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Japanese icebreaker ship plows through Antarctic

Japanese Antarctic observation ship, the icebreaker Shirase, plows through settled ice in the Antarctic on Dec. 16, 2023, carrying Japan's 65th Antarctic expedition team. The ship is expected to anchor at the closest point to Japan's Showa base in the Antarctic later this month. (Pool photo)

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Japanese icebreaker ship plows through Antarctic

Japanese Antarctic observation ship, the icebreaker Shirase, plows through settled ice in the Antarctic on Dec. 16, 2023, carrying Japan's 65th Antarctic expedition team. The ship is expected to anchor at the closest point to Japan's Showa base in the Antarctic later this month. (Pool photo)

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Icebreaker in Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase is blocked by sea ice off Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica on Jan. 8, 2013. Japan's science ministry said on Jan. 11 that the icebreaker had failed to dock at the Showa Base for the second year in a row due to snow and thick ice. (Pool photo by a Kyodo News reporter traveling with Japan's Antarctic expedition team)

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Japanese expedition team in Antarctica

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Kentaro Watanabe (L), leader of Japan's latest expedition team, hands supplies to a wintering team at Showa Base in Antarctica on Dec. 19, 2012. At center is Hiroki Matsuda, captain of the icebreaker Shirase. The 54th expedition team arrived at the continent, joining the wintering team. (Pool photo by a Kyodo News reporter traveling with the 54th expedition team)

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Japanese icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2012, for Antarctica to support Japan's 54th expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton vessel was unable to dock at Japan's Showa Base the previous year, blocked by snow and thick ice, for the first time since 1994, meaning the expedition team had to reach the Antarctic base by air and land.

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Japanese icebreaker Shirase departs for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi Wharf in Tokyo Bay on Nov. 11, 2012, for Antarctica to support Japan's 54th expedition team to be deployed there. The 12,650-ton vessel was unable to dock at Japan's Showa Base the previous year, blocked by snow and thick ice, for the first time since 1994, meaning the expedition team had to reach the Antarctic base by air and land.

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Adelie penguins around south pole

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2011, shows Adelie penguins and abandoned eggs near Showa Base, a Japanese station in the Antarctic. Researchers there reported that increasing numbers of penguin parents have been abandoning their eggs recently. (Pool Photo)

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Japan team in Antarctic

ANTARCTIC, Antarctic - An Adelie penguin watches members of a Japanese expedition team work on the ice sheet off the country's Showa Base on Jan. 5, 2011. (Pool photo)

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 31, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic the same day. (Pool photo)

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Shirase reaches Showa Base in Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic ice sheet on Dec. 23, 2010. The 12,650-ton icebreaker, which is on a mission to support an Antarctic observation expedition, reached the offshore waters of the country's Showa Base in the Antarctic on Dec. 31, 2010. (Pool photo)

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Japanese expedition teams at Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - Members of Japan's 51st wintering team and 52nd Antarctic observation expedition team celebrate their reunion at Showa Base in Antarctic on Dec. 23, 2010. The 52nd team boarding the icebreaker Shirase delivered supplies and packages containing letters from families to the 51st team by helicopter, after the icebreaker reached a point about 20 kilometers from the base.

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Japanese Antarctic research team visits China's Zhongshan Station

ANTARCTICA, Antarctica - Members of the Japanese and Chinese Antarctic research expedition teams pose for photos at the Chinese Antarctic Zhongshan Station on Feb. 26, 2010. The Japanese researchers, who are on their way back to Japan, visited the Chinese station located 1,500 kilometers east of Japan's main Antarctic base Showa Station, to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Chinese base. (Pool photo)

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Icebreaker Shirase arrives at Showa Base in Antarctica

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japanese icebreaker Shirase sprays water as it plows through the Antarctic ice sheet near Japan's main Antarctic base, Showa Station, on Jan 10, 2010. The Shirase arrived at the Showa Station six days behind schedule as it encountered thick ice and snow. (Pool photo)

