chapter
I. Japanese walkabouts
Between traditions and modernity
Mix of technology and ancient traditions, Japan is a land of contrasts that has attracted me since my youth. In mid 2015, at the end of several years of study which left me full of questions about the future, I decid to go alone on a journey across the country. I wander for six months through Kyûshû, Honshû, Okinawa, Shikoku. I discover traditions, food and some very specific aspects of Japanese culture. And faces the language barrier and the weight of history. I also do several volunteer work, in a small family inn, on a very small dairy farm and on a tiny, almost self-contained farm. I discover the country on foot and by public transport. I even work in a refractory factory. A great chance to discover how Japanese work. I also take the opportunity to marvel at the beauty of the last temples and shrines and visit the Ghibli museum. A special journey. I left the country in a hurry but I plan to return in the near future.
Keywords: discovery, temples and shrines, onigiri, Buddhism, volcanoes, wwoofing, onsen, hiking, islands, studio Ghibli, mythology and yokais, geishas, nuclear bomb, cultural identity, misunderstanding.
Nine months – November 2019 to July 2020 – Japan


























dispatches.





Last days in Japan
My stay in Japan is coming to an end and I take this opportunity to stroll around Tokyo and visit the Ghibli museum.





Living differently at Goka farm
Volunteering within a Japanese family living in quasi-autonomy not far from Mount Fuji.





Across the Kansai
Discovery of Osaka and Nara then weekend on Mount Koya-san before returning to TYK to celebrate hanami.





Takayama matsuri
Stars in my eyes at the superb Takayama Matsuri dedicated to the celebration of spring and good harvests.





Kyoto, colorful exuberances
Photographic exploration of Kyoto during a week full of wonder.





Glimpse of Kyoto
For my last day of work at TYK, I was treated to an organized day trip to Kyoto.





In company of Polina
Meet Polina and her family, a young Russian woman working at TYK whom I met a fortnight before the end of my stay in Tajimi.





Touches of Spring in Tajimi
Second month of work in Tajimi more pleasant than the first and return of the buds and flowers in the trees.





Portraits of TYK
Portraits of some of the people I met during my two months of work at TYK.





Discoveries with Kanji-san
Exploring the region with Kanji-san on the way to the Akechi Ceramics factory.





Walk through the Gasshō-zukuri
Three days visiting the regions of Shirakawa-gô and Gokayama, UNESCO World Heritage.





A day with Hayashi-san and Kaku-san
A day with the TC Sleeve team from the Research and Development department of TYK factory.





Another vision of TYK
Through twenty photographs, a stroll to discover the factory and its graphic aspect.





In the shoes of a TYK worker
Being employed at TYK and experiencing working in a Japanese refractory plant.





For a weekend in Nagoya
Touristy visits in Nagoya between Ghibli universe, castle and Toyota museum.





Tajimi and ceramics
Tajimi, an industrial city located in the prefecture of Gifu is renowned for its ceramics. I am working here since the beginning of February.





Sea creatures, misadventure and Tajimi
Last visits on Okinawa and return to Honshu to settle in Tajimi.





Tough experience in the Okinawan countryside
Volunteering in very rustic conditions in a small dairy farm near Ôgimi.





Paradise break on the Kerama archipelago
Three days of peaceful strolls, magnificent landscapes and failed activities within the tiny archipelago.





Gray weather in Okinawa
I land on the Ryukyu archipelago of which Okinawa is a part in increasingly bad weather.





Head to the stars in Tanegashima
On Tanegashima Island is located one of Japan’s main space centers as well as great beaches.





Yakushima, in the footsteps of Miyazaki
Visit the island of Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and source of inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki.





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 2
I continue my discovery of the island of Kyushu going towards south on the traces of the volcanoes.





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 1
At the end of 2015, I hit the road again, exploring the volcanic activity of the region.





Wwoofing in Yufuin
A month of volunteering in the middle of the onsen smokes in the small Youth Hostel Country Road.





Arrival on Kyûshû
Arrival on Kyûshû, cradle of Japanese civilization, where I will spend the month of December.





Miyajima and Itsukushima shrine
Visit of the island of Miyajima and its superb sanctuary accompanied by Doris.





Hiroshima and the weight of history
Hiroshima and the atomic bomb. Mandatory stop in the painful history of the country.





Sunny days in Kôchi
Return of the sun and quiet strolls in the coastal city of Kôchi.





Wandering in the Iya valley
Discovery of the Iya valley in the heart of the remote mountain ranges of Shikoku.





Minami, facing the sea
On the south coast of Shikoku, the small town of Minami exudes tranquility and a maritime atmosphere.





First steps on Shikoku
Arrival in Tokushima on the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four big islands of Japan.





In the meanders of the megalopolis
Second week in Tokyo where I continue to discover the capital and meet a few people.










