Wan/Yura-Oishi Research Village was held in July of 1996. At that conference, a recommendation was made that Awajishima be presented as the blue-green model for the next millennium. association with the color green might be utilization of next-generation electric-powered vehicles, while the blue would refer to the coastal projects. Should this sanction be obtained, then there would be a clear interface conformed with Project Green Enertopia, paving the way for a higher level of federal funding under the watchful eye of the world community. Among the initial highlights would be;
・ The Osaka-wan/Yura-Oishi Research Village, where the site has been selected and early planning has been consummated.
・ The first truly natural ocean park, where human visitors can view undersea life through protected Lucite tunnels and bubble domes. Singapore has an artificial version of such a concept, so has San Francisco, and a more natural plan has been unveiled for Honolulu.
・ The first marine resort, where at least a wing of the hotel, a restaurant, and the ballroom can be located underwater, and below the active surf zone, so that hotel guests would have a spectacular view of the natural marine environment.
Marine construction technology is today capable of designing underwater structures. The greater challenge is to make the facilities earthquake-, typhoon, and tsunami-proof. A complementary need might be for sea water movement and displacement, as the waters around Awajishima might not be clear enough for ocean park and general viewing requirements.
3. CONCLUSIONS
The MARICO timetable is such that the Kansai and Kobe airports will initially be connected. As the population density is high in this corridor, the rationality is sound. The line will not be extended to Awajishima until the 2006-2010 time frame. A possibly worrisome question would be whether the three stops on Awajishima can be justified. Certainly, the placement of these links where the population base is low can be defended from an overall planning perspective. In addition, if the circular route prevails, then at least one stop will need to be on the island. However, the priority balance can better be justified if there are unique features to draw national and world attention to the island.
Thus, while the incorporation of one-of-a- kind attractions can serve this purpose, perhaps more importantly, the special distinction can escalate interest to support and finance the entire project. A transportation corridor designed to:
・ withstand natural disasters;
・ relieve Kansai of traffic, noise, and air pollution problems;
・ clean up Osaka Bay;
・ spread the population density around Osaka-wan;
・ feature international corridor links; and
・ feed into the Blue Enertopia with first-of- its-kind natural ocean parks, undersea hotels, and a state-of-the-science environmental village should be an attractive proposition to a citizenry seeking creative solutions for the next millennium.
REFERENCES
1. Private communication from H. Y. Yu, Secretariat for the Seoul APEC S&T Ministers' Conference, to the APEC IST meeting of experts, March 28, 1996.
