Ogijima Island is not just an island of cats, an 📌 island that plays in the gaze of tourism When I first set foot on Ogijima Island, most of the words that came to mind were "This is the island of cats" that I often see on social media. It is true that the island is small and can be circled in less than two hours, and the appearance of cats can be seen everywhere. However, when you actually visit, you will find that this island is not only about cats. During the field survey on August 1, we interviewed Yamato Fukui, the director of the Ogijima Life Research Institute. The regional revitalization he is promoting is not only based on the tourism effects of the Setouchi Art Festival, but also on returning to the educational foundation, which is the basis of the sustainable development of the region. He is starting with the reconstruction of his alma mater and is trying to rekindle the spark of hope on the island. In his words, "Only the laughter of children can bring hope to an island that is aging." Based on this philosophy, Ogijima has seen an increase in new residents in recent years, many of whom are digital nomads who work remotely. They seek a relaxed rhythm of life where they can live on foot and Outbound to Downtown by boat, and they find opportunities to interact with people and the warmth of everyday life in this land. However, the presence of "cats" has also brought new challenges to the island. Squid cat packs brought by humans have required many adjustments to the daily lives of the original inhabitants due to differences in hygiene and cultural values. Even cat-loving residents are not necessarily in favor of promoting cats as a tourist attraction. Matsumoto, another Subject reporter, runs a guesthouse and café called "Sunset and Cat House," which actively embraces the image of cats, attracting the attention of overseas travelers, and has become a daily intersection where new residents meet and interact with each other. He said, "Because of these cats, people can have a common topic and Gari of life on the island." Beyond the tourist gaze, Ogijima shows the warmth of everyday life that is not just about pleasing someone. It is the temperature created by the accumulation of cultures, and it is a new chapter that the island is quietly writing at the intersection of the old and the new – Ogijima is not just an "island of cats" but an "island of hope and culture." [Photo and text: Cai Bing-hsiang, Wang Luhua, Huang Zhicheng] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Ogijima 不只是貓島 📌 觀光stare 下的重生島嶼 初次踏上Ogijima,腦中浮現的多半是社群裡那句「這是貓的島」。 確實,島不大,兩小時內可走完,貓蹤隨處可見。 但真正走進來,才發現這座島嶼的樣貌,遠不止於貓。 On August 1st, Dr. Yamato Fukui, the responsible person of the Ogijima Life Research Institute. 他所推動的地方創生,並不單以瀨戶內海藝術祭所帶動的觀光效益為出發點,而是回歸地方永續發展最根本的核心——教育基礎建設。 他選擇從讓自己的母校復甦著手,重新點火島上的希望。 正如他所言:「唯有孩子的笑聲,才能為高齡化的島嶼注入hope。 在這樣的理念引領下,Ogijima recent years suction 愈來愈多新住,其中不少是從事遠距工作的數位nomad ethnicity。 他們嚮往步行即可生活、搭船便能往返市區的緩慢節奏,也在這片地上找到與人交流的機會與日常的溫度。 然而,「貓」的出現,也為島嶼帶來新的挑戰。 這些因「人」而來的貓群,為原有居民的日常增添了不少管理上的考驗,在衛生維護與文化觀念之間,出現了不同立場的磨合空間。 即便是喜歡貓的居民,也不一定支持將貓作為觀光主軸。 另一位受客者松本先生,所經營的guesthouse與咖啡廳「Sunset and Cat House」,則展現出另一種possibilities。 他選擇擁抱貓的形象,吸引國際旅人的目光,也成為新住彼此相遇與交流的日常交會點。 他說:「這些貓,讓人們在島上有了共同的話題與生活的連結。 在觀光視之外,Ogijima Exhibition 現出一種不為取悅而活的日常感,那是文化累積而來的溫度,也是新舊交會之中,島嶼正悄然書寫的嶄新篇章——它不只是「貓島」,更是「希望與文化之島」。 [圖、文/蔡炆璇、王璐hua、黃志成]

