The Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center, was honored with a visit from Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Akishino, who were in town for the 11th Umi Festa Kyoto being held in northern Kyoto Prefecture.
Having been greeted by Director Takahito Yoshitaka and others from the Research Center, the Imperial couple was guided by Assistant Professor Yoshiaki Kai to the storage room for liquid-based fish specimens located on the second floor of the Aquatic Life Specimen Building. The Prince and Princess inspected specimens of gobies and oarfish while listening to the Assistant Professor's explanation.
The next stop for the couple was the live specimen building, where they observed fish juveniles swimming in the tank and listened to Associate Professor Reiji Masuda, Director of the Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, describe the experiments being conducted to determine how environmental factors impact the development and behavior of juvenile Japanese flounder, and an ongoing study aimed at leveraging threadsail filefish's feeding preference to prevent jellyfish blooms.
His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino, himself a researcher specializing in catfish, asked frequent questions as he listened intently to the Associate Professor's explanation.
The couple exchanged greetings with Nishi-Maizuru High School students, who had been at the facility for training, before leaving the site for home.
 The Imperial couple listening to Associate Professor Masuda, Director of the Maizuru Fisheries Research Station |  The Imperial couple watching juvenile Japanese flounder |
 Maizuru Fisheries Research Station |  Threadsail filefish preying on moon jellyfish (image taken from the briefing material prepared for the Imperial couple's visit) |
 The Ryokuyo-maru with Nishi-Maizuru High School students onboard |  Specimens of gobies |
Related link
- Maizuru Fisheries Research Station, Field Science Education and Research Center
http://www.maizuru.marine.kais.kyoto-u.ac.jp
