The black and white photo at the entrance of the the Himeyuri Peace Museum in Naha, Okinawa, shows the graduating class of 1944. The 50 or so young women, aged 15-19, are grouped around their principal, smiling brightly into the camera and their own futures. They are the most promising female students in the Okinawa …
Lorne left a couple of hours ago for an all day snorkelling expedition off the Kerama Islands, and I’m getting ready to walk over to a coral dyeing experience about 50 minutes from our hotel. My Japanese phone number pings. TSUNAMI, it says with a red exclamation point. The rest of the message is in …
For two Canadian prairie people, more used to the “dry cold” of April in their home province, Okinawa’s moist heat comes as a bit of a surprise Not that we dislike hauling out our summer wear to tour Naha, Okinawa Island’s business capital. But after walking around for a while, we’re ready for a cool …
On the pathway leading up to Okinawa’s Shuri Castle stand the remains of a giant akagi tree, estimated to be more than 200 years old. It was heavily damaged during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, and further battered by a typhoon. Although the original tree is no longer alive, a tenacious akou tree has grown …
The taxi driver in Hiroshima asks us where we plan to go next in Japan. When we mention Okinawa, he’s surprised. “Kyoto? Osaka? Very beautiful. “ Yes, I think, and also crowded with tourists. Besides, we’d been both places on other trips. Now it was time to explore a less well known destination, at least to …
Wise Woman Travel 