Blog

Thinking of mooring your boat in a Japanese fishing port or harbor? Japan is a welcoming but deeply group-oriented society, and showing respect is key to a smooth experience.

This past year, I've been based in the Ryukyu Islands, particularly Okinawa - a region renowned as a "Blue Zone" for its high concentration of centenarians. But as I've discovered, other prefectures like Shimane and Kagoshima are rewriting the narrative, often surpassing Okinawa in longevity statistics.

As we welcome 2025, I'm thrilled to share some exciting plans for the first half of the year. This spring, I'll embark on a unique sailing journey through Japan - a voyage that blends adventure, culture, and a quest for understanding the secrets of longevity.

As more cruisers head to Japan, communication becomes crucial - not just for getting by, but for truly connecting with people. While some folks are natural language learners, I've always found it a bit of a challenge. But after spending five years cruising and visiting over 70 ports, I've picked up a few key words that have made a world of difference.

I'm thrilled to share that this week I will begin a 30-45 day passage from Hawaii to Japan. However, this time, I'll be sailing aboard, Ramona Rae (an Ingrid 38) instead of Wahine (my Gib Sea 402).

Just a quick update from dry land. I hopped off Wahine a few days ago and left her securely moored in Buren Bay.

I'm currently docked in the small port of Uken in the far south of Japan. Yes, I've finally reached the island of Amami-Oshima - at the third attempt - and can check another item off my Dream List!

I was away for a couple of weeks attending the Annapolis Boat Show. Wahine waited patiently for me to return to give her bottom a clean fresh coat of paint. It's good to see her clear of barnacles. We went back in the water a few moments ago and now enjoying the still and quiet of an autumn evening in Niihama Marina.

I heard a seasoned sailor say recently that, sailors write their plans in sand at low tide. I have certainly discovered that to be true. Yesterday, I completed a loop ( about 1,500 kms) around Kyushu Island. It was not my initial goal.

It's been a year since I departed Yumenoshima Marina and I am back in Tokyo to mark the moment... I finally got around to reviewing all my notes and log, and the stats are listed below.

I have never before revealed this publicly. It was only after releasing this video that my chronic mispronunciation and mis-spelling of "Kuroshio" current became evident. But, misspelled or not, the Kuroshio current, like my "disorder" is a very real impediment to my forward progress.