Day 68 - Friday March 22, 2024, Kagoshima Japan

Arrival: 09:00 All Aboard: 17:30 Departure: 18:00

Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun. Hello - Konnichiwa

This is our first-time visiting Japan, and we are very excited!

I was able to shoot the sun rising in the east early this morning which was neat.

Today is also World Water Day, a UN event that ripples across the world, reminding us of the importance of this resource. Everyone needs water to survive and to grow crops. The World Economic Forum lists the water crisis among the top global risks, with 2.2 billion people still lacking access to clean water. This year's theme "Water for Peace" invites us to reflect on water's power to foster unity.

As we made our way into Kagoshima Bay, Sakurajima Volcano can be seen with hot steam coming from its top. Experts from the Bristol University and Sakurajima Volcano Research Centre have suggested a major eruption could occur within 30 years. Two eruptions have occurred since this was discussed in September 2016, therefore if the scientists are correct a major eruption may occur by 2046.

Even with the active volcano on the island, several thousand people call Sakurajima home. Schools, shrines, and shops can be found on the island which is serviced by a ferry to the mainland 24 hours a day.

Kagoshima is located on the southwestern tip of the island of Kyushu and has a population of approximately 600,000.

Our ship tour takes us to the Chiran Samurai Gardens. The gardens in the four houses we visited were precisely manicured with a pond in one of the gardens. Sadly, we are a little too early for the cherry blossoms this year where the colder weather has delayed their appearance. We are hopeful however to see them blossoming during our time in Japan and are certainly keeping our fingers crossed. Janice says we need to pray to Buddha!!

As we make our way to Chiran Peace Museum, you can see stone shaped lanterns along the road to denote the Kamikaze pilots who sadly lost their lives during WWII. The site includes two statues, one of a mother is looking over at the statue of her pilot son. She is dressed in the national wartime attire, the kimono. On the back of this statue, there is an inscription: "Mother and son will be together forever".

The statue of the son has the backdrop of a Japanese zero airplane that never came back.

Japanese people do not want to forget their past and this museum is an excellent reminder of this.

The Chiran Peace Museum preserves and displays materials left by the deceased Army pilots who trained in Chiran only to lose their lives in the final months of WWII.

There was limited English on display in the museum, but many pictures of the fallen pilots could be seen. Their ages ranged from the late teens to late twenties. It was quite a somber experience seeing the locals reading the materials. You could see many of them with tears in their eyes.

When these young pilots left for a sortie, there are waved goodbye by the mothers and sisters left behind. We were prevented from taking pictures but there was one display which had been translated into English. The letter was written by a 22-year-old to thank his mother and father. The letter goes on to discuss the fact that his operating skill of the aircraft is insufficient, but he is still anxious to use the fighter plane against the enemy. The letter goes on to give thanks to his aunt and uncle and his fellow pilots. It finishes stating that it will be his honor to sacrifice his life to protect the sacred country of Japan.

All the Kamikaze pilots wrote similar letters to their family. Very moving.

On a lighter note, we had breakfast in the Grand Dining Room before our tour and a couple at the next table started asking us questions about our trip. Turns out they live in Winnipeg, so we continued our talks at supper that evening. Very friendly and we look forward to reconnecting with them on our next trip to Winnipeg as they got off the ship today as they were only on one segment.

It is back on the ship as we leave for our next port Tokyo, 574 nautical miles away. The weather is starting to change, it is time to bring out the warm clothes and rain gear. We will be spending almost two full days here with a private guide.

Sayonara.