Maritime Symposium 2024 hosted by JITTI USA and Johns Hopkins Reischauer Center. Held on October 17, 2024 at Johns Hopkins SAIS. Maritime Symposium 2024 Sea Lane Safety and Supply Chain Resilience for Economic Security Co-hosted by The Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies & JITTI USA Thursday, October 17th 3:00- 6:00 PM (Followed by a Reception) A Free Hybrid Event: Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001 / Virtually hosted in English and Japanese Timetable Survey Summary As economic globalization has accelerated, each nation’s activities across the world have become increasingly dependent on sea lanes, which have become a critical element for the global supply chain while also arising vulnerabilities lying in it. These include the expansive maritime claims by a certain state in the South China Sea, the war in Ukraine causing the Black Sea to become a warlike area, tensions in the Middle East and attacks on commercial ships by non-state actors in the Red Sea, all of which threaten the free and smooth navigation for commercial vessels. In the symposium, with the global common goal of stabilizing sea lanes in mind, experts from the maritime industry, government and academia discussed to address various challenges that respective maritime authorities and industry in Japan and the U.S. need to cope with. The discussion includes, among others, the following points: The global spread of COVID-19 greatly increased the number of vessels detained, highlighting the vulnerabilities of the maritime industry in the global supply chain. The vulnerabilities have also been underscored by various factors including extreme weather events and geopolitical risks. The water shortage in the Panama Canal area has also highlighted such risks. The U.S. and Japan recognize maritime security as an essential element for national security, and, in cooperation with allied or similar countries, are pursuing the rule-based "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" through capacity building support and joint training for ASEAN and the Pacific Island nations. Cooperation under the QUAD initiative is also important and moving forward. To ensure stable supply chain, it is essential to secure redundant trade/transportation routes and maintain a nation’s sufficient owned shipping capacity. The U.S. government has been strengthening the economic security of its maritime industry under the national security perspective although the level of its subsidiary support is yet enough. The capacity of the U.S. shipbuilding industry has been shrinking seriously. Now some major maritime states are depending on China for their shipbuilding or maintenance needs. It is essential to consider how to go along with such presence of China when we discuss the economic security. In 2022, Japan enacted the Economic Security Promotion Act, the first law aiming to take comprehensive measures to prevent harmful actions in the context of economic activities, with the maritime industry included as one of core infrastructure services. The significance of such economic security as well as of stable maritime industry and resilient supply chain is not yet widely recognized among public citizens. There is a strong need to raise public awareness. It is essential for stakeholders in Japan and the U.S. to address the abovementioned challenges. Collaborative efforts by Japan and the U.S. are expected to contribute to the stability of the global supply chain. UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that this symposium covers: Welcome Remarks Kent Calder Director, Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Bio Opening Remarks Masafumi Shukuri Chairman, Japan International Transport and Tourism Institute, USA (JITTI) Chairman, Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute (JTTRI) Bio Greetings by Guest of Honor Shigeo Yamada Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America Bio Keynote Speeches Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips US Navy (Ret.) Administrator, DOT Maritime Administration (MARAD) Bio Yoshimichi Terada Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) Bio Presentation Panel Discussion # 1 Current Security Situation Surrounding Sea Lanes Panelists Admiral Shohei Ishii Japan Coast Guard (Ret.) Former Commandant, Japan Coast Guard; Advisor to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism Bio Presentation Rear Admiral Wayne R. Arguin Jr. Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG-5P), U.S. Coast Guard Bio Moderator Geoffrey F. Gresh Professor of International Security Studies at the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University Bio Panel Discussion #2 Ensuring the Safety of Sea Lanes and the Future of Maritime Industry Panelists Koichiro Hayashi General Manager, Research Group, NYK Line Bio Presentation Henry Nuzum President, Waterman Logistics Bio Rear Admiral Ann C. Phillips US Navy (Ret.) Administrator, DOT Maritime Administration (MARAD) Bio Yoshimichi Terada Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (MLIT) Bio Moderator Geoffrey F. Gresh Professor of International Security Studies at the College of International Security Affairs (CISA), National Defense University Bio Concluding Remarks Kent Calder Director, Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Bio Timetable Survey Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001

