HIKAWA MARU Decked! (History and Top-to-Bottom Tour of Japan’s Last Surviving Art Deco Ocean Liner)
This is a detailed history and top-to-bottom tour of the only surviving ship with a link to the great French Art Deco liners of the late 1920s and early 1930s , the NYK HIKAWA MARU, which was built in 1930 and decorated by preeminent French designer Marc Simon. HIKAWA MARU is also the only major Japanese liner to survive World War Two, where she served heroically as a hospital ship. Built for the Asia to Vancouver and Seattle run for NYK, the HIKAWA MARU had two sisters, the HIYE MARU and the HEIAN MARU, both of which were sunk while serving as submarine escorts in World War Two. In her prime, HIKAWA carried Charlie Chaplin, Prince and Princess Chichibu and other notables on the transpacific run and after the war, continued on that service until retired at the end of 1960. She was opened up as a museum ship and youth hostel at Yokohama in 1961 and was almost lost in 2006, when her owners could no longer afford to maintain her. Her former owners, NYK Line, now a major container ship operator (and owner of deluxe NYK Cruises, which operates the former CRYSTAL HARMONY as the ASUKA II) funded her full restoration and reopened her as the NYK HIKAWA MARU in 2008. In 2024, NYK began conducting tests on the ship’s hull and infrastructure and will soon be giving the ship another full restoration to keep her with us for many more years. All of that and much more can be seen in this 43 minute video. Music licensed from Artlist: “Hikaru To SHine” Roie Shpigler; Isshol Together” and “Chevalet” by Idokay; “Tokyo Ondo” by Isaku Kageyama; “Heroes” by Piotr Hummei; “Water Under The Bridge” by OK; “Folkarama” by Slpstrm; “Cou Cou” by Oded Distilman; “Cafe Francais” by Evert Z; “Vacanze a Vaccarro” by Bottega Baltazar; “Aiz u Bandaisan” by Isaku Kageyama; “With You In Montmartre” by Retrophonic and “Feel Inspired” by Ben Fox. #nykhikawamaru #hikawamaru #hiyemaru #heianmaru #charliechaplin #artdeco #artdecooceanliner #frenchartdeco #marcsimon
25 Comments
As I sit here in the blizzard currently hitting Charlotte NC dreaming of all the ships I have visited and traveled on over the years. Only earlier today I mentioned to a friend how the Hikawa Maru was one of the ships still on my bucket list. I really enjoyed this video Peter and hope to visit her myself soon. Do you ever plan group travels to allow other self professed "Ship Nerds" like myself to go along? Set up through a group tour agency etc.
A fictionalized account of Hikawa Maru's career is made into a book entitled "Hikawa Maru Monogatari" by the Japanese author Genjiro Ito in 2015; it was the basis of the anime film of the same name, which was released that same year.
Thank you for creating this video. I have always had an interest in NYK ships.
Gorgeous ship, seeing it is on the bucket list!
Thank you for the tour.
Great Video as usual !!!
How fascinating, what a regal old ship. I was trying to imagine her rolling gently, creaking and wind whistling around those old windows , I can only imagine it must have been quite the experience in rough seas back then. Thanks for the wonderful explanation of every feature. π
Absolutely magnificent video and may the Queen of the Pacific have a long and prosperous live ahead.
I'm so glad to see this. As an ocean liner fan, I've heard of this ship and even done research of my own to find out what I wanted to know. This is a complete presentation. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad it still exists.
Great video Peter.
I think three dozen men with passion and knowledge could get that sailing in a year. Never disregard the dedication of men who are dedicated. Lol
What a stunning video pf a beautiful old ship. I saw it in 1988 and it was evident it was deteriorating fast. Thankfully, NYK have taken over and spent a fortune on this ship to keep her viable. The beautiful interiors, a sort of Japanese art deco are just unique.
Well, Peter, what can I say, another outstanding video! Thanks for sharing! π
Peter, speaking of classic japanese cruise ships. were you ever able to sail, and document the nippon maru? i understand she is set to retire, and be scrapped sometime this year.
Outstanding tour Peter, nobody decks a vessel like you.
Such a treat to see this classic beauty in amazing detail! Thank you, Peter.
What a beautiful ship. Thanks for making this video.π
Really enjoy your decked videos Peter, thanks for making these, I am sure there is a lot of editing time that goes into making these for us. Any plans of making a decked video of any of the Premier (Big Red Boat) cruise line ships?
was on board this historic liner last year before going on our japan to vancouver cruise. she use to visit vancouver/new westminster many times…loved her
My first visit in Feb 2000 found her in much the same condition you found her in on your first visit. Fortunately, due to a cancelled flight while transiting at Narita, I had a free day to go explore her shortly after she reopened following the big restoration. what a difference, and I especially liked the thinking behind the way she is operated – to inhabit and experience the ship like the passenger would. I spent most of a brutally hot afternoon pretending to be a passenger crossing the Pacific, relaxing in one of those deck chairs on the promenade deck sipping icy cold drinks from the vending machine (sadly straight from the can and not served by a steward, but one does what one can). Was happy to repeat the experience in November 2024.
Beautiful ocean liner π
I know the Brazil Maru is preserved in China as aw well, she's from 1940 and also an unlikely survivor.
There are a Few Coastal liners of varying ages preserved also, some still operational and in revenue service in Norway, It's a shame we lost the Aurora, hopefully we Keep the Milwaukee Clipper, and the queen Mary is receiving the TLC she's needed for two decades under her new owners, the M.S Rogaland from 1927 may have it's caterpillar diesel replaced with a working Reciprocating steam engine like she originally had in a few years as planned!
Peter Knego doesn't ever wind up someplace on an ocean liner by "accident". π Loved all the wonderful shots of the superstructure and interior of this beautiful ship. Well done my friend. π€π€β€ NYK Line owes you a debt for celebrating this ship and bringing it to our attention! π
Thank you for being our eyes, ears and personal history professor. This one Iβve never heard of before. Itβs wonderful that it has been saved and cherished by its owners and citizens.
I gave you a hype as a thank you