In today's news from Japan, Seals Model announces that they have retooled their 1/700 Icebreaker Shirase. Seals Model proudly offers models of ships that make up their maritime history, including those of Antarctic exploration. Also in their 1/700 plastic line up is the Antarctic ship Soya.

Icebreaker Shirase
Manufacturer : Seals Model
Scale : 1/700
Material : Plastic
Regular Price : 3,800 yen, $32.34 USD

"The Shirase is the main Japanese Antarctic Suport vessel. It is a powerful icebreaker commissioned in 1983.
It carries a post office on board and normally makes one single long voyage each season from Japan via Fremantle to the Japanese Antarctic Bases of Syowa (established 1957), Mizuho (est. 1970) and Asuka (est. 1985). It then returns to Japan via Sydney after a round trip of around 6 months. Mail from the Japanese Bases and posted on board "Shirase" itself is usually carried all the way back to Japan before on forwarding via the Japanese and international mail systems. A limited amount of Paquebot mail is posted at either Fremantle or Sydney."