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JITTI Journal Cultural Article November 2021 Back to All JITTI Journals November 2021 Cultural Article The Unknown Dinosaurs of Japan by Tetsuhiro Hagiwara When you think of the word "dinosaur," what kind come to mind? You may think of the major dinosaurs that you’ve seen in the movie "Jurassic Park," such as the most fearsome carnivorous dinosaur, Tyrannosaurus rex, which is known to everyone, Triceratops, which has three horns and can compete with carnivorous dinosaurs, and Brachiosaurus, one of the largest dinosaurs in the world, which stretches out its long neck to eat leaves from tall trees.  Until recently, I was one of those people who only could recall these most popular ones, but my five-year-old son's fascination with dinosaurs gave me a chance to learn about Japanese dinosaurs, which I had never heard of before. I would like to introduce Japanese dinosaurs at this time. The most famous Japanese dinosaur is Fukuiraptor, which was discovered in Fukui Prefecture in 2000. The first dinosaur fossil to be found in Japan was of a Sauropod in Iwate Prefecture in 1978. Since then, there have been 9 species of dinosaurs, like Fukuiraptor, that have been given scientific names as endemic to Japan. Full-body skeleton of Fukuiraptor (on display at Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum). Image from Wikipedidia, フクイラプトルの全身骨格化石 is by Titomaurer In Japan, dinosaurs have been discovered one after another since 2000, and a fossil named "Yamatosaurus isanagii" in April this year (discovered in 2004) is now attracting attention from around the world as it holds the key to the evolution of dinosaurs that flourished for a long time. The fossils, including bones of part of the lower jaw, were discovered in a 72-million-year-old stratum in Sumoto City in southern Awaji Island. The maximum length is estimated to be about 8 meters and the weight about 5 tons. The Hadrosauridae, also known as platypus dragons, were the most prosperous plant-eating dinosaurs of the Cretaceous period, with flat duck-like beaks. Now, what's great about this dinosaur is that Yamatosaurus is a primitive species of Hadrosauridae, which emerged in the middle of the Cretaceous period (about 95 million years ago) and is expected to reveal the evolutionary process of Hadrosauridae. Compared to the evolved species of the Late Cretaceous period, the shoulder muscles were underdeveloped, suggesting that the transition from bipedal to quadrupedal walking occurred during the transition from primitive to evolutionary individuals. In other words, the change in walking style may have led to the expansion of their behavioral range, which in turn led to the diversification and prosperity of the species. The coastal areas of East Asia, including Japan, will be important in analyzing this possibility in the future. A fossil of a Yamatosaurus, which may have been a primitive species about 95 million years ago, has been discovered in a 72-million-year-old stratum. This suggests that the East Asian coast, including Japan, was a "Refugia," a region where species were able to survive in their original state. It is interesting to note that Yamatosaurus coexisted with evolved species for 20 to 30 million years without going extinct, and I am sure I am not the only one who thinks it is a dreamy story that its descendants thrived for 20 million years without going extinct. Yamatosaurus Image from Wikipedia, by Masato Hattori In July of this year, it was also announced that five eggshell fossils of theropod (bipedal carnivorous dinosaur) Troodontidae were discovered in the Tedori Group in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture. The fossils were found in the stratum of the Early Cretaceous Period, about 130 million years ago, and are believed to be the oldest dinosaur eggshell fossils in Japan. Since no bone fossils of the Troodontidae family have been found in the world so far, the research team of Tsukuba University, which discovered the fossils, said, "It is significant that we have shown the possibility of the existence of unknown dinosaurs in the Tedori Group.” Troodon and eggshell fossils from tsukuba.ac.jp  Troodon and eggshell fossils from tsukuba.ac.jp As you can see, new species and world-class discoveries of Japanese dinosaurs are being made one after another, so why not keep an eye on them? As a side note, did you know that Japan has one of the world's three largest dinosaur museums*, the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum? My family visited the museum in the spring of this year with my son's enthusiasm. It was a wonderful museum where even non-enthusiasts could make fresh discoveries. The exhibition volume, including 44 dinosaur skeletons, is worthy of the name "World's Three Greatest Dinosaurs," and as it is a famous place for real-time fossil excavation, you can see the know-how of fossil excavation, actual work scenes, etc. Although it has been suspended due to the recent Corona pandemic, there are also event facilities nearby where visitors can experience fossil excavation and hotels with nice rooms called "dinosaur rooms." It is a funny story that our son, a few months after the trip, quickly switched his interests from his favorite dinosaur to Pokémon.  *The rest of them are the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Canada and the Jigong Dinosaur Museum in China. References: https://japan-forward.com/japanese/%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E3%81%AE%E3%80%8C%E6%81%90%E7%AB%9C%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3%E3%80%8D%E3%81%8C%E9%9D%A2%E7%99%BD%E3%81%84%E3%80%80%E6%96%B0%E7%A8%AE%E3%80%81%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E7%9A%84%E7%99%BA%E8%A6%8B/ https://jurassicpark.fandom.com/ja/wiki/%E3%83%88%E3%83%AD%E3%82%AA%E3%83%89%E3%83%B3\ https://note.com/sekaitravel/n/nd65c089b9b7c Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum https://www.dinosaur.pref.fukui.jp/ https://kyoryunomori.net/ Hotels with dinosaur rooms https://hnmamablog.com/2021dainaso-hotel/ Image Sources: Wikipedia , フクイラプトルの全身骨格化石 by Titomaurer is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikipedia , Kamuysaurus japonicus by Masato Hattori is licensed under CC BY 4.0 Troodon and eggshell fossils from tsukuba.ac.jp

JITTI Journal Cultural Article January 2018 Back to All JITTI Journals January 2018 Cultural Article Provincial city - Niihama (Ehime prefecture, Shikoku) by Shinichi Yamada Niihama city, located on Shikoku Island, is surrounded by mountains on its east, west and north sides, and faces the Inland Sea on its north. The population of the city is about 120,000 and the city is the sixth largest city on Shikoku. This article will introduce Niihama and the traditional culture of Niihama. It takes about 6 hours to travel to Niihama from Tokyo, and it is not easy to travel there from overseas. However, I would be very glad if through this short article you gain interest in Niihama and its regional culture. History of Niihama (Sumitomo Group and Besshi copper mine) In Japan, Niihama is known as the town where Sumitomo Zaibatsu (the predecessor of the current Sumitomo Group) established their foundation after they discovered the Besshi copper mine at the end of the 17th century. At that time, the Besshi copper mine was said to turn out the world's largest output of copper. Therefore, despite the fact that Niihama is inconvenient to get to, Niihama developed as an industrial city, and there are many main factories of the Sumitomo Group located in Niihama even now. The mine itself is now closed, but there is a sightseeing spot built to commemorate it. We can learn about the mining history of the Besshi copper mine, and also enjoy the hot spring and local foods. Traditional Festival (Taiko-dai Carnival) The Taiko-dai Carnival, one of the three biggest festivals in Shikoku, is held every October and more than 100,000 tourists visit. "Taiko" means drum and "dai" means cart in English. The origin of Taiko-dai is unclear, but it is said that the cart that carries offerings in order to thank God for the blessings of nature. The carts are about 6600 lbs, 16 ft tall, and 40 ft in length. During the festival, 150 people carry it throughout the town while beating the drum placed inside of the taiko-dai structure, which is hollow. Each area of Niihama has its own Taiko-dai, and there are 53 Taiko-dai total in Niihama. (Taiko-dai) One of the highlights of the festival is called "Kaki-kurabe". Multiple Taiko-dai are gathered together and lifted with human power only. Each area competes for the strength and harmony of the bearers. Sweets originated in Niihama (Hatada Marron Taruto) Hatada Marron Taruto is like a roll cake covered in a citrus-flavored bean paste with chestnuts, wrapped in a sponge cake. It is said that the origin of this sweet is a torta (a roll cake wrapped in jam in Castella) which came from Portugal to Japan about 350 year ago. The jam was changed to bean paste, and current roll cake was developed. This roll cake is a Japanese-style confectionery and has an elegant and rich taste. It is slightly sweet because of citrus flavor in the paste. It has been awarded the High International Quality Trophy in the Food products Selection every year since 2006. Like various countries, each town in Japan has an individual history and culture. Niihama is not a famous city even in Japan, but I think my hometown is a wonderful city with its own culture. Did you get interested?

