A 16-oar canoe and a fleet of fishing boats and kayaks from Iwaishima, Yamaguchi Prefecture, came out to greet Hokule'a at her first stop in the Inland Sea yesterday. Banners hanging from bamboo stalks on the boats were welcoming Hokule'a and also "protesting against plans to build a nuclear power plant in the area." A crew member on the Iwaishima canoe also performed a sacred dance: "According to Taku, among all the fishing communities in Japan, the people of Iwai-jima are the most concerned with spirituality and sustainability in drawing their livelihood from the sea, and the significance of this dance is to give thanks for the fish they have taken and seek blessings for the safety of the fleet." (See 5/20 report, Derek Ferrar). Photo from weblog at http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~jf-iwai/