Designated as a National Important Cultural Property
－For the first time for a preserved ship at sea－

It was officially designated as a National Important Cultural Property by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology notification on August 17, 2016. It is the first important cultural property designation as a preserved ship at sea.

The main points evaluated are the following two points.

1.Role in social and economic history

From the first half of the twentieth century to the middle of it, when cargo-passenger ships took heavy responsibility for international carriage of goods by the Sea Act. She was assigned to the Japan-Seattle line on the North America route, which was one of the main international routes at that time. She also worked as a hospital ship during World War II, and as a ship for demobilization/repatriation just after it.

2.Shipbuilding and craft technology value

The Ship was graced with a large state-of-the -art diesel engine in 1930. And her beautiful Art Deco interior is the first one imported directly into Japan.

〈Reference Materials〉

August 17, 2016.　Official Gazette　No.181,　Notification No.116 of Ministry of Education（Historical data）

Supplementary Documents of Yokohama Ship Line Co., Ltd. : Hikawa Maru,1930,

Marin's logbook 8,　Drawing Seat　455