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Japanese icebreaker arrives at Antarctic base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force members walk on the ice bed to drive in the anchor of the Japanese icebreaker Shirase on Jan. 10, 2010, after reaching Japan's main Antarctic base, Showa Station. The ship reached the base six days behind schedule because of the unusually thick ice and snow that detained the ship's advance in the Antarctic Ocean. (Pool photo)

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Japan icebreaker proceeds in Antarctic

ANTARCTIC, Antarctic - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase makes its way through the Antarctic Ocean ice, 20 kilometers from Japan's main Antarctic base, Showa Station, on Jan. 9, 2010. (Pool photo)

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'Mochi' pounding at Showa Base in Antarctica

ANTARCTICA, Antarctica - Members of Japan's Antarctic expedition team pound a 'mochi' rice cake at the Showa Station in Antarctica on Dec. 27, 2009, in preparation for the new year. (Pool photo)

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Aurora observed by icebreaker Shirase

ABOARD THE SHIRASE, Antarctica - An aurora is observed on Feb. 26 from the 11,600-ton Icebreaker Shirase which bid farewell to Antarctica on Feb. 15 after 25 years in service. The icebreaker is staying to the east of Showa Base. (Pool photo)

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Icebreaker Shirase bids farewell to Antarctica

ABOARD THE SHIRASE, Antarctica - The 11,600-ton Icebreaker Shirase bid farewell to Antarctica on Feb. 15 after 25 years in service as it left Showa Base for Japan with a group of expedition members aboard. In front are members of another expedition team. (Pool photo)

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:Researchers study possible cataracts in Antarctic penguins

TOKYO, Japan - Two Japanese researchers take pictures of Adelie penguins at Langhode Cove in Antarctica to look for possible cataracts as a result of harmful ultraviolet rays penetrating the Earth's atmosphere through the ozone hole over the South Pole. The researchers say they have yet to find any sign of cataracts in the birds. Langhode, home to about 300 penguins, is 25 kilometers from Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica. The ozone hole over the South Pole is now bigger than the Antarctic continent. (Pool photo)

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Japan conducts CO2 study in Antarctic stratosphere

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Antarctic research expedition team successfully recovered on Dec. 30 two air study capsules launched by balloon that day to study the composition of carbon dioxide in the stratosphere above Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica. One capsule was launched to study the air composition at an altitude of 15 kilometers and the other to an altitude of 25 km. The capsules, recovered by helicopter from the Japanese Antarctic research ship Shirase, will be sent to Japan for analysis. Japan is the only country studying changes of carbon dioxide composition, a key factor in global warming, in the Antarctic stratosphere. The photo shows one of the air balloons launched on Dec. 30.

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Icebreaker Shirase arrives in fast ice off Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The icebreaker Shirase arrives in fast ice about 1,500 meters from Japan's Showa Base in the Antarctic on Dec. 26 for Japan's 49th Antarctic expedition. The vessel left Tokyo on Nov. 14. (Pool photo by reporter accompanying the expedition team)

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Japan's icebreaker ship plows through the Antarctic

TOKYO, Japan - Japan's Antarctic observation ship, the icebreaker Shirase, plows through settled ice in the Antarctic on Dec. 16 after moving through ice drifts in the region. The ship, carrying Japan's 49th Antarctic observation team, is expected to anchor at the closest point to Japan's Showa Base in the Antarctic later this month. (Pool photo)

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Japanese Antarctic observation team conduct kite plane survey

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Members of the Japanese Antarctic observation team conducted an aerial survey up to 1,200 meters using a small unmanned kite plane (photo taken on Jan. 30 near the Showa Base) to collect dust and weather data. (Pool photo)

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Japanese Antarctic observation team conduct kite plane survey

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Members of the Japanese Antarctic observation team conducted an aerial survey up to 1,200 meters using a small unmanned kite plane (photo taken on Jan. 30 near the Showa Base) to collect dust and weather data. (Pool photo)

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Japan marks 50th anniversary of Antarctic Showa Base

TOKYO, Japan - A ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Japan's Antarctic observation at the Showa Base is held at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Jan. 29 with live broadcasts from the base (L).

