Overlooking Eboshi-Iwa and O'oshima Island in the distance from Chigasaki Beach, Kanagawa, Japan "A Little Seaside Gem Only One Hour from Tokyo" Japan is experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom. When I moved to Maui nearly 30 years ago, Japan was not yet acknowledged as a global travel destination, so the current situation here still feels astonishing to me. Many visitors come here for gourmet food, shopping, anime and games, fashion, and that unique blend of futuristic technology and old...

Light, shadow and the quietness — the moment of healing Hi All, The past month didn’t unfold the way I planned. Just as I was preparing to reopen my photography business, an unfortunate fall left me with a broken wrist. I ended up hospitalized, underwent surgery, and spent weeks in recovery. General anesthesia hit me hard — the brain fog lingered for weeks. I couldn’t hold a camera, or even chopsticks. Because the injury was on my dominant hand, I couldn’t write, tie my hair, dress, or even...

"What a beautiful day!" It was a breathtaking, picture-perfect Shonan scene when I arrived at the Katase beach; the air was crisp, the clear blue sky stretched so high, and the ocean reflected the sun like a diamond. There were groups of people getting ready for the "Shio-hi-gari, the clam digging." The people's happy chatter and the sound of children running around were in harmony with the gentle sound of the waves. The motivation quietly filled my heart. It felt like returning to a place...