Yusen Cruise’s New Ship ‘Asuka III’ Naming Ceremony at Yokohama Port Celebrated with Sister Ship and Fireworks

Saturday, July 12, 2025

Yusen Cruises held the naming ceremony for their newly constructed ship “Asuka III” at Yokohama Port’s Osanbashi on July 11, the first such new vessel in 34 years. On the same morning, “Asuka II,” the “sister” ship, returned home from a final 103-day world cruise, adding a touch of celebration to the memorable day for the “younger sister.”

This marks Yusen Cruises’ first new construction since the completion of the original “Asuka” on October 28, 1991, approximately 34 years ago. The ship features a gross tonnage of 52,200 tons, a total length of 230 meters, a width of 29.8 meters, 13 decks, and a draft of 6.7 meters. It offers 385 cabins, a passenger capacity of 744 people, and around 470 crew members. The port of registry is Yokohama. The gross tonnage surpasses that of “Asuka II” (50,444 tons), making it the largest ship registered in Japan. As the first newly constructed cruise ship registered in Japan since “Pacific Venus,” operated by Japan Cruise Line until 2022 and built in 1998, it comes about 27 years later.

The construction was handled by the German shipbuilding company Meyer Werft. After being handed over to Yusen Cruises in Emden, northern Germany, on April 10 local time, it was sailed via the Cape of Good Hope, arriving at Yokohama Port’s Osanbashi on June 2. According to Captain Hisashi Kogoe, the voyage back “was smooth, calm, and under clear skies throughout.”

The ship will make its maiden voyage on a tour around Hokkaido departing July 20. The Asuka Cruise brand will now operate under a two-ship system with “Asuka II.” According to the company, “Asuka III” will primarily operate long cruises of three nights or more, while “Asuka II” plans to offer a wide range from short one-night cruises to long cruises.

▲The naming ceremony held inside “Asuka III”

At the naming ceremony held at the onboard theater, Hiroshi Nishijima, president of the company, emphasized, “By the two ships enhancing each other and providing more excellent cruises, we hope to open the future of Japan’s cruise culture.”

▲Yusen Cruises President Hiroshi Nishijima speaking at the ceremony

Hiroaki Nakano, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, attending as a guest, expressed expectations that “based on the experience of the first ‘Asuka’ and ‘Asuka II,’ we hope you will drive the growth of our nation’s cruise industry,” taking into consideration the government’s goal of reaching one million Japanese cruise passengers by 2030.

At the “Yokohama Night Flowers” fireworks event held after the ceremony, the fireworks in “deep blue” and “blue gold,” the brand colors of Asuka Cruises, were launched to celebrate the naming of “Asuka III.”