Kobe Ocean-bottom Exploration Center (KOBEC) was established in 1 October 2015 as the fundamental research promotion organization, aiming at forming of the first and only marine education and research base in Japan located in international port city, Kobe.

[Purposes and Objectives]

KOBEC aims at 4 objectives by our advantages and characteristics as follows;

Advanced sea area researches by using Training Ship “Kaijin Maru”
exploration, observation, geological research to mitigate disaster caused by ocean incident such as marine volcanic activity, subsea earthquake, tsunami
evaluation of metal deposits associated with submarine caldera
development of ocean exploration technology
Educational and outreaching activity toward the development of maritime and/or maritime human resources
Facilitation of international scientific ocean drilling programs
Joint Research together with Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and other universities

[Outline of 6 divisions]

（1）Ship Operation and Exploration Management Division

Planning and implementation of shipping schedule of Sea area exploration by Using the Kaijin Maru, and conduct of ocean-bottom exploration practical program including basic observation method (sounding, seismic waves, magnetic force)

Ship operation for the submarine caldera exploration
Development of practical program by using ships
Design and development of practical training (observation equipment), etc.

【Chief】Masaki FUCHI, associate professor of graduate school of maritime sciences (merchant marine science), Ph. D in Human Science

【Other Members】Mamoru SANO, Hikaru IWAMARU, Mitsuteru KUNO, and Haruki DOI who belong to Nippon Marine Enterprise

（2）Marine Geophysics Division

This division conducts research and education in the study of the ocean floor and the underlying crust and mantle.

Investigating the Earth’s interior to understand geodynamics
Developing new instruments to study the structure and evolution of the crust and mantle beneath the seafloor, and new methods to analyze these data

【Chief】Nobukazu SEAMA, professor of graduate school of Science (marine geophysics), Doctor of Science

【Other Members】Hiroko SUGIOKA (professor), Tetsuo MATSUNO (associate professor), Hironori OTSUKA (Project Research Associate), Tomoko HANYU-INOUE (researcher), Satoshi SHIMIZU (research collaborator), Yozo HAMANO (visiting professor, Tokyo University), Shuichi KODAIRA (visiting professor, JAMSTEC), Kazuo NAKAHIGASHI (visiting associate professor, Tokyo University of Marine Science & Technology)

（3）Marine Engineering Division

Implementation of education and search regarding development of advanced sea area observation, measuring equipment, network

Laying of equipment of seismograph, measuring equipment, water pressure gauge, etc.
Development and research of ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) or self-guided robot
Development of energy supply for continuous observation and information and communication technology

・Other ocean development technology

【Chief】Tokihiro KATSUI, professor of KOBEC (Aerospace, marine, and maritime Engineering / Marine and maritime engineering), Ph. D in Engineering

【Other Members】Yasuyoshi YOKOKOJI (professor), Shinichi AKUTAGAWA (professor), Naoki MOTOI (associate professor), Hirotada HASHIMOTO (visiting professor, Osaka Metropolitan University)

（4）Submarine Volcanology Division

Implementation of education and research regarding generation and accumulation of magma, eruption mechanism, and transportation process of volcanic ejecta in huge caldera volcanoes.

Magmatic processes in magma plumbing system beneath caldera volcano.
Long-term evolution of caldera volcanism.
Transportation processes of pyroclastic materials such as pyroclastic flow and volcanic ash, etc.

【Chief】Katsuya KANEKO, professor of graduate school of Science (natural sciences / solid earth science), Ph. D in Science (igneous petrology / magma dynamics)

【Other Members】Koji KIYOSUGI (lecturer), Reina NAKAOKA (assistant professor), Yoshiyuki TATSUMI (visiting professor), Keiko Suzuki (visiting professor), Takeshi HANYU (JAMSTEC)

（5）Active Structural Geology Division

Implementation of education and research regarding the risk of earthquake and tsunami phenomena on the basis of observation of fault and crustal activity, etc. in sea areas

Survey of active faults distributed around the Osaka Bay
Geological analysis by drilling core and structure exploration
Integration of geological survey of sea and land areas

【Chief】Yuzuru YAMAMOTO, professor of graduate school of Science (natural sciences / solid earth science), Ph. D in Science (liquefaction / submarine slope failure / subduction zone / structural geology / tectonics)

【Other Members】Masako MIKI (researcher)

（6）Marine Mineral Resource Evaluation Division

Implementation of education and research regarding the mechanism of hydrothermal circulation system in submarine caldera and ore genesis of marine mineral resources

Evaluation of potentiality of Kuroko-type hydrothermal deposits including critical metals
Data analysis study about quantity and quality of marine mineral resources
Repurposing know-how of past mineral exploration technique

【Chief】Junichiro ISHIBASHI, professor of KOBEC (natural sciences / space and planetary science), Ph. D in Science (Seafloor hydrothermal system / Economic Geology / Geochemistry)

【Other Members】Mitsuya HIROKAWA (Specially Appointed Professor, JOGMEC)

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