2007 Voyage Photos

Cape Ashizuri

After departing from Uwajima, Hokule'a and Kama Hele will sail south down the Bungo Strait and back into the Pacific Ocean. Rounding Cape Ashizuri, at the southern tip of Shikoku, Japan's fourth largest island, the vessels will go east for Yokohama.

Nakahama Manjiro, aka John Mung

At Cape Ashizuri, near the lighthouse, is a statue of local hero Nakahama Manjiro, aka John Mung. In 1841, when Nakahama was 14 and working on a fishing boat, he was marooned on an island off Japan and picked up by a US whaling ship, which took him to Honolulu, then New Bedford. He studied English, math, and navigation, traveled the world, and returned to Japan in 1851, where he became a teacher and an interpreter for the Tokyo government – quite an adventure for a boy from a poor rural village.

Southern Coast of Shikoku

Rounding Cape Ashizuri, Hokule'a and Kama Hele will sail along the southern coast of Shikoku which forms a half circle around Tosa Bay. The area from Cape Ashizuri to Kochi City is mountainous and rural, with farmlands in its narrow valleys.

Kii Strait, from Cape Shiono

Between Shikoku and Honshu, Hokule'a and Kama Hele will pass the Kii Strait. This strait, the eastern opening of the Seto Naikai (Inland Sea), is one of the busiest sea lanes in the world, leading to and from the port cities of Osaka and Kobe.

Approaching Kushimoto Bridge

Under the Bridge at Kushimoto

Kii Peninsula

After crossing the Kii Strait, Hokule'a and Kama Hele will sail past the east coast of Kii Peninsula. This mountainous peninsula is noted for its sacred forests, rocky coastline, and famous shrines. Hashigui Iwa ("Bridge Post Rocks") is an impressive row of rock columns jutting up near shore like the remnants of a giant bridge.

For more on the Kii Peninsula, see On the Road in Kansai.

Fuji from the sea

On the way to Yokohama Bay, Hokule'a and Kama Hele may see Mt. Fuji from the sea (depending on the weather). Fuji-san is the tallest mountain in Japan, at 12,389 feet, and the piko of the nation.

Mount Fuji, above Lake Sai

June 8, 2007: Looking for Mt. Fuji at Sunset

The crew was looking fo Mt. Fuji as we went past the Izu Peninsula, but a haze hung over the island making for poor visibility.

June 8, 2007: Looking for Mt. Fuji at Sunset