The purpose of this journal is two-fold. One, to satisfy the curiosity of my adoring public concerning my escapades in exotic lands. Two, to save myself the hassle of composing e-mails to each of you. This way, my email list will be a very short list. In fact, it may very well begin and end with my mother.
If you're reading this, odds are it is because I have pointed out the address to you. This means that you are probably also aware that I will be traveling to Japan at the end of the summer. I believe the precise date is August 4th. I am writing now, a full six weeks in advance, not because I have anything of particular interest to relate, but to provide a small amount of background to my coming circumstances, and to experiment with the nature of this blogging phenomenon.
I'm traveling to one of the most remote regions of Japan, a small place called Shiiba Village. Shiiba Village is situated in the very center of the island of Kyushu, the southernmost of the four home islands. Kyushu is the cradle of Japanese civilization, in that the earliest immigrants to the islands we now call Japan arrived first on this island. Kyushu is mountainous and volcanic, and is well known for its hot springs. My own village is only a few kilometres from Mt. Aso, a very active volcano. Shiiba Village is part of a larger political area, Miyazaki Prefecture. Miyazaki-ken, as it is called there, has hundreds of kilometres of Pacific beachfront, which, combined with its very temperate climate, make it one of the more popular surfing destinations in the country.
Shiiba Village lies approximately 150 km inland, high in the mountains that dominate the centre of the island. The village occupies 536.2 square kilometres with a population of 3,341. That means there are approximately 6.25 people per square kilometre. This is a drastic decrease in population density from my other homes, places like Athens, New Delhi, New Orleans, or even Fairfax County. Regardless, I do not fear boredom. Shiiba is home to one of Japan's national forests, a popular destination for hikers, campers, and naturalists from all over the country. My mountainous surroundings are crossed by rivers and punctuated by waterfalls, all relatively unspoiled by the intrusion of men. Nearby, to the north, is the famous Takachiho Gorge, which, if it is represented well by its pictures, is magnificent and beautiful, and the very popular Gokase ski resort. To the west is the afore-mentioned Mt. Aso, a volcanic hot-bed of hot springs and intimidating scenery. And to the south and the east lies the Pacific Ocean, and hundreds of kilometres of beach.
All of these options aside, I will also be employed in the worthy pursuit of teaching English to young Japanese children, In such a small village, I will have only a handful of students, but I imagine they will still contrive to occupy a great deal of my time and energy during the week. Combined with the necessary study of the Japanese language, I can't imagine I will suffer greatly from boredom. As to the specifics of either my job or my domestic arrangements, I know only that I work seven hours a day, Monday through Fridays, and that I am being provided a large house, furnished to some degree. I have contacted my predecessory, a woman named Anna, who has lived there for two years, and am hoping to discover more specific details of my situation.
