Life in the Slow Lane: Taketomi, Okinawa

On this edition of Journeys in Japan, Lana Bergmann, who is studying design in Japan, visits Taketomi-jima, one of the Yaeyama Islands in the southwestern end of the country. On the island characterized by old, traditional houses and flowers blooming all year round, it is popular to take it easy and stroll around with no particular destination. Lana goes to see the sights on the island on foot and finds a 4-meter tower. She climbs to the top and sees that the communities on the island are surrounded by windbreaks as a protection against typhoons. Each house is surrounded by high stone walls to protect them from winds. They reflect wisdom for living in the island's harsh natural environment. For the night Lana stays in a room in a traditional house. She eats dinner with other tourists, sings a song together, and enjoys herself. She also tries her hand at harvesting seafood and is impressed by islanders' traditional way of thinking.