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    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
        mead brewing in japan

        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
        the knights in white lycra

        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
        sea to table yamagata

        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
    • Near Tokyo
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • climbing mt. fuji off season

        Mt. Fuji: The Path Less Traveled

        Fuji-san is the most climbed mountain in the world. If you are in good shape, there is a way to avoid the traffic for a more peaceful Mt. Fuji experience during the off-season.
    • Travel
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Food and Drinks
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Races and Events
      • dd4d brewing

        DD4D Brewing

        In nearly e...
        fuji rock japan

        2023 Summer Music Festivals

        Get into the groove this green season while enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends.
        Summer Events Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        Enjoy these fireworks festivals held throughout Japan this summer and autumn.

Protecting Mother

What will I buy for Mother’s Day? I was thinking about this a while ago as I was walking down the street. Then I saw a poster announcing the 100th anniversary of Mother Teresa’s birth. I’m not a passionate Christian or anything, but I feel her words and deeds deserve respect beyond the religious side of her life. And, because of that, I thought a bit about the word “Mother.”   

Creatures that live on the earth eat other living things that in turn come from the earth; they live their lives on the earth before finally returning to the earth. People are no different. That is why we call the planet “Mother Earth,” a name I believe is appropriate. 

At the same time, we also hear about “Mother Ocean.” That’s because it’s also true that all life originated in the sea. When I’m out surfing or waiting for a wave, there’s a wonderful feeling out there that’s probably a lot like the sensation a baby has in its mother’s womb. The ocean really is our mother, too.   

What about the beaches? Sandy beaches are the place between the ocean and the land, yet not entirely either one—making them special places. Even though sand doesn’t have the nutrients soil does, there are plants that prefer it; crabs dig the holes that become their homes, and sea turtles come in spring to lay their eggs in the sand. So, I suppose you could call this “Mother Beach” as well.   

Which reminds me of an interesting story about those sea turtles laying their eggs on the beaches. Birds, of course, warm their eggs using their own body heat, but turtles use Mother Beach. The turtles dig a hole about 50 centimeters deep in which they lay their eggs; although the conditions will be a little different depending on the place and time, the sand will be about 29°C. If the average temperature is above 29°, there will be more females born; if colder, more males.  

So what does this mean? Well, if global warming continues, then only females will be born. For sea turtles, it would be a disaster if the balance of male and female were upset, so it might be they will wait past the hottest season or move to a cooler location to lay their eggs. This could be a measuring stick for global warming. Thinking about mothers and the earth, there is a tradition in Japan that a home is the mother’s territory, and the husband is supposed to stay out of the way. But, there is also the understanding it is also the husband’s job to protect the mother.   I love the sandy beaches (and of course, I love my wife, too). It is where I capture many of the images I shoot. I want to do something about the situation all around Japan where the beaches are disappearing. There’s an old Japanese saying, “Ii hoko ni susumu,” something like the tide is rising, or moving in the right direction—and Mother Teresa said something that has that positive sense: “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”     

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