If you sail north from Okinawa towards the main islands of Japan, you could reach Amami Oshima, the largest island in the Satsunan island chain. Our ship docked there on June 14 (Day 152).
This island is subtropical and quite hot and humid. The rural, slow pace of the island, and a great guide made it a good low key spot to visit. Our guide grew up in Arizona, came to Japan to study as a young adult, married a woman from the island, and has settled here to raise their children. He described the culture, reminding me of the challenges faced by many people who live in small rural areas around the world. Lots of community and nature…. Not so much work. The main product of the island is a sugar called black sugar.
There were beautiful beach vistas.
We visited an art museum memorial to Tanaka Isson, a Japanese artist who settled on the island at the end of his life.
These are not the paintings from the museum (they would not allow pictures), but should provide some idea of his art.
The museum itself was made up of sculptural connected buildings.
I keep coming back to the mushroom buildings