (月島の青い船保存会)
- Activities: To be established as an organization dedicated solely to the Project
The Foundation will have no involvement whatsoever in the new organization.
3. Retirement of Officers
In connection with the transfer of the Project to the new organization, the following two officers were relieved of their positions and retired from the Foundation effective November 1, 2026, in accordance with their own requests. Both will now devote themselves to launching and running the new organization.
The Foundation expresses its sincere gratitude for their dedicated service.
Retiring Officers (effective November 1, 2026)
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Honorary Chair | Tomotaka Hara |
| Director for Maritime | Ryota Ikeda |