Antarctic exploration ships, 1983 (Japan)

According to a page on Nobu Shirase, Japanese Antarctic explorer, he originally aiming to reach the South Pole first.

Shirase's expedition explored King Edward VII Land.

A photo on the page shows a flag raising on 28 January 1912 and notes:

He and his men lined up before dawn at south latitude 80o 05', the furthest southern point they would achieve, and stood beneath the Japanese flag to salute the Emperor with a traditional Banzai ceremony.

A short biography of Shirase is located at www.ndl.go.jp.
Jan Mertens, 15 November 2008