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Japan

Yakushima Japan – Shiratani Unsuikyo

The second day walk we managed to squeeze in between typhoons on Yakushima was the spectacular ravine called Shiratani Unsuikyo. “Shiratani (白谷)” translates as “White-Valley” and this name is a reference to the whitish granite boulders strewn throughout the valley. “Unsuikyo (雲水峡)” translates as cloud & water gorge – and that part is fairly self explanatory upon...Read More

Yakushima Japan – Arakawa Hiking trail to Jomon Sugi

This month I visited a place I have had my eye on for years – Yakushima Island, just south of Kyushu in southern Japan. The interior of the island is a mountainous World Heritage listed area complete with wonderful ancient forests full of cedars, monkeys and deer. The island is accessed by air or sea, and we rode the...Read More

Thank You Hobart – From the Kids of Fukushima

Many of you will remember that last November Midori and I staged an exhibition in Hobart to raise funds for survivors of the North East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crisis. The response from the people of Hobart was heart warming, and we estimate approximately 1000 people visited the Waterfront Pavillion over the seven days...Read More

Fukushima Memorial March 8, 2012 – Hobart

Today in Hobart Greens Alderman Bill Harvey organised a gathering in rememberence of the triple disaster in Japan which occurred one year ago Sunday. The gathering started with a minutes silence for the victims of the magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami of March 11, 2011; and for the nuclear crisis which continued for basically the whole of 2011...Read More

Japan Earthquakes 2011 Animated Graphic

I found this fascinating animated graphic which shows the date and the magnitude of each and every earthquake that was felt across Japan last year. It’s all fairly unremarkable right up until around March 9 when a few big ones hit off the north east coast, and then the big one hits on March 11 which triggers the massive tsunami and thousands...Read More

Exhibition Wrap Up

All of a sudden, “Rebuilding Lives”, our Fundraising Exhibition for Japan in the wake of the Earthquake & Tsunami disasters of March 11, is finished. There was a great turn out all week and we sincerely thank the people of Hobart for their wonderful generosity and empathy towards the people of Tohoku, Japan. On Opening Night I dedicated the picture above to...Read More

Thank you Hobart!

Our sincerest thanks to everybody who has visited the exhibition in the past couple of days. Opening Night on Monday was a great success with the Pavilion basically full at 6:30 for the speeches and people displaying great generosity with their donations. Thanks also to Japanese Vice Consul Mr Sato who came from Melbourne to open the event. All funds raised...Read More

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami – Fundraising Exhibition

Japan Earthquake & Tsunami 2011: “Rebuilding Lives” Photographic Exhibition and Fundraiser for North East Japan Waterside Pavilion, Mawson Place, Hobart Waterfront November 21 – 27, 2011 Opening Hours: Monday 21st 6:00 pm onwards Tues 22nd – Fri 25th 11:00 ~ 6:00 Sat 26th and Sun 27th 9:00 ~ 3:00 ** Taiko Drum performance Saturday 1:00 pm **...Read More

Japan After the Tsunami: Rikuchu Kaigan National Park

In July & August this year we spent four weeks in the disaster affected area of north east Japan (Tohoku). Mostly we were based in Fukushima, but we made numerous trips around Tohoku to visit areas hit hardest by the quake and tsunami. Our aim was to take photographs for a fundraising exhibition here in Hobart in November. The...Read More

Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, March 11 2011

Our attention is fully focussed on events in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami which have devastated an area which is very close and special to us. Each year we travel to Fukushima to stay with Midori’s family in a town which is luckily deep inland, and a long way away from the reach of...Read More

Discovering the stunning natural beauty of Fukushima

Gee its warm here in Fukushima, Japan this year. Everyday is 35 degrees, apart from the odd ‘cool’ day which only hits 31/32. Even overnight temps are only dropping down to the mid 20s. Beer & Air Conditioner sales are up, and people are going missing trying to beat the heat in the mountains of...Read More
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