Micronesian Canoe in Osaka

On July 30, 2025, Ambassador Kagomiya visited the National Museum of Ethnology (MINPAKU) in Osaka and toured the outrigger canoe Chechemeni along with President Simina and his delegation, who were in Japan to attend the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
 
Chechemeni was built in Satawal, Yap State of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and navigated 3000km (1864mi, 1620nm) using traditional methods to Okinawa in 1975 to participate in the International Ocean Exposition. This canoe has then been displayed at MINPAKU since 1977 and has to be displayed at an angle to fit in the building due to its size. MINPAKU houses exhibits displaying ethnological and cultural anthropological from across the world, and Ambassador Kagomiya and the FSM delegation viewed the displays showcasing the Pacific Islands’ fishing, trade, cooking, and navigation methods that are displayed around the canoe. Ambassador Kagomiya learned about the canoe and the navigation methods from President Simina and members of his delegation and was deeply impressed by the traditional techniques used.