Last days in Japan





Living differently at Goka farm





Across the Kansai





Takayama matsuri





Kyoto, colorful exuberances





Glimpse of Kyoto





In company of Polina





Touches of Spring in Tajimi





Portraits of TYK





Discoveries with Kanji-san





Walk through the Gasshō-zukuri





A day with Hayashi-san and Kaku-san





Another vision of TYK





In the shoes of a TYK worker





For a weekend in Nagoya





Tajimi and ceramics





Sea creatures, misadventure and Tajimi





Tough experience in the Okinawan countryside





Paradise break on the Kerama archipelago





Gray weather in Okinawa





Head to the stars in Tanegashima





Yakushima, in the footsteps of Miyazaki





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 2





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 1





Wwoofing in Yufuin





Arrival on Kyûshû





Miyajima and Itsukushima shrine





Hiroshima and the weight of history





Sunny days in Kôchi





Wandering in the Iya valley





Minami, facing the sea





First steps on Shikoku





In the meanders of the megalopolis





Impressions of Tokyo
photographs.





Last days in Japan
My stay in Japan is coming to an end and I take this opportunity to stroll around Tokyo and visit the Ghibli museum.





Living differently at Goka farm
Volunteering within a Japanese family living in quasi-autonomy not far from Mount Fuji.





Across the Kansai
Discovery of Osaka and Nara then weekend on Mount Koya-san before returning to TYK to celebrate hanami.





Takayama matsuri
Stars in my eyes at the superb Takayama Matsuri dedicated to the celebration of spring and good harvests.





Kyoto, colorful exuberances
Photographic exploration of Kyoto during a week full of wonder.





Glimpse of Kyoto
For my last day of work at TYK, I was treated to an organized day trip to Kyoto.





In company of Polina
Meet Polina and her family, a young Russian woman working at TYK whom I met a fortnight before the end of my stay in Tajimi.





Touches of Spring in Tajimi
Second month of work in Tajimi more pleasant than the first and return of the buds and flowers in the trees.





Portraits of TYK
Portraits of some of the people I met during my two months of work at TYK.





Discoveries with Kanji-san
Exploring the region with Kanji-san on the way to the Akechi Ceramics factory.





Walk through the Gasshō-zukuri
Three days visiting the regions of Shirakawa-gô and Gokayama, UNESCO World Heritage.





A day with Hayashi-san and Kaku-san
A day with the TC Sleeve team from the Research and Development department of TYK factory.





Another vision of TYK
Through twenty photographs, a stroll to discover the factory and its graphic aspect.





In the shoes of a TYK worker
Being employed at TYK and experiencing working in a Japanese refractory plant.





For a weekend in Nagoya
Touristy visits in Nagoya between Ghibli universe, castle and Toyota museum.





Tajimi and ceramics
Tajimi, an industrial city located in the prefecture of Gifu is renowned for its ceramics. I am working here since the beginning of February.





Sea creatures, misadventure and Tajimi
Last visits on Okinawa and return to Honshu to settle in Tajimi.





Tough experience in the Okinawan countryside
Volunteering in very rustic conditions in a small dairy farm near Ôgimi.





Paradise break on the Kerama archipelago
Three days of peaceful strolls, magnificent landscapes and failed activities within the tiny archipelago.





Gray weather in Okinawa
I land on the Ryukyu archipelago of which Okinawa is a part in increasingly bad weather.





Head to the stars in Tanegashima
On Tanegashima Island is located one of Japan’s main space centers as well as great beaches.





Yakushima, in the footsteps of Miyazaki
Visit the island of Yakushima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and source of inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki.





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 2
I continue my discovery of the island of Kyushu going towards south on the traces of the volcanoes.





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 1
At the end of 2015, I hit the road again, exploring the volcanic activity of the region.





Wwoofing in Yufuin
A month of volunteering in the middle of the onsen smokes in the small Youth Hostel Country Road.





Arrival on Kyûshû
Arrival on Kyûshû, cradle of Japanese civilization, where I will spend the month of December.





Miyajima and Itsukushima shrine
Visit of the island of Miyajima and its superb sanctuary accompanied by Doris.





Hiroshima and the weight of history
Hiroshima and the atomic bomb. Mandatory stop in the painful history of the country.





Sunny days in Kôchi
Return of the sun and quiet strolls in the coastal city of Kôchi.





Wandering in the Iya valley
Discovery of the Iya valley in the heart of the remote mountain ranges of Shikoku.





Minami, facing the sea
On the south coast of Shikoku, the small town of Minami exudes tranquility and a maritime atmosphere.





First steps on Shikoku
Arrival in Tokushima on the island of Shikoku, the smallest of the four big islands of Japan.





In the meanders of the megalopolis
Second week in Tokyo where I continue to discover the capital and meet a few people.










Last days in Japan





Living differently at Goka farm





Across the Kansai





Takayama matsuri





Kyoto, colorful exuberances





Glimpse of Kyoto





In company of Polina





Touches of Spring in Tajimi





Portraits of TYK





Discoveries with Kanji-san





Walk through the Gasshō-zukuri





A day with Hayashi-san and Kaku-san





Another vision of TYK





In the shoes of a TYK worker





For a weekend in Nagoya





Tajimi and ceramics





Sea creatures, misadventure and Tajimi





Tough experience in the Okinawan countryside





Paradise break on the Kerama archipelago





Gray weather in Okinawa





Head to the stars in Tanegashima





Yakushima, in the footsteps of Miyazaki





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 2





On the trail of Kyûshû volcanoes – part 1





Wwoofing in Yufuin





Arrival on Kyûshû





Miyajima and Itsukushima shrine





Hiroshima and the weight of history





Sunny days in Kôchi





Wandering in the Iya valley





Minami, facing the sea





First steps on Shikoku





In the meanders of the megalopolis