📣＼ Writer Recruitment! ／ Discover, interview, write about, and share the charms of Shobara City in Hiroshima Prefecture We are recruiting members for the "Shobara Travel Editorial Team" ✍️ ✅Love Shobara ✅Write at least one article per month ✅Experienced writers warmly welcomed 📌Application deadline: Tuesday, September 30, 2025 For details and to apply, click here🔽 https://www.shobara-info.com/special/special/4765... <What is the Shobara Travel Editorial Team?> The editorial team experiences and broadly shares seasonal topics, the latest information, classic spots, popular local food, and little-known attractions. <What will you do?> Each member will plan, structure, research, photograph, and write articles about attractive spots, local food and sweets, events, and other aspects of Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, that they find appealing. You will also join a planning and editorial meeting about once a month to confirm future coverage and schedules and to discuss ideas like "I want to try this kind of project!" with the whole team. [Experienced writers encouraged to apply] We welcome applicants who can make the most of their writing experience by proactively engaging in planning, structuring, reporting and photography, and writing. From timely seasonal pieces to in-depth reads, if you are interested in creating community-focused articles that boost Shobara City, please apply! [Beginners also welcome] If you worry, "I have no writing experience" or "I've never planned, reported, or photographed before…", that's okay! We will discuss submitted ideas in the monthly meeting to improve them and support you as a team. Start with articles you can write at your own pace and get comfortable step by step◎ Contact Shobara Tourism Promotion Organization (Shobara DMO), Attn: Okutani TEL 0824-75-0173 Email kanko@shobara.net Details URL https://www.shobara-info.com/special/special/4765...

[Notice] Event information♪ ★ Iwanai Lions Club Beer Garden🍺 Two days only: August 9 and 10! At the event plaza in front of Roadside Station Iwanai Lions Festival celebrates in town🦁 Local restaurants will join and support with stalls There will also be events like a shaved-ice eating contest♪ Wondering where to go for the three-day weekend? If so, come to Iwanai-cho! 😊 Event organizer Iwanai Lions Club ★ Bon Festival 2025 August 11 (Mon) to August 16 (Sat) The "Bon Festival" will be held at the event plaza in front of the Roadside Station❗️ *August 11 and 12 are a pre-opening.* August 13–16 18:30–19:15 Children’s Bon dance 19:15–20:00 Hokkaido Bon dance Final day, August 16 From 18:30 Bon dance and costume dance Food stalls available🍴 Free karaoke and surprise guerrilla events too! Make summer holiday memories❗️Make hometown return memories❗️ Organizer: Bon Festival Children’s Festival Executive Committee

[Notice] This year’s lodging fireworks will again take place on August 10th. Launch site: IWANAI RESORT ※There is no parking available. Launch time: 8:30 PM. Postponed in case of severe weather. Organizer: Iwanai-cho Lodging Fireworks Executive Committee Inquiries: 0135-62-2222

Photographed on August 7, 25. It is the Tanabata Festival of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. Since the festival is held according to the lunar calendar, it is Tanabata one month late.

We celebrated the end of the training and exams. ㊗️ Chillax soda peach and blueberry cream donuts.

Minamiechizen Town, Nanjo District, Fukui Prefecture, located almost in the center of Fukui Prefecture, is a town where sea, mountains, and countryside blend together and where history and culture live on. The town covers about 344 square kilometers and has a population of approximately 9,000 people (as of May 2025), offering abundant nature and a peaceful way of life. Minamiechizen was formed in 2005 by the merger of the former Nanjo Town, Imajo Town, and Kono Village, and each area contributes its own character and attractions. Stretching north to south, Minamiechizen presents a variety of living landscapes, from coastal settlements to mountain farming villages, each rooted in its own culture and customs. Along the coastline you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Sea of Japan, and inland you can see satoyama landscapes woven from mountains and clear streams! Minamiechizen is also known as a region that preserves Japan’s original rural scenery, where you can experience a lifestyle in harmony with nature as it changes through the four seasons. In the tranquil rice-growing areas, agricultural experiences such as rice planting and harvesting are popular and delight many visitors.

I'm in Tokyo for work today. Prayer at Tokyo Daijingu Shrine. This is Suzu Araragi wind chime.

Photographed on July 19, 25. It is a wind chime at the edge of the north approach to the temple of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

"Summer in Japan" Oyster ice on hot summer days. It is called "Calendar" in Kagawa Prefecture, which is famous for Udon noodles Oyster ice in a café. Both syrup and milk (condensed milk) are handmade. Fluffy Oyster ice was very tasty.

Photographed 8/1/25. This is CAFE ANDON's iced café latte.

