April 10, 2026

One of the many things we like about this segment of our World Tour is its extensive Asian itinerary. We will now be visiting 9 Japanese ports before passing through The International Dateline and beginning our long crossing to Alaska.

Japan remarkably has 100 ports, some like the ones that we will be visiting are unique. Of the ones that we will be visiting Yatsushiro, Kagoshima, Kochi, Osaka, Shimizu, Tokyo, Miyako, Aomori, Hakodate only some can be found on a typical map of Japan.

I am always fascinated how small communities will creatively reimagine themselves to stimulate their economy. Our first Japanese port of call, Yatsushiro has done exactly that.

Yatsushiro is in Kumamoto Providence. Kuma means bear in Japanese so the good people of Yatsushiro in 2010 coined the phrase “Kumamoto” literally meaning “bear person from Kumamoto.” Kumamon became a nationwide phenomenon, ready for this, generating billions of yen in tourism and merchandise throughout Japan! These black bodied bears with bright red cheeks and big round eyes are everywhere in Yatsushiro and I mean everywhere! This easily walkable city became a scavenger hunt location to spot Kumamo. He’s now the most famous mascot in Japan!

My entrepreneurial spirit couldn’t help but me tickled by the ingenuity of these creative residents who made touring their city part carnival and part ole time family fair. Congratulations Yatsushiro!

As prominent as the Kumamon are, we uncounted some beautiful areas in Yatsushiro. There is the lovely Inspiration Path which leads up to the Yatsushiro Temple. A quiet meditative walkway lined with inspirational messages chiseled into granite reminds visitors that life’s circumstances-good and bad-change with time.

As I have seen in many places of worship around the world, there was a tree as you entered the gateway into the temple adorned with notes for petitions not yet resolved and notes of thanksgiving for prayers answers.

I could not help to reflect that with age I’ve learned it was wise that God didn’t answer some of my prayer requests.

Thanks for traveling with us.