섹션 개요

    • I (Iwamoto) am currently living in Showa Station in Antarctica as a wintering member of the 63rd Antarctic Research Expedition. I left Japan on November 10, 2021, and arrived at Showa Station 39 days later on December 19, 2021. They have been away from Japan for about 6 months and at Showa Station for 5 months.


      The Antarctic Regional Observation Expedition consists of a summer expedition and a winter expedition. The Summer Expedition leaves Japan in November to work in Antarctica during the summer season (in the Southern Hemisphere, so the seasons are opposite to those in Japan), returning to Japan in late March. On the other hand, the wintering party goes to Antarctica with the summer party, but stays in Antarctica after the summer is over and returns home with the summer party the following year. The summer expedition will be away from Japan for only about four months, while the winter expedition will be away from Japan for one year and four months.

      Although the Antarctic Regional Observation Expedition is based at Showa Station, this base is actually not located on the Antarctic Continent, but on East Ongul Island, across a strait about 4 km wide. It is located at 69 degrees 00 minutes 19 seconds south latitude and 39 degrees 34 minutes 52 seconds east longitude, approximately 14,000 km away from Japan. There is a time difference of 6 hours from Japan.



      (Listing courtesy of the National Institute of Polar Research)