Nippon Maru II

designed and built by Sumitomo Heavy Industries as replacement ship for the "Nippon Maru I", which was decommissioned from active service as a sailtraining ship in 1984.

the ship's design was developed in test tanks and a wind tunnel using computer calculations, launched on 15 February 1984 and commissioned on 16 September 1984 in the presence of the Crown Prince and Princess of Japan as training ship for merchant navy officer cadets.

represented Japan at the Australian Bicentennial tall ship gathering in January 1988, took part in the Kagoshima to Osaka Tall Ships Race in 1997 and in Sail Osaka 1997.

until 2000 she was awarded three times (1986, 1989, 1993) the International Sail Training Association's Boston Teapot Trophy for having been the training ship that covered the most miles under sail over a period of 124 hours during the given year.

the word "Nippon" means "Japan", the word "Maru" is appended to most Japanese merchant vessels, it is a term of endearment that also conveys the idea of endeavour.