World Natural Heritage
in Japan

Being a diver, I've dived in oceans all over, but Ogasawara's waters are my favorite, and 40 years ago I moved here to make it my home.

Despite decades of diving in these waters, I still constantly make new discoveries, just like I did when I first arrived. For me, that's the ultimate charm of Ogasawara's waters.

That and the fact that despite Ogasawara Islands being located in the warmer southern waters, we can see different nature and living creatures from season to season. This enjoyment just adds to Ogasawara’s charm.

Living amidst the rich natural environment of these islands on a day-to-day basis, I can sense for myself that nature is breathing. This makes me want to experience the life force of nature to a greater degree.

If we can protect these bountiful waters to prevent them from changing, I’m sure our grandchildren will also fall in love with the ocean.

This was the first time I'd ever visited the Ogasawara Islands, and I was blown away. The magnificent natural environment is really well preserved, and the ocean is very healthy too.

Seeing Ogasawara’s dolphins are living freely in the ocean and that was something truly special. Meeting dolphins almost every day, and swimming next to them was a new experience for me. I think it was the kind of scene many people dream of.

In Ogasawara, it was clear that the locals treat the islands with care, and that everyone respects nature. This is no doubt why we can see so many living creatures—not only in the ocean but on land as well. These islands were truly more wonderful than I ever dreamed possible. They've stolen my heart.

The Shiretoko Peninsula is a long, narrow strip that sits in close proximity to steep mountains and the ocean. This is why it’s easy to see animals’ lifestyles and changes in the sky. For example, in the swift currents that flow through the narrow peninsula, we can watch as pink and masu salmon swim upriver to lay their eggs right before our eyes.

In Shiretoko, there is little distance between nature and humankind, and the animals seem somehow human-like. When I’m taking photographs here, one thing I’m careful about is not disturbing the animals’ way of life. My first consideration is not people, but animals. My behavior flows naturally from this way of thinking. I believe that the relationship between humanity and nature, built from countless random chances, can be seen here in Shiretoko.

My father lived his entire life as a Matagi (traditional hunter), and so I spent my childhood with him, walking the mountains and living on the bounty provided by nature.

These days I trek through these vast mountains on my own feet, exercising all my five senses to the utmost, and receiving nature’s blessings from the mountain gods—not only game, but all kinds of gifts from nature, including edible wild plants, fresh-water fish, and mushrooms. My habit of saying a few words of gratitude to the gods of the mountain when I first enter is one of the many things I learned from my father. The water that wells up in the beechwood forests is clear almost all year round, and for me there is nothing more special. These trees are wonderful.

Those who make their home here in the Shirakami-Sanchi have always lived hand-in-hand with nature. When we pick edible wild plants from the mountains, we don't pull them out from the roots. Instead, we use a small knife to cut off the part above ground, leaving nature do its work on the roots.

It’s the same with beech trees. Beeches only produce seeds once every three or four years, and one of our initiatives is collecting those seeds and raising seedlings in our villages which we later return to the mountain.

They say it takes around 50 years for a beech tree to bloom, and around 80 years for one to produce fruit. If we grow beech trees from seedlings, we will not live to see them grown to maturity. All we can do is imagine what they will look like when they are fully grown. Still, we are certain that we are leaving behind a better natural environment for the next generation.

The Kuroshio (or Black) Current flows close by the shores of Yakushima, surrounding it in warm ocean water. Water vapor rising up from this warm ocean is cooled in the skies and falls on the island as rain almost daily. I believe that this rain has a strong impact on Yakushima’s nature.

Untrammeled nature like Yakushima’s primeval forests is something I find incredibly appealing. Every day I’m reminded that the natural environment is also made up of elements invisible to us, and I sense that the question of how humanity can best keep company with this nature, or what kind of stance we should take, is something nature is teaching me.

Unfortunately, you and I cannot live out our lives in virgin forest. We can only live side-by-side with nature in its wild state, and utilize it throughout our lifetimes. But we must be absolutely clear that we are not living under our own power alone. I’m aware that we need to live in harmony with nature.