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Eno conducted an analysis of the international market for air travel for JITTI USA. This multi-part series details some of the most interesting facts and findings, and is instructive for thinking about how international air service has evolved over the past few decades. < Back Civil Aviation Trends in International Travel Part 3: Aircraft, Polar Routes, and Flights to Asia By Paul Lewis Eno conducted an analysis of the international market for air travel for JITTI USA. This multi-part series details some of the most interesting facts and findings, and is instructive for thinking about how international air service has evolved over the past few decades. Download the Report

JITTI Journal Cultural Article May 2022 Back to All JITTI Journals May 2022 Cultural Article My Mother, the Inventor of Okinawan Taco Rice by Mamiko Kim My mother would feel sheepish to know that I am writing about her. I can picture her now giving me a side glance before saying her usual 「言わなくても良い」(“You don’t need to say anything”). Over the years, her frame seems to have shrunk to reach just 5 feet, and her straight, shoulder-length hair that was once naturally and then later meticulously dyed raven black has now transitioned to a soft ivory. Yet, despite these outward changes, her inner mantra has always remained the same- to serve others generously and not boast about oneself. So here I am bragging on her behalf. According to family lore, my mother is the inventor of Okinawa’s famous taco rice dish. My family feels well-founded in our claims, but before delving into our side of the story, I should first explain the official version of how taco rice was created and became a popular dish. Official Origin Story of Taco Rice In 1984, Matsuzo Gibo opened Parlor Senri, a sit-down restaurant located outside of Camp Hansen, an American military base, serving an array of dishes to American military members missing the taste of home. Recognizing that he was in a glamorous part of town and that his clientele craved something quick and inexpensive, he began experimenting with his menu. Originally, he substituted potatoes as the base of his tacos, removing the tortilla shell. This, however, proved to be too time consuming to make. He then swapped the potatoes out with white Japanese short-grain rice, which could be kept hot and prepared in advance. This, he found, was delicious. At first, his new creation was snubbed by the Okinawan locals, but as more and more young servicemen began pouring into Gibo’s restaurant for this cheap, late-night meal, they began to take notice. Soon other restaurants also began adding taco rice to their menus. Vloggers TabiEats get a taste of Matsuzo Gibo’s taco rice recipe at Taco King. Legacy Gibo’s success allowed him to open his first King Taco fast-food restaurant in Kin, the same town where Parlor Senri was located. Eventually, he did so well that he was able to open 5 other locations. While Parlor Senri closed its doors in 2015, King Taco in Kin is still operating, and is open daily from 10:30 am- 1 pm. Additionally, dozens of other restaurants across Okinawa serve the dish. Most famously, Yoshinoya, a 14,000-strong chain restaurant known mostly for their beef bowls, has it as an item on their menu, but only in Okinawa. Even the U.S. fast-food restaurant KFC briefly served taco rice across Japan in the 1990s, furthering the dishes popularity and sealing its association with Okinawa nationally.  Kin has truly embraced its heritage as the birthplace of taco rice by calling itself the “Taco Rice Town.” In 2010, they gathered some 2,000 local volunteers in a challenge to make the largest taco rice. After negotiations with the Guinness World Record, who had to create a category to recognize the challenge, the townsfolk succeeded in cooking up a 1,645 pound (746 kg) world record meal of taco rice, consisting of 683 pounds of rice, 441 pounds of taco meat, 220 pounds of cheese, 195 pounds of lettuce, and 106 pounds of tomatoes. A base layer of Japanese rice being prepared at Kin’s 2010 Guinness World Record attempt at making the largest taco rice. (Image credit: RyukyuLife.com) My Mother’s Story So how does my mother fit into this narrative? To fully understand, we have to go back to the start of my parents’ relationship. My father grew up in a small farming and manufacturing town in Washington state, and while my grandmother was known to be an adventurous cook, the area’s food scene lacked diversity. The one exception was tacos. When my father met my Japanese mother in college and began to talk more seriously of marriage, he likes to joke that his one condition was that they ate tacos at least once a week. Needless to say, my mother agreed, and they married in 1981. Whether he meant it in jest or not, since the start of their marriage tacos have been a weekly dinner item, and with my father joining the military, taco seasoning was always readily available wherever they went. However, while stationed in Okinawa in 1983, my sister was born, which brought an unexpected challenge. When my mother was introducing solid foods to her, she worried about whether the hard tortilla shells, which were the only kind sold at the time, would be much too dangerous for a baby to consume. After some thought, she substituted them with Japanese rice, which both baby and husband joyfully ate. With my brothers being born soon afterwards, this became the de facto way they ate tacos, which my mother had renamed taco rice. She even shared this new take on tacos with neighbors and friends and took the creation to potlucks for the local church congregation off-base. These friends and neighbors then began making taco rice in their own homes as well, and