Okinawa Churashima Foundation RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Research on marine organisms

Research activity report

2024: Aquarium staff members received an award for best technique and research at the Journal of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2024
2023: Publication of scientific paper on age and body characteristics of captive green turtles at the onset of sexual maturation!
2023: Publication of a scientific paper on the birth and nursing of false killer whales in captivity!
2023: Latest news about the artificial uterus apparatus for sharks! Successful stable rearing of shark pups born from an artificial uterus.
2023: Publication of “The Churaumi Twilight Zone” a picture book about strange but beautiful deep-sea creatures.
2023: A scientific paper written by researchers of Okinawa Churashima Foundation was one of the top cited articles of Marine Mammal Science in 2021-2022!
2023: Paper published on the migration of humpback whale populations between four areas of Japanese waters.
2023: Innovative water sampling method to detect habu kurage box jellyfish
2023: Paper published on the sterilization of male tilapia to reduce population.
2023: Are sclerites the key to sea pen evolution?
Revealing a new aspect of sea pen evolution!
2023: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium’s sea turtle research received a Koga Award, Japan’s highest　award for rare species breeding.
2023: Scientific paper published on the genetic research advances our understanding of whale shark vision
2023: Scientific paper published on ecological study of wild whale sharks
2022: Collaborative study with overseas research teams on the impact of whale watching and whale tourism on humpback whales
2022: First discovery of the tiny thread pipefish in Japanese waters
2022: First confirmation in Japanese waters of the brackishwater frogfish
2022: The daily patterns in the singing activity of male humpback whales revealed!
2022: Development of a simple method for filtering environmental DNA samples.
2022: Publication of scientific paper on the breeding of a third-generation loggerhead turtle!
2022: Long-term monitoring of egg-laying cycle using ultrasonography reveals the reproductive dynamics of circulating sex steroids in an oviparous catshark, Scyliorhinus torazame.
2022: Aquarium staff members received an award for best technique and research at the Journal of Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2022
2022: Scientific paper published on the speed of digestion in an Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin!
2022: Publication of scientific paper on reducing the aggressive behavior of hawksbill turtles!
2021: Aquarium staff members received an award for best presentation at the 47th Marine Mammal Specialist Conference
2021: Development of an AI automatic humpback whale identification system! Successfully identified over a thousand whales from photographs of their tail fins!
2021: First record of the Japanese blue-spotted seabream off the coast of Okinawa Main Island!
2021: Publication of scientific paper on reducing aggressive behavior in a pygmy killer whale!
2021: Paper published on evaluation of Marine Debris Ingestion in Sea Turtles around Okinawa Island.
2021: Paper published on Addition of the Sea Snake, Hydrophis stokesii to the Herpetofauna of Japan.
2021: Growth analysis and population size of coconut crabs inhabiting Ocean Expo Park.
2021: Publication of scientific paper on the gestation and birth of a captive pantropical bottlenose dolphin
2021: WHALE SHARKS a new book all about whale sharks has been published
2021: A third stranding on Okinawa of the rare Longman’s beaked whale!
2021: Research presentation on the sperm whale stranding at Naha Airport received an award of excellence!
2021: Paper published on hawksbill turtles nesting on Okinawa Island
2021: The genetic traits of the weatherfish Misgurnus sp. OK, an endangered species endemic to Okinawa.
2021: Hard as steel! Understanding the microstructure of a coconut crab’s claw
2021: Publication of a scientific paper of Okinawa’s first record of the rare Longman’s beaked whale.
2021: Publication of scientific paper on the movement of humpback whales between Okinawa and the Philippines!
2021: Maintaining neutral buoyancy by sucking in air? A new theory on the mechanism of whale shark feeding
2021: Publication of scientific paper on genetic identification of goby larvae.
2021: Recorded for the first time! Publication of a scientific paper on the discovery of a stranded newborn Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus).
2021: Publication of scientific paper on the megamouth shark not being a luminous species
2020: A report of an individual humpback whale found in both Okinawa and Hokkaido published in the journal Honyurui Kagaku (Mammalian Science).
2020: Paper published on the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) from 291 fish species in coral reef seawater samples
2020: Releasing a green turtle after rehabilitation at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
2020: Stools are held in until birth! Publication of scientific paper on fecal accumulation in stingray fetuses.
2020: Genetic evidence of interactions by whale sharks in Japanese waters with whale sharks around the world
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the relationship between pregnancy and white blood cells in female false killer whales
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the artificial insemination and hatching of giant oarfish
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the reproductive ability of elderly Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the stability of body temperature in whale sharks.
2020: The 2019 Okinawa Humpback Whale Conference: Sharing Knowledge about Dolphin and Whale Watching in Different Regions – (Held at Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum)
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the discovery of a new humpback whale breeding ground.
2020: Publication of a scientific papers on the sound production mechanism of coconut crabs
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the first record of Larsonella pumilus in Japan
