日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Jul 18, 2025 (Fri)

‌【Interview】Kenji Hongan, NYK Country Head for the Philippines, to Foster the Maritime Leader from Philippines

Kenji Hongan, NYK Country Head for the Philippines

　The Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of seafarers. Japanese carriers operate seafarer tr ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80The+Philippines+is+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+supplier+of+seafarers.+Japanese+carriers+operate+seafarer+training+facilities+and+merchant+marine+universities+there%2C+and+are+focusing+on+training+Filipino+seafarers+who+will+support+their+core+fleets.+The+Philippines%E2%80%99+average+age+is+quite+young+compared+to+other+Asian+countries%2C+and+its+population+is+growing%2C+so+training+and+utilizing+Filipino+seafarers+holds+the+key+to+the+long-term+development+of+Japanese+shipping.+There+is+also+great+potential+for+economic+growth%2C+and+demand+for+logistics+is+expected+to+expand.+We+asked+the+heads+of+Japanese+3+big+carriers+about+their+business+development+in+the+Philippines.+The+first+guest+is+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Country+Head+for+the+Philippines+Kenji+Hongan+%28at+the+time+of+the+interview%2C+currently+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Resident+Representative+of+Manila%29.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+Philippines%E2%80%99+position+within+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COur+joint+venture+with+Transnational+Diversified+Group+%28TDG%29%2C+which+is+involved+in+comprehensive+logistics+business+in+the+country%2C+has+expanded+to+11+companies+in+areas+such+as+seafarers%2C+logistics+and+business+process+outsourcing+%28BPO%29.+In+that+sense%2C+the+Philippines+is+a+good+example+of+%E2%80%99co-creation%2C%E2%80%99+a+keyword+set+out+in+the+medium-term+management+plan.+Filipinos+account+for+70%25+of+the+crew+members+on+ships+managed+by+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%2C+and+crew+dispatch+is+the+core+of+our+business+in+the+Philippines.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+current+status+of+the+crew+dispatch+business%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+business+is+managed+by+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E-Fil+Ship+Management%2C+a+crewing+company+we+established+with+TDG+in+1989.+The+company+is+responsible+for+manning+Filipino+crew+members%2C+totaling+7%2C000+members+and+employees%2C+on+approximately+220+ships.+The+scale+of+this+business+is+on+the+large+side+of+the+seafarer+market.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+2000%2C+in+order+to+improve+the+level+of+training%2C+%E2%80%99%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E-Fil+Maritime+E-Training%E2%80%99+%28NETI%29+was+launched+as+a+separate+entity+from+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E-Fil+to+operate+seafarer+training+facilities.+The+company+trains+approximately+12%2C000+seafarers+per+year.+Since+the+coronavirus+pandemic+ended%2C+NETI+has+been+accepting+more+students+from+other+companies.+Now%2C+students+from+outside+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+account+for+30%25+of+all+students.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Operating+a+merchant+marine+university+for+18+years+built+the+foundation+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+did+you+proceed+with+external+sales+of+seafarer+training%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+have+been+selling+training+courses+to+some+extent+for+about+20+years%2C+but+when+MarCoPay%2C+which+operates+a+financial+platform+%28PF%29+business+for+seafarers%2C+was+founded+in+Manila+in+2019%2C+our+collaboration+with+them+has+made+great+strides.+MarCoPay+has+built+a+community+of+seafarers+that+includes+ship+management+companies%2C+manning+companies%2C+etc.+It+is+great+that+the+company+is+able+to+demonstrate+its+marketing+capabilities+by+precisely+grasping+the+needs+of+seafarers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+effects+did+you+gain+from+being+one+of+the+first+to+set+up+your+own+independent+merchant+marine+university%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CTo+ensure+a+continuous+supply+of+talented+personnel%2C+we+began+operating+the+%E2%80%99%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E-TDG+Maritime+Academy%E2%80%99+%28NTMA%29%2C+a+merchant+marine+university+in+Calamba+City%2C+near+Manila+in+2007.