This is a special feature called "Catch". The meals served on board the ship, "Funa-meshi" (carp meal), support the tense work of the Coast Guard officers who protect the safety of the seas. We followed the chefs who work in the kitchen on the sea every day to fill the stomachs of the crew. The patrol vessel "Yashima", belonging to the Fukuoka Coast Guard Office, is the largest patrol vessel in the 7th District, which has jurisdiction over northern Kyushu, and is able to operate at sea for long periods of time. It is responsible for criminal work such as cracking down on poaching, and for guarding territorial waters such as the Senkaku Islands every day. We followed a female Coast Guard officer who protects the seas of Japan. On this day, the work being carried out was called "loading provisions", which is the loading of food onto the ship. Before setting sail, the crew cooperates to load heavy food onto the ship. At the very back of the work, the woman who is tidying up the area for room temperature food is Nanako Yadouri (20). ■Patrol boat "Yashima" Accounting Section, Nanako Shukuri (20) "There's a lot of food, so it's hard to divide it up." Shukuri is the youngest crew member on the ship, having only been on the ship as a coast guard officer for about a year. She is in the Accounting Section, which is in charge of clerical work on the ship. Another job of the Accounting Section is to prepare the meals on the ship, known as "crucian carp rice." As soon as we set sail, Shukuri starts preparing dinner for the day. On the "Yashima," which has more than 40 people on board, four people, including Shukuri, start cooking more than two and a half hours before dinner time. Shukuri is in charge of the shredded egg that will be placed on the menu for that day, "seafood chirashi." ■Shuri: "(Q. What is the most difficult part) This. It's thin, so it breaks when you turn it over." Shukuri says that she had never really cooked before joining the Accounting Section. With the camera facing us, we begin frying the first egg in a tense atmosphere. ■Shukuri: "Oh, wait a minute, I think I messed it up. Hold on! I can't get that corner out. Let's cut this." The egg burned and couldn't be removed from the frying pan. At times like this, our reliable seniors gave us advice. ■Senior: "Did you oil it properly?" ■Shukuri: "Yes, I did." ■Senior: "We didn't heat it up enough at first." If a fire breaks out on a ship isolated at sea, it's not easy to put out. Cooking with an electric stove that doesn't use fire is different from cooking on land. ■Shukuri: "It rocks. When it's rough, when I wake up in the morning and look at the living room, the chairs are all messed up and going here and there." After that, we continued to fry eggs smoothly, and we ended up with more than 20 eggs. After making the shredded egg, we started arranging the eggs together with our seniors. ■Shukuri: "(My seniors) are kind people. They are older than my father." ■Masunaga Hiroo (58), Accounting Section, Patrol Boat "Yashima" "(Shukuri) is kind." ■Miyazaki Norikazu (24), Accounting Section, Patrol Boat "Yashima" "(Shukuri) is serious." Then, sashimi was placed on top of the shredded egg made by Shukuri, and the "seafood chirashi" was complete. We asked the crew members who tried it how it tasted. ■Crew member: "Eating on the ship is more luxurious than eating at home, so it feels special. It's one of the things we look forward to." Amidst the tense work that continues every day, meals on the ship are a "rest time" for the crew. Life on board a ship can sometimes last for long periods. We were given a special look at Shukuri's room. It is normally a double room, but due to the "COVID-19 pandemic," he is currently using it alone. ■Shukuri: "Like this. I write the next task I need to do today in pen here and use it as a memo pad. (Q. Have you ever missed a scheduled appointment?) Yes." Although Shukuri says he can be a bit clumsy, he also has a daily routine that is typical of a Coast Guard officer. ■Shukuri: "When I wake up in the morning, I don't do it if I think I'm going to be late, but I basically fold it when I wake up. Even this is wrinkled." The Coast Guard Academy, where you attend for a year before boarding a ship, is known for its strict discipline, including not allowing any wrinkles in futons or uniforms. There is a reason why Shukuri overcame such an environment and aimed to become a Coast Guard officer. ■Shukuri: "When I saw the Coast Guard officers saving lives during earthquakes or marine accidents, I thought I wanted to be a part of that and work." The next morning, after cleaning up after breakfast, Shukuri headed to a certain place. ■Shukuri: "After this, I'm going to board a rescue boat and give safety instructions to people on pleasure boats. It's hectic." After changing from the apron to a life jacket, he heads off to give safety instructions. One of the important duties of a Coast Guard officer is to encourage safety on the sea. ■Shukuri: "Please drink fluids." After about two hours of safety instructions, he heads back to the kitchen to prepare lunch. Most of the cooking had been done by his seniors, so Shukuri hurries to prepare the table. The lunch menu is curry, the most popular among the crew, and the captain has also endorsed it. ■Patrol boat "Yashima" - Motoyama Yuichi Captain: "I'm going to eat too much, it's so delicious. It's right in front of me, so I'm going to eat it." ■Crew member: "(Q. Who are you matching the spiciness to?) The captain." Shukuri's current goal, who lives a hectic life, is to become a full-fledged Coast Guard officer. ■ Shukuri: "In the near future, I am working hard to improve my cooking skills, provide safety training and gain experience through training, so that I can become a Coast Guard officer who can contribute to the public." Behind the scenes, the chefs on the sea support this tense job every day. The Coast Guard officers, who have filled their stomachs with the "crucian carp rice" prepared by Shukuri and his team, will continue to protect Japan's seas today as well. For the latest news, please visit https://www.fbs.co.jp/fbsnews/. X Also broadcasting on FBS Fukuoka Broadcasting News (@FBS_NEWS5). / fbs_news5