Life in a Japanese fishing village started to come across extra “turbulences” than author Rebecca Saunders thought. Does she nonetheless intend to “leave the city to go home”?
Previous put up:
When the climate speaks
When a storm was hitting the village, Manami known as and suggested me. She mentioned I wanted some necessities, a walkie-talkie… in case the facility went out. The storm got here at evening after a day of tough seas and excessive winds.
The creator’s neighbor, in a traditional day with out thunderstorms. Photo: Rebecca Saunders
I crouched down, closed the shutters, and listened to the information on TV repeating warnings about landslides and flash floods. Due to being on a hill, I used to be notably nervous a couple of landslide. I attempt to be calm. It seemed clear and sunny till the storm hit. The shoreline has fully modified, massive rocks have been pushed to the shore, bent steel obstacles, inflicting many properties to be broken.
Two weeks later, an earthquake occurred. I used to be inside the home when the bottom began to rumble. Alarm bells rang “Earthquake! Earthquake!” in Japanese scared me much more. Offshore, fishing boats hurried again to shore. Not realizing what to do, I hid within the toilet and will really feel the ground shift to at least one aspect. Fortunately, the shaking had stopped however I used to be nonetheless in nice panic.
Matsuri (competition) in Japanese fishing village
After the storm and the earthquake, issues cool down till a vacation within the village (the competition is Matsuri). Bustling avenue, filled with villagers. The native God Temple is paraded, strung on the shoulders of all of the younger males within the space. They paraded across the village, tossing altars into the air – a ritual seemingly geared toward pleasing the god inside. After that, there was a time of lion dance and artwork from native college students.
A vacation in Ena. Photo: Rebecca Saunders
A younger couple got here to speak to me: “Why do you want to live here? There’s nothing here!”, they added, “The locals used to live in Wakayama city, approx. 48 km”.
Keep going
Although there are a handful of minshuku (Japanese-style inns) in these tiny villages, discovering them on-line is nearly unimaginable. Urban individuals in Japan prefer to relaxation within the countryside. They usually purchase homes in such locations, like Manami’s “small house”.
Visiting this Japanese fishing village shouldn’t be tough, however the next limitations make this place empty of vacationers: English shouldn’t be broadly spoken, travel is tough, there aren’t any main cultural sights.. .
I’m very glad to reside in Ena, though this was by no means in my plan. Looking again on my two months there, I am unable to imagine I’ve managed to reside in such a distant place with restricted trendy conveniences. After hurricanes, earthquakes, wildlife, I really feel I’m prepared for brand new challenges. It will be mentioned that this Japanese fishing village and island will at all times be etched in my thoughts.
Translation: “I moved to a tiny Japanese fishing village to experience a disappearing way of life” (Rebecca Saunders, CNN)
Read extra:
.
Discussion about this post