2020: Publication of scientific paper on photo-identification matching of humpback whales migrating between Russian waters and North Pacific.
2020: Internal structure of the whale shark’s heart revealed
2020: Anthia species Plectranthias sheni recorded for the first time in Okinawan waters.
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the foraging behavior of whale sharks using stable isotope analysis
2020: Publication of scientific paper on the sexual maturation of a male whale shark
2019: Publication of a scientific paper on strandings and bycatch of humpback whales
2019: Cleaning conducted on beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs
2019: Conservation of rare freshwater fish: Fish ladder cleaning conducted at the Genka River
2019: A new theory on the reason for bioluminescence in lantern sharks. Publication of a paper on lantern shark bioluminescence.
2019: Research on the coconut crab broadcast on NETFLIX
2019: A lecture on humpback whale research is available to watch on YouTube
2018: A world’s first! Successful captive breeding, producing a third generation of hawksbill sea turtles!
2018: Embryo swims from one uterus to the other! Publication of a scientific paper on the embryonic behavior of a captive tawny nurse shark
2018: Publication of a scientific paper on the long-distance movement of a hawksbill turtle from Okinawa to Indonesia
2018: Publication of a scientific paper on the collection of the jellyfish Sanderia malayensis from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Okinawa.
2018: Publication of a scientific paper on the captive delivery of a tiger shark
2018: Google Voyager story features the humpback whale surveys conducted by the Churashima Foundation
2018: Publication of a paper on the first Japanese record of a rare grenadier Coelorinchus sheni
2018: Publication of a scientific paper on the first Japanese record of the (Kawa-umihebi) Lamnostoma mindorum (Actinopterygii: Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae)
2018: Implementation of artificial intelligence for coconut crab research
2018: 2017 Okinawa Humpback Whale Conference was held at Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum to discuss “Sustaining Whale Watching Businesses in Okinawa”
2018: Publication of Scientific Paper on the Successful Captive Breeding of Black Turtles
2018: World’s first confirmation of sexual maturity in a Alfred manta ray, Mobula alfredi, by long-term monitoring!!
2017: A third generation of loggerhead sea turtles was born!
2017: The Mammal Society of Japan Journalism Award received for scientific paper on the distribution of humpback whales around Okinawa
2017: A baby false killer whale is born!
2017: Scientific paper published on the mating behaviors of loggerhead turtles.
2017: Breeding success of captive black turtle!!
2017: How do the white shark embryos receive oxygen without placenta?
2017: Scientific paper published on Okinawa’s rare freshwater fishes the Oriental weatherfish and Asian swamp eel.
2016: Scientific paper published concerning distribution characteristic of humpback whale.
2016: Scientific paper published concerning the local movements of humpback whales in Okinawan waters.
2016: Scientific paper published on the appearance of the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins in the waters near Amami Oshima.
2016: Great white sharks have embryonic teeth! X-ray CT scan images clarify the mysterious growth processes of great white shark embryos.
2016: Paper published on the astonishingly strong claws of coconut crabs.
2016: Publication of an article on the mysterious reproductive mode of the great white shark.
2016: Publication of an article on the reproductive behavior of humpback whales
2016: Publication of article on the feeding behavior of the goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni
2016: Publication of a paper concerning new record of Oceania armat
2016: Publication of research into the sedentary behavior of coconut crabs
2015: Publication of a paper concerning the reproductive mode of tiger sharks.
2015: The eggs from a mother turtle killed in a traffic accident were artificially incubated, hatched, and then released
2015: A paper has been published concerning the respiratory system of embryonic dogfishes.
2015: A paper has been published concerning oocyte maturity and the concentration of blood hormones in female whale sharks.
2015: Publication of a paper concerning vitellogenesis and estrus of the sea turtle (Hawksbill turtle).
2015: Publication of a paper concerning semen evaluation of sea turtle (Hawksbill turtle)
2015: Publication of a paper concerning the oviposition of sea turtles.
2015: Host the "Okinawa Fish Research Exchange", a study meeting in a form of conference presentation for the purpose of intercommunication for fish researchers from institutes in Okinawa. (Venue: Nago Prefectural Youth Center)
2015: 2015 Okinawa Humpback Whale Conference 〜Pursuing the Mysteries of Whale Songs〜
2015: Research meeting: “Physiology of Cartilaginous Fishes (Chondrichthyes) and Developments in Reproduction Research”
2015: "Signals of Vitellogenesis and Estrus in Female Hawksbill Turtles" published on Zoological Science
2014: "Records of Gerres macracanthus(genus of Gerreidae)from Okinawa" published on Fauna Ryukyuana
2014: "Semen Evaluation of Captive Hawksbill Turtles" published on Chelonian Conservation and Biology
2014: "Induction of Oviposition by the Administration of Oxytocin in Hawksbill Turtles" published on Zoological Science
2014: Okinawa Humpback Whale Conference - Helpful Information for Whale Watching(Venue: Okinawa Truck Association)
2014: 1^st Discussion Meeting for Researcher Interchange “Approach to Physiological and Theriogenological Research of Cartilaginous Fish – Issues and approaches on overcoming them”(Venue: Okinawa Prefectural Nago Youth Center)
2013: Okinawa Humpback Whale Conference - Thinking About Whale Watching in Okinawa (Venue: Okinawa Prefectural Nago Youth Center)
2013: Joint hosting of the 9th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference (Okinawa Convention Center)
2013: Satellite Symposium “The Filter-Feeding Elasmobranchs, Unraveling their many mysteries”(Venue: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)

Okinawa Churashima Foundation Research Institute