Photographed 8/1/25. Shortcake with peaches and apricots from CAFE ANDON. It's so delicious that I'm going to visit it again. 😊🍑

Photographed 8/1/25. This is CAFE ANDON's Andon chicken curry.

Photographed 8/1/25. After prayer to Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, I relaxed at the Starbucks Bell Ring Street store. Chillax soda peach and peach & milk cake. 🍑

Kumagaya Fan Festival 🪭 This is the [Kumagaya Fan Festival 🪭] Held in in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture. Lively atmosphere envelops Kumagaya, the hottest place in No.1 in Japan, for three days on July 20, 21, and 22 every year. In particular, the large procession on the last day was and powerful. Summer in Japan is all about 🫡 festivals

Yorii Tamayodo Water Tengu Festival Fireworks Festival 🎆 This is a fireworks festival held in every year in Yorii Town, Saitama Prefecture. The Mikoshi of each town floats on the river and creates 🤤 a summer atmosphere

A bell that tells the time. Under the blue sky, the old wooden lookout tower is a landmark of Koedo Kawagoe. Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture

Photographed 8/1/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Photographed 6/29/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine.

Sunset Village Sculpture Symposium This year again, works by Yoichi Okumura, who lives in Miyazaki City, have come to Gokasecho✨ These gentle pieces reflect Okumura’s warm personality😊 Although stone is usually thought of as hard, he can express it so softly😲 Looking at the works gives you a cozy, warm feeling🥰 A picture book about a snowman was also placed there to help visitors feel a little cooler⛄ You could also watch the creation process👀 The stone’s sheen is different before and after, isn’t it!? (Maybe it’s the photographer’s skill…😅) By the time he arrived in Gokasecho, he had already created about seven pieces✨ He is expected to dedicate a work to Furudono Shrine again this year, which is something to look forward to🎵 You can see the exhibition and Okumura’s working process below Furudono Shrine💡 He is scheduled to stay in Gokasecho until September 3, but since there will be tidying up and other tasks, it might be best to visit in August😊 *Note: Okumura will be absent on August 7.*

Photographed 8/1/25. It is a wind chime at the edge of Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. The wind chime on the veranda had changed. 🎐

On July 31st, STV's "Dosanko Wide 179" segment aired "Summer Okhotsk Engaru: A Journey Through Black Treasure "Black Treasure". If you missed it, you can watch it on "Dosanko Wide 179 YouTube". In the broadcast, there was also a supermarket with a tsunami warning, so you can ♪ see it on YouTube without a supermarket

Today, I attended the Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine Monthly Festival. At Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine, it is said that festivals are held according to the lunar calendar. It is a great exorcism of Xia Yue.

Tokyo Bakery On this day, glutton Kasai visited the nearby Tokyo Bakery, famous for its delightfully chewy bread. The shop moved to its current location in 1989; before that, it was in Suehiro, Suwa. When Kasai was a child, his grandmother often bought Tokyo Bakery bread for him. So for him, this is the bakery that helped raise him—a place he feels free to claim as his own, haha. The bakery has been around for about 70 years. Remarkably, it even offers a bread reservation shelf where customers can reserve loaves. I had rarely heard of a bakery reservation system, so I was truly surprised. The shelf held many reserved items, showing just how popular the shop is. Your favorite loaf definitely needs a reservation 🥖 Glutton Kasai’s recommendations are: pain de mie, cheese baguette, bacon-cheese baguette, karashi mentai baguette (spicy cod roe), crunchy peanut baguette, an-butter baguette (red bean and butter), coarse-ground pork roll, pizza bread, burdock salad bread, fresh cream bread, Danish bread, cream doughnut, curry bread, deluxe frankfurter, an-doughnut (sweet red bean doughnut), angel bread, banana sandwich, and all types of sandwiches. Sorry… my love for Tokyo Bakery is so strong that I ended up recommending everything I’ve eaten. Right now, I’m secretly aiming for the “Parisien”!!! Find out what that bread is like when you visit 🎶 It sounds like a bread fit for a foodie. I want to hog the Parisien all to myself, haha—I might even dream about it 🤤 Tokyo Bakery’s loaves truly have an incomparable chewy texture!!! I can boast that, of all the breads I’ve eaten in my life, theirs are the chewiest. Is it a True Sleeper? Maybe not, but it’s that chewy, haha. Fans of chewy bread must try Tokyo Bakery 🥖 Glutton Kasai gives this bakery his highest recommendation! Please come and enjoy it 🎶 ◎ Tokyo Bakery 📍 Suwa City, Kowataminami 14-10 ☎ 0266-52-1299 ◎ Hours: 07:30 - 18:30 ◎ Closed: Sundays and national holidays ◎ Parking: About 10 spaces (including shared spaces with the neighboring boutique). The Tokyo bakery! This is glutton Kasai’s favorite bakery ever!!! The shop is so close to our office, and their bread has a wonderfully springy, chewy texture. Around 35 years ago, my grandmother bought my brothers and me sandwiches and breads from here. We loved them. They helped raise us to be big eaters! First of all, I was amazed by the bread reservation system. Have you ever heard of reserving bread? It’s wonderful! When I visit bakeries I often can’t find my favorite loaf and end up choosing something else, so a reservation system is perfect for me. There is a “bread reservation shelf,” and it was full of reserved breads. So nice! My recommendation at Tokyo Bakery? Absolutely everything!!! I promise you’ll be satisfied. I’m currently aiming for the “Parisienne.” It even appears in my dreams!! Hahaha! Their bread is like a spring bed—soft and springy. I want you all to try it!!! Gluttonous Kasai’s top-recommended bakery! ◎ Tokyo Bakery ● 14-10 Kowataminami, Suwa City ☎ 0266-52-1299 ◎ Opening Hours: 07:30 - 18:30 ◎ Closed: Sundays and national holidays ◎ Parking: Approximately 10 cars

