Japanese Boating Captain License.

Japan Boating License!

So unlike the States, where anyone can buy a boat and go out motoring or sailing, in Japan you must have a license, a government approved and tested lic. An exam is given on the water and on paper. For the most part it is the same as in the States for a USCG lic or the several levels of ASA boating.

 

 

The class consist of 4 days of classes and test. The first day is on the water, handling the boat, safety, docking , undocking, motor and equipment check. In my case since I was working and some other factors, I ended up taking that section last. In fact I just finished. I am sitting in Aoki school now waiting to start a meeting on my next job of picking up a boat in Okinawa. So whilst I wait for the others to show up and start our meeting I am doing this post.

 

There is two part to the license. A class 2-kyu which will allow one to boat up to 5 nautical miles from shore. The other 1-kyu which allows one to go anywhere. The first of the classroom section dealt with 1-kyu lic. Safety, rules of the road, etc light weight stuff mostly. The second part was more difficult. Navigation and issues with that. Not only was the information a little difficult although not as difficult as the USCG lic or even the ASA navigation course. This had the added trickiness of funny English.

 

 

In addition to the test problems on navigating there was figuring out just what was meant in the wording. Eg: sometime Japanese English can be answered with a No or Yes depending on who is asking or listening either could be correct. 

 

Another issue with the class at least for me was an American taking the class, talked a lot! Not only talked a lot but kept trying to show his knowledge level. It was confusing at time when trying to figure out sometime and asking the Sensei and this guy is saying, oh this is the way I learned, this way is easier, this is how it is done in the States, etc etc. It tested my patience. It was also disrespectful to the Sensei, in my opinion. how fortunate I was not the Sensei, he would have been called on his behavior.

 

The total of this class was four, one guy who was from Sweden but spent time in the States, an Italian, the American and myself. Everyone was nice, just the American was…well American, basicly loud and pushy. Know what they call, loud, pushy, high school students.Yanks.

 

So little by little by we finished up things, took the class 2 test, then on to the study the next day for class 1. I was a bit nervous about the navigation part. There was one question which gave me problems , that turned out to be because my starting point A was off. Once that was figured out it fell into place with the answer. Yatta!

 

Everyone passed and we took a group photo together. I still had the water part to take, but that was not a worry for me, the hard part was done.

 

 

As of this writing, everything is done, I finished and pass the water part. It was the easiest for me.

Now i am officially able to sail in Japan using a Japan registered boat. Another piece of the settling Japan puzzle falls into place.

 

Now sporting my new Zen boating wear. I am off to Okinawa tomorrow, sailing with the master himself, Yoh Aoki.

 

Yatta!