As readers are surely aware, a series of earthquakes struck Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan’s four main islands, centered on but not limited to Kumamoto Prefecture. An extremely strong earthquake struck on April 14th, and an even stronger one two days later on April 16th. Moderately strong aftershocks were felt for days. Dozens lost their…
by Matsuzaki Haruo | photography by Brian Kowalczyk Shukoku Tosa– “Tosa, the land of sake.” This is the marketing soundbite used by the sake industry in Kochi Prefecture, which utilizes the old name for the region, Tosa. There are many people who associate the Kochi way of life with lots of drinking, and not incorrectly.…
The drive from central Iwate Prefecture to the coast is quite pleasant. Most of the roads snake through idyllic towns and beautiful snow covered mountains, imparting a peaceful serenity that is quintessential Tohoku. As the coastline approaches, a darker reality sets in. In Kesennuma, the first major town when you reach the Pacific, there is…