The Moai Thread: From Easter Island to Japan #travel #japan #longevity
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Still away from my boat, I’m in Shibuya, Tokyo, standing beside the iconic Moyai statue, a gift from Niijima Island. Years ago, I sailed there by chance and found these statues all across the island—modern interpretations of the Moai of Easter Island (Rapa Nui).
What’s fascinating is how three very different “moai” traditions share a common heartbeat:
community, protection, and social connection.
---- Rapa Nui Moai (Easter Island)
The original monoliths honored ancestors, believed to watch over and protect communities. Their creation required enormous collective effort — a symbol of shared purpose.
----- Niijima Moyai (Tokyo / Niijima Island)
Inspired by Easter Island, these statues also play on Japanese word meanings:
moyai = to moor a boat
moyai = to gather / work together
They embody community and coming together.
----- Okinawa Moai (Social Circles)
In Okinawa, moai are lifelong social groups — mutual support networks sharing resources, friendship, and emotional care. Scholars say they help prevent kodokushi — lonely death, especially among elders.
It’s no wonder Okinawa is a global longevity hotspot.
Community is not an accessory, it’s a survival skill.
These layers of meaning inspired my new book,
Longevity and the Art of Community: Lessons from Japan.
From Easter Island to Niijima to Okinawa, the message is the same:
We live longer when we live together.
Pretty cool, eh?
See you next time. Back to the Boat soon.
#Moai #Moyai #Tokyo #Shibuya #Okinawa #Community #Longevity #BlueZones #JapanCulture #EasterIsland #Niijima #Kodokushi #HealthyAging #NeverTooLate
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.
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- Shibuya (35.6619707,139.703795)
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