Day 7: Wonder Never Grows Old
Day 7... but we're not finished yet/
Today began early when a neighbor brought over a special flower for Chiharu to enjoy. After Taiso and before breakfast, we strolled through the tiny village where we are based, just 29 people living in 20 houses, and visited a small local gallery.
Chiharu took her time. She looked closely at the paintings, watched the light dancing through the glass prisms, and genuinely appreciated what the artists had created.
From there, we drove to another small village renowned for producing natural dyes from the earth and using those colors to create beautiful fabrics and clothing. We were invited inside to see part of the process and learn how the colors of Amami are drawn directly from the land.
The highlight came when Chiharu found an Amami kimono handcrafted in the village. She was absolutely delighted to take one home.
One thing I continue to notice about Chiharu is her capacity to pay attention. She doesn't rush past beauty. Whether it's a flower, a painting, coloured light, a piece of fabric, or the skill of a local craftsperson, she stops and allows herself to enjoy it.
Perhaps part of aging well is never losing your sense of wonder.
About this week
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, singing, sailing, walking, creating, meeting neighbors, and exploring the island—I'm observing what everyday life can teach us about aging well, community, curiosity, and living with an enduring appreciation for life.
https://www.nevertoolateacademy.com/
#Longevity #HealthyAging #Amami #JapanSolo #Community #AgingWell #JapaneseCulture
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 7: Wonder Never Grows Old" 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 7: Wonder Never Grows Old Location
- Amami Ōshima (28.2678467,129.3621196)
Latest Episodes from Japan Solo
Explore the most recent voyages. Subscribe to the channel to never miss an update!
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, ...