Hinoemata is a rural town in Minami-Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture that is so secluded that, for decades upon decades, families from the town only had 1 of 3 surnames: Hirano, Hoshi or Tachibana. Even today, if you meet somebody from Hinoemata and ask them “Are you Mr Hoshi?”, chances are you’ll be right! Isolated byContinue reading Hinoemata: visiting rural Japan
Aizu-Wakamatsu’s Samurai History
Aizuwakamatsu: Schools for samurai, lucky red cows, castles and katana… What more could you ask for?!Continue reading Aizu-Wakamatsu’s Samurai History
The Hula Girls of Iwaki Yumoto Onsen
A town on the eastern coast of Fukushima is probably the last place you would expect to find a Polynesian Hula Girl Show. Since the 1960s, Spa Resort Hawaiians (a resort complex, home to countless spas, swimming pools, hotels and the world’s largest open-air bath) has been a venue for daily Polynesian dance performances. I wasContinue reading The Hula Girls of Iwaki Yumoto Onsen