Notice: Event Information♪ Sister City Joetsu City Product Fair at the Dotou Festival Joetsu City in Niigata Prefecture, a sister city of Iwanai-cho, will hold a product fair at the Dotou Festival! Items for Sale Doburoku (unfiltered sake), sake, sasa-dango (bamboo-leaf rice cakes), shuttchijin mochi (departure mochi), rice, and more Date and Time: Saturday, August 2, 12:00–18:00 Sunday, August 3, 10:00–15:00 Venue: Special booth inside the Dotou Festival grounds Please take this opportunity to stop by and make a purchase♪

Notice] Event Information♪ Kids Iwanai Water Park🏖️ This year it takes place on the same day as the second day of the Dotou Festival! ★ Date and Time ・Sunday, August 3, 10:00–15:00 ★ Venue Iwanai Regional Cultural Center Marine Park Postal Code 045-0003 51-7 Bandai, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai District, Hokkaido ★ Eligibility Up to third-grade elementary school children accompanied by a guardian * Please do not take your eyes off your child. * We cannot take responsibility for accidents that occur without a guardian present. Changing tents will be provided on the day Please bring a change of clothes and a towel We look forward to welcoming everyone♪

[Notice] Event Information♪ The 52nd Iwanai Dotoh Festival!!! A spectacular fireworks show with about 5,000 shells🎇 ★Date and Time ・Saturday, August 2 — from 12:00 ※Fireworks start at 20:00 ※Postponed to the next day in case of rain ・Sunday, August 3 — from 10:00 ★Venue Special outdoor site on the west side of the Iwanai Regional Cultural Center Postal code 045-0003 51-7 Bandai, Iwanai-cho, Iwanai District, Hokkaido For the program and event details, please see the images from the second one onward.

Photographed on July 19, 25. Prayer at Kawagoe Hikawa Shrine. 🍧 Still, it's hot.

Summer has arrived 🌻 Last week Gokasecho saw many rainy and cloudy days, but this week the weather has been pure summer ✨ with the sun dazzling every day 😎 I drove out to Shirataki to look for a bit of cool air 🚗 Just watching the water fall from a drop of about 20 meters felt refreshing 😊 Along the way there was a sunflower field in full bloom 🌻 It was a spot I’d never known about before, so I felt like I’d discovered a great treat 🎵 People often picture Miyazaki Prefecture as hot, but Gokasecho sits surrounded by high mountains ⛰ Because of that, average summer temperatures are a few degrees lower than other parts of the prefecture, and mornings and evenings can be chilly enough to need a light blanket. Many nights you can sleep soundly without air conditioning 😉 (Last night was actually quite cool and I slept under a blanket 😅) Escape the summer heat and come refresh your body and mind in Gokase this summer ✨

Photographed 7/26/25. This is LEC COFFEE's lemonade soda. 🍋