+Now+that+18+years+have+passed+since+NTMA+opened%2C+I+feel+that+the+results+of+our+diligent+efforts+in+training+high-quality+seafarers+are+steadily+and+clearly+emerging.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CNTMA+has+already+produced+over+1%2C500+graduates+and+has+an+extremely+low+turnover+rate.+The+number+of+people+working+at+the+front+lines+of+ship+operations+as+captains+and+chief+engineers+is+increasing.+Furthermore%2C+the+opportunities+for+NTMA+graduates+to+work+have+expanded+beyond+just+ships+to+include+land-based+jobs%2C+which+has+had+a+major+impact.+As+the+shortage+of+maritime+personnel+becomes+more+pronounced+worldwide%2C+NTMA+graduates+are+becoming+indispensable+to+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+as+it+strengthens+its+core+business+and+expands+its+business+domain.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Contributing+to+business+expansion+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--How+are+NTMA+graduates+contributing+to+strengthening+the+core+business+of+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+and+expanding+its+business+areas%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+is+expanding+its+business+domains+in+many+areas%2C+but+due+to+the+global+labor+shortage%2C+the+number+of+personnel+allocated+to+this+is+insufficient.+There+is+a+particular+shortage+of+Japanese+people%2C+who+has+traveled+around+the+world+before+and+played+the+role+of+a+pioneer+in+developing+new+businesses+and+markets.+In+this+environment%2C+many+Filipino+seafarers+have+been+trained+as+maritime+technicians+who+can+also+take+on+land-based+jobs.+Therefore%2C+they+are+taking+on+more+and+more+responsibility+for+existing+services+previously+handled+by+Japanese+crew+members.+This+has+created+a+momentum+for+Japanese+people+to+venture+into+new+fields.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+kind+of+land-based+duties+are+NTMA+graduates+responsible+for%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFor+example%2C+the+dozen+or+so+NTMA+graduates+working+at+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E%E2%80%99s+Tokyo+head+office+are+engaged+in+a+wide+range+of+duties%2C+including+dry+bulk+operations+and+quality+control%2C+supervision+of+ship+management+companies%2C+maritime+audits+and+support+for+autonomous+ships.+As+talented+people+with+a+background+in+maritime+engineering+are+becoming+increasingly+scarce+around+the+world%2C+we+are+asking+them+to+not+only+continue+with+the+land-based+work+of+our+existing+business%2C+but+also+to+take+on+challenges+in+new+fields.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Our+mission+is+to+develop+human+resources+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--You+have+been+training+Filipino+seafarers.+What+do+you+think+about+it%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CYou+can%E2%80%99t+train+people+overnight.+NTMA+was+founded+18+years+ago%2C+and+we+have+continued+to+foster+a+culture+of+developing+excellent+human+resources+on+our+own.+This+matched+well+with+the+external+environment+of+a+global+labor+shortage+and+the+current+strategy+of+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+to+expand+its+business+domain.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CEffective+utilization+of+talented+Filipinos+is+an+extremely+important+issue+for+our+group+as+we+enter+new+business+fields.+I+believe+that+my+biggest+job+is+to+prepare+for+this%2C+that+is%2C+to+train+Filipino+seafarers+as+effectively+as+possible.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Polishing+hospitality+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+initiatives+are+you+particularly+focusing+on+using+the+human+resources+you+have+developed%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMost+recently%2C+we+have+been+focusing+on+training+crew+members+for+the+new+cruise+ship+%E2%80%99Asuka+III%E2%80%99%2C+which+will+be+operated+by+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+CRUISES%2C+due+to+launch+in+July.+Like+the+existing+ship+%E2%80%99Asuka+II%E2%80%99%2C+Japan+is+the+largest+market+for+%E2%80%99Asuka+III%E2%80%99%2C+so+staff+will+need+to+be+able+to+speak+Japanese.+Filipinos+have+an+astonishing+ability+to+learn+new+languages%2C+in+addition+to+their+English+proficiency.