Mitsui Ocean Fuji is named in Tokyo festivitiesMitsui Ocean Fuji is named in Tokyo festivities

Mitsui Ocean Fuji was named in Tokyo Bay festivities on Saturday with the godmother, Ikenobo ikebana Headmaster Designate Senko Ikenobo, smashing a bottle of sake against the hull.

The naming ceremony took place in Mitsui Ocean Fuji's Ocean Stage theater where Senko Ikenobo was joined on stage by MOL Cruises CEO and President Tsunemichi Mukai and Capt. Kim Karlsson. Among others on hand were Takeshi Hashimoto, representative director, president and CEO of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.

Mitsui Ocean Fuji, at left, and Nippon Maru meet for the first time in Tokyo Bay PHOTO: MITSUI OCEAN CRUISES

Nippon Maru, Mitsui Ocean Cruises' other ship, was alongside, and passengers waved flags as the vessels exchanged three horn salutes symbolizing the 'Mitsui' (three bars) motif in the cruise line’s brand mark.

Ikebana tradition

Senko Ikenobo is the first woman appointed as headmaster designate of the Ikenobo School, recognized as the oldest and most influential school of ikebana, the time-honored Japanese art of flower arranging.

Ikenobo's ikebana tradition emphasizes a philosophy of harmony between humans and nature and cultivating mindfulness. For the naming ceremony, the stage was decorated with an ikebana created by Senko's son Senshu Ikenobo, head of the Ikenobo Youth Club.

Itineraries

Mitsui Ocean Fuji (formerly Seabourn Odyssey) entered service Dec. 1 at Yokohama and is operating a sries of debut cruises through January, including a special new year's sailing. Then it will go on a 91-day South America charter to JTB, Japan's largest travel agency, before returning to offer the peak-season spring and Golden Week cruises (April-May) then a 66-day 'Grand Asia' cruise (May-July).