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Shiretoko
Greg meets press. TAKANO Takako, Committee member of WSN and Mr. SAKINO Ryuichirou, the well known nature guide in Hokaido, explaine about the project. Date: 99.09.16/ Temperature: 16C/ Weather: Partly cloud and sunny / Wind Direction: NW
Shiretoko is rich in nature and deep in history, perfect for the start of "Exploration for Wisdom." The mountains slope gradually to the sea and signs of the cultures we are bound to explore just wait to be discovered.
The center of Shiretoko peninsula is mountainous, dense with rich green forest. To the west is the sea of Okhotsk. As I write I can see the shore where fishing boats come in, and the pink sky beyond the point where the ocean meets the sea.
A short visit to the Hokkaido Museum of Northern Peoples, made me realize that the richness of the nature surrounding me now has supported many different cultures for more than 3000 years, according to a pamphlet I received at the Museum. The former inhabitants along the northern coast of Hokkaido and further north to Sakhalin and Kuril subsisted mainly off of the plentiful fish (particularly salmon) over 1000 years ago. The Ainu people, indigenous inhabitants in Japan, followed.
Artifacts of these cultures are sealed away in museums, but life and culture still strive along the northern coast of Hokkaido. Fishing boats were at work pulling in salmon this morning, people lined the shore with fishing poles, and farmers were out harvesting onions and potatoes. New methods to meet the needs of our daily lives have replaced those of older generations.
My acquaintance with the history of the people of Shiretoko Peninsula the beautiful scenery that lies before me have created the perfect mind-set for our departure. Years and years of history precede the way we live now. I hope to look closely at both methods of old and new and we may see some clues about where to go from here.
The journey starts at 6:00 tomorrow morning!
Greg
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