NEW YORK – On November 27, 2012 Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) chairman Noboru Ueda and colleagues hosted a festive reception for local shipping executives and guests at the Four Seasons Hotel New York in celebration of Class NK’s passing of the 200 million gross ton mark, making it the largest classification society in the world by this measure.
The highlight of the night: the Japanese 'kagamiwari' ceremony, or breaking of the Saki cask, which is a traditional ceremony to mark momentous occasions. Pictured in the center (third from left) is ClassNK chairman Noboru Ueda, flanked by his colleagues, just prior to the breaking of the Saki cask.