+Their+cheerfulness%2C+which+is+their+national+character%2C+is+also+quite+appealing.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CMost+importantly%2C+Filipinos+can+provide+heartfelt+service+to+both+Japanese+and+non-Japanese+customers.+Through+our+many+years+of+operating+ships+such+as+the+%E2%80%99Asuka+II%E2%80%99%2C+we+are+proud+to+have+further+refined+the+aforementioned+qualities+of+our+Filipino+staff+and+nurtured+them+as+cruise+ship+staff+who+can+demonstrate+a+high+level+of+hospitality.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+believe+that+personnel+with+this+level+of+hospitality+will+not+only+be+useful+in+ship+management+and+operation+management+for+Disney+Cruises+in+partnership+with+The+Oriental+Land+Company%2C+but+will+also+be+the+key+to+realizing+the+development+and+expansion+of+various+new+businesses+in+the+future.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Becoming+people+who+can+change+the+country+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+are+some+potential+new+businesses+that+you+can+send+personnel+trained+in+the+Philippines%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group+is+committed+to+further+strengthening+its+engineering+business+both+on+board+and+on+land%2C+and+merged+two+of+its+technical+subsidiaries%2C+Boltech+and+AMCO+Engineering%2C+in+April.+Engineers+are+crucial+to+strengthen+the+engineering+business%2C+and+we+could+potentially+send+Filipino+workers+to+this+business.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+need+for+marine+engineers+is+also+increasing+in+new+energy+fields+such+as+offshore+wind+power+generation.+Offshore+wind+power+projects+are+just+beginning+to+get+underway+in+Japan.+In+the+Philippines%2C+the+government+has+also+indicated+plans+to+have+at+least+one+unit+operational+by+2028%2C+and+port+development+may+begin+soon.+In+that+case%2C+there+will+be+demand+for+the+transportation+of+equipment+and+materials%2C+so+we+would+like+to+capture+that+demand+in+collaboration+with+Yusen+Logistics+Philippines.+Other+major+companies+in+the+area+include+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3ETDG+Philippines%2C+which+provides+finished+vehicle+logistics+services+and+has+built+strong+relationships+of+trust+with+shippers.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+kind+of+people+will+be+needed+in+the+future%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CIn+the+coming+uncertain+times%2C+there+will+likely+be+more+and+more+situations+in+which+existing+rules+and+customer+needs+will+change.+In+this+environment%2C+it+is+key+to+develop+talented+people+who+not+only+have+the+necessary+skills+now%2C+such+as+operating+the+ship+and+providing+hospitality+on+cruise+ships%2C+but+also+have+the+ability+to+adapt+to+change+and+lead+others.+We+need+to+develop+leaders+who+can+be+involved+in+the+rule-making+process+when+the+rules+change.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+Philippines+has+many+talented+young+people+who+could+become+such+leaders.+If+we+can+properly+deploy+these+people+in+various+parts+of+the+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Group%2C+we+will+surely+have+the+power+to+compete+with+the+world.+My+biggest+job+is+to+increase+the+number+of+Filipino+fans+both+inside+and+outside+the+company.+%E2%80%99I+want+you+to+become+a+leader+who+can+change+the+country+of+the+Philippines.%E2%80%99+This+is+what+I+tell+Filipino+seafarers+and+current+students+and+graduates+of+NTMA+%28%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E-TDG+Maritime+Academy%29.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%28Published+from+time+to+time%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Kenji+Hongan%3A+Graduated+from+Kobe+University+of+Mercantile+Marine+in+1998+and+joined+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E.+After+serving+as+captain+and+head+of+the+maritime+group+safety+team+in+2010%2C+he+became+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Country+Head+for+the+Philippines+in+2022+and+%3Cb%3ENYK%3C%2Fb%3E+Resident+Representative+of+Manila+in+April+2025.+Born+in+May+1975%2C+50+years+old.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【邦船3社に聞くフィリピン展開】(1)日本郵船フィリピン国代表・本元謙司氏(取材当時)、時代の先導者 比国から輩出

2025/07/18(金)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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