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Japan marks 50th anniversary of Antarctic Showa Base

TOKYO, Japan - Crown Prince Naruhito makes a speech at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Japan's Antarctic observation at the Showa Base at Meiji Kinenkan in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Jan. 29.

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Japanese astronaut Mohri in Antarctica

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri (L) and author Wahei Tatematsu pose with a colony of penguins found 20 kilometers away from the Japanese Antarctic base Showa on Jan. 12 during a visit there together with Japanese mountaineer Michiko Imai. The trio arrived at Showa Base on Jan. 7 as part of events to mark the 50th founding anniversary of the Antarctic research base. (Pool photo by Kyodo)

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Astronaut Mohri, others arrive at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri poses for photos at Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica on Jan. 7. Mohri, together with climber Michiko Imai and writer Wahei Tatematsu, arrived at the base the same day as part of events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the base's founding. (Pool photo)

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Astronaut Mohri leaves for Antarctic

NARITA, Japan - (From L to R) Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri, writer Wahei Tatematsu and mountaineer Michiko Imai prepare to leave Narita airport, east of Tokyo, on Jan. 3 for the Antarctic to observe Japanese activities at the Showa Base as part of events marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the base.

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Japan's Antarctic exploration ship arrives at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - The Antarctic exploration ship Shirase carrying the country's 48th Antarctic expedition team arrived at a point about 700 meters away from Japan's Showa Base on Dec. 23. The icebreaker, which left Tokyo on Nov. 14, carried 56 researchers and four journalists along with supplies for the expedition team.

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Japan's Antarctic exploration ship arrives at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Members of Japan's Antarctic expedition team welcome the Antarctic exploration ship Shirase, which arrived at a point about 700 meters away from Japan's Showa Base on Dec. 23. The icebreaker, which left Tokyo on Nov. 14, carried 56 researchers and four journalists along with supplies for the expedition team.

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Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition arrives at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Hiroshi Miyaoka (L), leader of Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition, shakes hands with Kokichi Kamiyama (R), who heads the 47th expedition, on the group's arrival at the base on Dec. 19. The 47th team has been conducting observations since December last year. (Pool photo)

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Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition arrives at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Photo taken from the Japanese icebreaker Shirase shows adelie penguins walking on frozen waters near Japan's Showa Base on the Antarctica on Dec. 18. (Pool photo)

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Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition arrives at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japan's icebreaker Shirase heads for the Showa Base on the Antarctica on Dec. 19, with seven members of Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition on board. (Pool photo)

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Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition arrives at Showa Base

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Members of Japan's 48th Antarctic expedition (L side) are welcomed by members of the 47th expedition on their arrival at the base on Dec. 19. The 47the team has been conducting observations since December last year. (Pool photo)

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Icebreaker Shirase leaves on 48th Antarctic expedition

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves Harumi dock in Tokyo on Nov. 14 for its 48th Antarctic expedition, marking the 50th anniversary of Japan's initial exploration of the continent. The 11,600-ton exploration ship is expected to arrive at Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica in mid-December and return to Japan next spring.

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Scrapped snowmobiles left at Showa Base in Antarctic

SHOWA BASE, Antarctic - About 20 scrapped snowmobiles are seen near Japan's Showa Base in the Antarctic in a photo taken Dec. 10 by a reporter accompanying Japan's research mission there. Japan will soon start a four-year plan to bring back to Japan all the waste that Japanese missions have left behind at the base and in the vicinity over the past 50 years.

