Day 8: First Time!
Day 8... and yes, the week has been extended. 😊
Today, after morning Taiso with a friend and Neighbour, Ken Chan, Chiharu and her son Mitsu flew to nearby Kikai Island. Although Chiharu's father—and Mitsu's grandfather—was born there, remarkably neither of them had ever visited before. This trip became a first for both mother and son as they met relatives and explored a place deeply connected to their family history.
Meanwhile, I stayed behind in Amami and practicing for tommorrow.
Tomorrow brings another first. At 91, Chiharu will step into a karaoke bar for the very first time. And after a week of patient coaching from her, I'll be singing my first Japanese song.
One of the things Chiharu keeps reminding me is that life doesn't stop offering new experiences. As long as we remain curious, there are always new places to discover, new people to meet, and new songs to sing.
A Week with Chiharu follows 91-year-old Chiharu as she spends time with her son Mitsu and me in Buren Bay, Amami. Through ordinary moments—sharing meals, sailing, walking, singing, traveling, and exploring together—I'm observing what everyday life can teach us about longevity, community, curiosity, and living well.
Daily Highlights
Day 1 –Family (mother and son)
Day 2 – Curiosity (trying everything)
Day 3 – Continuity (the new captain)
Day 4 – Engagement (an appetite for life)
Day 5 – Joy (ordinary moments)
Day 6 – Community (plus waterfalls, sketching, and wacos)
Day 7 – Wonder (seeing beauty everywhere)
Day 8 – Firsts (still discovering)
https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/
#agingwell #firsttime #fun
Japan Solo
Lowell Sheppard: The 71-year-old 'Never Too Later' who traded life in Tokyo for a solo odyssey, transitioning from Pacific ambitions to the Japan Solo longevity project.
Channel Information:
Social Media Links:
Support Japan Solo
At WeBoating.com, we profoundly acknowledge the unwavering dedication that Japan Solo invests in crafting each and every video or voyage. Their passion for delivering exceptional ocean content shines through every frame, and it's a labor of love that deserves your attention.
We invite you to watch their captivating videos here and actively engage with their content, including their social media links above. Liking, commenting, and sharing their work goes a long way in fueling their creative fire.
We're also inviting you to explore the gear, sponsorships, and boat partnerships highlighted in the "Day 8: First Time!" video description, or directly on YouTube. By engaging with these offerings or purchasing services and items, you directly support Japan Solo, their collaborators, and the brands they're associated with.
To ensure you never miss an offshore update, consider visiting their official YouTube Channel to subscribe, like, and join their community directly.
If you have any feedback, corrections, or additional information about Japan Solo or their videos, please use the comment form below to share your thoughts with us.
Thank you for being a part of our community and supporting the creators we cherish. Your time and support truly matter!
Day 8: First Time! Location
- Kikaijima (28.3216123,129.9709674)
Latest Episodes from Japan Solo
Explore the most recent voyages. Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update!
Showing 1-6 of 482 results
Shizuoka Keeps Surprising Me #longevity #japan #healthylifestyle
I’m on Leg Two of my journey through Japan’s Top Ten and Bottom Three longevity prefectures, and Shizuoka keeps giving me reasons to stop. One place stands out for women’s healthy longevity, another calls itself Japan’s healthiest city, another has remarkably low cancer mortality, and here in the m...
Why Shizuoka Has My Attention
Leg Two begins in Shizuoka. I'm travelling to the Top Ten and Bottom Three prefectures identified by my True Longevity Index™—without revealing which is which until the end of the year. Shizuoka interests me because of its remarkably compressed Red Zone™: the period between healthy, independe...
Why I’m questioning Okinawa’s longevity / Top Ten or Bottom Three? #japan
Leg One of my True Longevity Index™ journey ends in Okinawa. I came looking at what Okinawa still does well: moai, social connection and the Art of Community. Then, as I was leaving, I looked down. Cars. Traffic. One monorail. Here’s the paradox: people in crowded Tokyo walk more than people in ...
Small Population. Big Numbers! Is it something in the Water?
Small population. Big numbers. And an intriguing question: **is there a connection?** My True Longevity Index™ brought me to Kagoshima Prefecture, and then the data led me further—to remote Isen Town on the island of Tokunoshima. Here, I found an unusually high concentration of centenarians, one o...
These Guys are 75 and Sill Climbing Masts!
I’m 71, and today I tried to keep up with three guys older than me. Hajiwa-san, Yamashita-san and Yasuda-san are all 75, already beyond Japan’s average healthy life expectancy. And this wasn’t just hanging around the boat. They rowed half a kilometer offshore, measured and worked on the rigging, ...