Sunset Journeys
Posted on August 31, 2013 3 Comments
I feel sad that I haven’t had time to write as much as I would liked to this year. My job keeps me quite busy everyday, and when I’m not working, I am trying to explore Ehime (and Japan) as much as possible. Thanks to the help of my gracious students, I recently had the opportunity to see two beautiful sunsets. The first was near Imabari City, home of the spectacular Shimanami Kaido Bridge, which connects Shikoku with Japan’s main island (Honshu). The second was from Futami Beach in Ehime, a popular place for tourists and locals, mainly because of the stunning sunset that can be seen from the beach. I suppose it’s fitting that I post two pictures of sunsets, as in exactly one month, I will be returning to America. I’ll soon be reflecting more about my time in Japan, and chronicling more “Stories from the Inaka” as I look back on my three amazing years in the Land of the Rising Sun.
A Sea of Clouds
Posted on July 31, 2013 2 Comments
I recently had the privilege of seeing a spectacular sunrise over Ishizuchi Mountain, the highest mountain in western Japan. This picture is from about 1,500 meters above sea level, just as the sun started to emerge. The sea of clouds (雲海) almost looked like an ocean to me, and made having to get up at 2 a.m worth it. More to come about this amazing experience soon.
The Fleeting Beauty of Japanese Cherry Blossoms
Posted on April 25, 2013 7 Comments
Spring is my favorite time in Japan, mainly because for two fleeting weeks, cherry blossoms emerge, luring the young and old outside to appreciate Japanese nature at its finest. Although cherry blossom season is over in Matsuyama, traces of fallen blossoms remain on the ground, reminding me to appreciate things or people who won’t always be around. Below are some of my favorite photos from this year’s hanami season in Ehime.
A couple relax under a cherry blossom tree along Ishite River, Matsuyama.
The elderly enjoy viewing the cherry blossoms.
Matsuyama’s famous ferris wheel as seen from atop Matsuyama Castle Park.
石手川公園松山 (Ishitegakoen train station, Matsuyama).
Dogo Park.
The view of the cherry blossoms along Ishite River Park as the sun sets.
Matsuyama Castle.
A man rests on a bench after biking along Ishite River Park, Matsuyama.
Nanrakuen Garden in Uwajima, Ehime.
Remembering Dreams: An Interview with Filmmaker Regge Life
Posted on March 13, 2013 Leave a Comment
I wrote an article for Japan Today about a new documentary on the two American victims killed in the tsunami two years ago. The film, Live Your Dream: The Taylor Anderson Story, is directed by Regge Life, who was recently in Tokyo premiering the story.
Anderson, an American teacher living in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, was the first known American victim in the disaster. The film also includes memories of Monty Dickson, an American teacher from Alaska who was killed by the tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. Both teachers were Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET).
Even though I did not know Taylor or Monty, I felt personally connected to their stories, as I was also an ALT with the JET Programme living in a coastal town during the time of 3/11. Just like Monty and Taylor, I rotated between several elementary schools and a junior high school; the only difference was that I lived in the northwest of Japan, which was luckily unharmed in the disaster.
My thoughts continue to be with both Taylor’s and Monty’s families, and I hope this film inspires others to live their dreams, just as Taylor and Monty were during their time in Japan.
Life was a wonderful person to interview, and as a storyteller for more than two decades who has worked on numerous Japanese projects, he has a particularly unique perspective on Japanese culture.
You can read the article here, and watch an excerpt from the film below.