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(1)Showa Base and Tokyo hold video conference

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Members of a Japanese Antarctic expedition team in Showa Base brief science and technology minister Takeo Kawamura in Tokyo on their activities in a video conference June 28. Photo was taken by a reporter accompanying the team. (Pool photo)

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(2)Showa base and Tokyo hold video conference

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Science and technology minister Takeo Kawamura (R) speaks from Tokyo's National Institute of Polar Research to members of a Japanese Antarctic expedition team in Showa Base on June 28.

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Setting sun paints Antarctic sky bright red

SHOWA BASE, Antarctic - Photo taken June 9 shows a bright red sky to the north of Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica just as the sun sank below the horizon. (Pool photo)

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Japan's Antarctic expedition greets New Year's Day

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Members of Japan's 45th expedition to the Antarctica depict the figures 45 aboard the deck of the icebreaker Shirase off Japan's Showa Base on Jan. 1.

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Hot-air balloon released in Antarctica for air survey

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japanese researchers release a hot-air balloon at Showa Base in Antarctica on Dec. 26 to survey the distribution of ozone layers and greenhouse gases in the stratosphere. (Pool photo)

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Icebreaker Shirase arrives in Antarctica

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Japanese researchers wave at the icebreaker Shirase which arrived at Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica on Dec. 21. (Pool photo)

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Scientists observe total solar eclipse in Antarctica

SHOWA BASE, Antaractica - The sun begins to disappear around 1:14 a.m. on Nov. 24 during a rare total solar eclipse observed in Antarctica. This pool photo was taken by a Japanese reporter at Japan's Showa Base.

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Icebreaker crew take open-air New Year bath in Antarctica

ABOARD THE SHIRASE, Antarctic Ocean - Sailors aboard the Japanese icebreaker Shirase take a New Year's bath Jan. 6 in an open-air deck tub with a magnificent view of icebergs in the distance. Members of an expedition to Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica also bathed in the 2-meter-square tub built with scrap wood from the hold of the 11,600-ton Maritime Self-Defense Force ship. The temperature at noon was minus 2 C.

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Icebreaker Shirase leaves Japan on Antarctica mission

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese icebreaker Shirase leaves the port of Tokyo on Nov. 14 for the Antarctica on a research mission. The ship is expected to arrive at Japan's Showa Base in the continent in mid-December.

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Sunspot research expedition leaves for Antarctica

TOKYO, Japan - The icebreaker Shirase carrying a Japanese expedition leaves Tokyo's Harumi pier Nov. 14 for the Japanese base in Antarctica. The 42nd Antarctic region observation party is scheduled to arrive at the Showa base in late December and will observe sunspots and conduct other research.

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Japan's expedition team leaves for Antarctica by icebreaker

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese government-backed 41st Antarctic expedition team departs Tokyo port's Harumi pier for the Showa Base in the Antarctic aboard the 11,600-ton icebreaker Shirase on Nov. 14. Some 3,000 people came to the pier to see off the team led by Masaru Ayukawa.

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Japan's 43rd expedition team arrive in Antarctic

SHOWA BASE, Antarctica - Fumihiko Nishio (R), leader of Japan's 43rd Antarctic expedition team, is greeted by Yoichi Motoyoshi, leader of the 42nd expedition team, on arrival at Showa Base in Antarctica on Dec. 18. An 11-member advance party of the 43rd expedition team was flown to the base by helicopter from the Japanese icebreaker Shirase, about 37 kilometers away from the base.

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Icebreaker crew take open-air New Year bath in Antarctica

ABOARD THE SHIRASE, Antarctic Ocean - Sailors aboard the Japanese icebreaker Shirase take a New Year's bath Jan. 6 in an open-air deck tub with a magnificent view of icebergs in the distance. Members of an expedition to Japan's Showa Base in Antarctica also bathed in the 2-meter-square tub built with scrap wood from the hold of the 11,600-ton Maritime Self-Defense Force ship. The temperature at noon was minus 2 C.