Captain Pierre-Marie Ducournau addressed passengers in Le Soleal's auditorium ahead of the scheduled departure from Osaka. Instead of sailing directly into the Pacific Ocean toward Shikoku's southern seaboard where the typhoon was expected, he announced a detour through the Seto Inland Sea. "We can see Typhoon Jangmi will go fast [up] the east of Japan," the captain explained. "That will clear our path on the west coast of Kyushu, and thanks to this, we will be able to resume our itinerary in Kagoshima."
The ship glided westwards overnight and docked the next morning at Imabari on Shikoku's northern shore. Passengers were treated to views of an "ice blue" millpond sea, bridges connecting islets from Honshu, and Shikoku's mountains. Despite the approaching typhoon beyond the ridges, the atmosphere on board was calm.
Local guide Keisuke Yamamoto described Shikoku as well known for its sunlight. He noted that Japan has four distinct seasons and added a fifth: the rainy season, called tsuyu or "plum rain," which was about to arrive.
The article forms part of Traveller's guide to luxury cruising, produced by Australian newspapers. Ponant's "Odyssey in the Heart of Japan's Subtropical Islands" itinerary alternates departures between Osaka, Japan, and Keelung, Taiwan.