Category: Kyushu

  • My neighbor the volcano — Sakurajima

    My neighbor the volcano — Sakurajima

    It is well known that the Japanese are used to living with numerous natural hazards due to the country’s location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of intense geodynamic activity where the majority of the world’s volcanoes are concentrated. Japan has more than 300 identified volcanoes, around a hundred of which are considered…

  • Yakushima, a natural paradise

    Yakushima, a natural paradise

    “I have crossed mountains and rivers to get here. I have never seen a place so pure and full of life.” This quote from Ashitaka, the protagonist of Princess Mononoke, reflects the essence of Yakushima Island, where Hayao Miyazaki drew inspiration to create this cinematic masterpiece. With its ancient forests and millennia-old trees, this Pacific…