パラオ国際サンゴセンター、これも今回の天皇皇后両陛下パラオ訪問であまりメディアが取り上げていない件だと思う。
天皇陛下は「ハゼ」のご専門家なのだそうである。
皇居には約１０万体のハゼの標本がある、のだそうだ。
下記のニュースによれば同センターはパラオ中を駆け巡ってハゼを集めたそうである。
アクアマリンふくしまのSakaue Jiro さんの協力も得て展示会が準備されたという。
この展示のうらばなしが紹介されていました。
パラオ国際サンゴ礁センター（パラオ水族館）非公式ブログ より
http://blog.goo.ne.jp/coralreefcenter/e/40f49cd40f52c86c1aaea9f8513d7bfa
日本の皇室は自然科学への造詣が深い、確か平安時代からの事ではなかろうか？
もっと前からかもしれない。
あの「分類学の父」リンネ協会ともご縁が深いのだと思う。
（リンネ協会のフェローになっている愚夫の情報によれば天皇陛下は同協会パトロンなのだそうだ！）
「リンネ誕生300年記念行事での基調講演」
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/okotoba/01/koen/koen-h19e-linne.html
ところで、このパラオ国際サンゴセンターこそ、日米コモンアジェンダの太平洋を代表する案件なのである。
日米協力、という点では課題が多いと聞いてきたが、天皇皇后両陛下のご訪問をきっかけに改善されることを期待したい。
「太平洋で展開する日米コモンアジェンダ」
http://blog.canpan.info/yashinomi/archive/495
それで思い出したが、昨年オバマ大統領が指名した駐パラオ大使。議会が承認せず１年以上保留だった。それが天皇皇后両陛下訪問の前月３月に急遽就任。
さすがに、米国のバックヤードであるパラオに大使不在というはまずい、と思ったのではなかろうか？
穿った見方かもしれないが、天皇皇后両陛下のパラオ訪問が米国の議会も動かしたのではなかろうか？
「在パラオの新米国大使横顔」
http://blog.canpan.info/yashinomi/archive/872
「パラオのニュース」
http://blog.canpan.info/yashinomi/archive/1125
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PICRC makes history by welcoming Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan, to the Palau Aquarium
WRITTEN BY ADMINISTRATOR
MONDAY, 13 APRIL 2015 23:48
Islands Times
On April 8, 2015, Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) experienced one of its greatest moments in its 15 year history as it welcomed the Imperial Couple, Their Majesties, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan to the Palau Aquarium. The Imperial Couple visited PICRC directly from the airport after being welcomed to Palau by President Remengesau, First Lady Debbie Remengesau and other Palauan leaders. The Board of Directors and staff of PICRC were at hand to welcome their Majesties’arrival at the PICRC compound where the Palau Aquarium is located.
Dr. Yimnang Golbuu, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PICRC, welcomed the Emperor and Empress to their compound which was recently decorated with fresh local flower arrangements, and introduced them to the Board Members and staff. Their Majesties then proceeded toward the Palau Aquarium where Chief Aquarist, Mr. Asap Bukurrou, briefed them on the special exhibition on the gobies of Palau.
After viewing the special goby exhibition, the Emperor and Empress moved to other tank exhibits, including the Nautilus belauensis (Kedarm) and the outer reef display, the biggest and one of their most popular displays. Dr. Golbuu provided the briefing on these exhibits. Their Majesties were very pleased with the goby display; asked questions on the nautilus and coral displays and also stopped to admire the flower arrangements made by the staff.
To prepare the special goby exhibit, PICRC staff made several field trips to locate and obtain gobies from the upper reaches of our rivers to midstream, down to the mangroves and all the way to the outer reefs and down to 150 feet deep. “We are grateful for the support and cooperation of the different states in Palau, without which, we would not have been able to put on the special exhibition on gobies. In addition to the states of Palau, we also received assistance and support in making our display from our sister aquarium from Japan, Aquamarine Fukushima and Mr. Jiro Sakaue,” according to Dr. Golbuu.
After the tour of the Palau Aquarium, The Emperor and Empress presented their special gift to PICRC. “We were extremely honored and privileged to welcome Their Majesties to the Palau Aquarium”, stated Dr. Golbuu. The visit touched all of us at PICRC, who were able to attend this historic moment. It will stay with us forever. We would like to give our special thanks to the Palau’s Ministry of State and the Embassy of Japan, for helping us prepare for special visit by the Imperial Couple.”