it became a community favorite. A Surprising Coincidence Shortly after, with a new military assignment, my parents moved away from Okinawa. They continued to thrive, had two more children (including yours truly), and kept their weekly tradition of eating taco rice on Sundays. As everyone grew older, my mother would comment on how much taco rice she would have to cook to keep up with demand. My brothers would heap their whole plates with rice, meat, and cheese during their teenage years, which us kids called taco mountains, as my mother insisted that they add more vegetables. My father retired from the military, and my parent’s time in Okinawa was a fond, but distant memory. It wasn’t until one of my brothers went to Japan that we heard the news. Cooking for himself and a roommate, it came naturally for him to make a staple from home. When the roommate joined him at the table for a meal of taco rice, however, he turned to my brother in wonder and asked him how he knew about this dish. My brother, in shock, responded in kind, puzzled by how someone outside our family would know our mother’s cooking. Turns out this roommate was from Okinawa, and our humble family tradition had become a famous regional meal. One of my favorite Japanese cooking bloggers shows how she makes taco rice. One big difference that we have in my family is in the assembly. We always put the cheese on the rice, not on top of the meat. This ensures that the cheese gets extra gooey and melty when sandwiched between the two warm components of the dish. Conclusion I don’t wish to downplay Matsuzo Gibo’s ingenuity or initiative in creating taco rice in his own right and for making it so widely popular. At the same time, it has been a bizarre feeling knowing that an entire Japanese region is enjoying something that is an embodiment to me of my mother’s love for our family. When I went to Okinawa several years ago, I was invited to dinner by some locals who had known my parents when they lived there. Perhaps fittingly, we ate a meal of taco rice, and they relayed to me how they had first heard of and eaten the dish when my mother had brought it to their community potluck. As we sat there talking, them reminiscing of times before and swapping stories, I looked across the table at their growing family. I felt the warmth of three generations of Okinawans, including grandparents, adult children, and babies, enjoying taco rice together. In that moment, it didn’t matter to me who had invented the dish or whether my mother was properly acknowledged. It just felt like home. I think my mom would agree, this is really what taco rice is about. References:  https://explorepartsunknown.com/okinawa/the-story-behind-okinawas-national-dish/ https://www.visitkintown.jp/en/spot/king-tacos-kin-main-branch https://www.thehawaiiherald.com/2019/10/09/food-culture-the-taco-rice-story/ https://web.archive.org/web/20150519220526/http://okinawa.stripes.com/news/tribute-taco-rice-us-militarys-favorite-mex-oki-fusion-food

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JITTI Journal Cultural Article March 2022 Back to All JITTI Journals March 2022 Cultural Article Izakaya, Japanese-style Bar by Hirokazu Nishikawa Let's say you're traveling to Japan. Where would you try to go? Mt. Fuji, Tokyo Tower, Shibuya crossing, Kyoto or Osaka? These are not bad ideas, but I'd like you to try going to an “izakaya”, a Japanese-style bar.To be honest, I think I might be overstating the value of izakaya, and I'm sure there are many people who would find it more meaningful to visit the standard tourist spots. However, there is no doubt that izakayas in Japan have an atmosphere where you can enjoy a unique Japanese sense of everyday life, different from bars in other countries. To be honest, I think I might be overstating the value of izakaya, and I'm sure there are many people who would find it more meaningful to visit the standard tourist spots. However, there is no doubt that izakayas in Japan have an atmosphere where you can enjoy a unique Japanese sense of everyday life, different from bars in other countries. Image source: https://www.pakutaso.com First of all, when you take a seat, you are given an “oshibori.” This is a wet hand towel, but it allows you to refresh yourself as soon as you take a seat. The towel is chilled in the summer and warm in the winter. You will also be served an “otoshi,” an appetizer. This is a small plate of food served by the izakaya on its own, but it is like a table charge. You can't say no to them (Don't worry, it will be delicious). What are the izakaya customers like? There may be some college students making noise, some couples. Some customers are looking for romance, some are there with their workmates, and some of them might be young employees receiving advice and lectures on their work from their bosses. Hearing all this, you may wonder, what makes it different from other countries’ bars? But something is different. Maybe it's because of the pleasant Japanese music playing in the background, or maybe it's because everyone is not as friendly as American people, and even though they are not talking to each other, there is a mysterious sense of unity among all the people there. Image source: https://pixabay.com/ Sometimes the English on the menu may be strange. It might be just because it is difficult to express Japanese food in English, but it is fun to try to predict and order with your friends. I guess we all like to be adventurous. Besides, many izakayas nowadays allow you to order using a touch screen tablet. Even paper menus often have pictures on them, so you can see at a glance what kind of food you're going to get (I still get tired of looking at all the dense English words on American restaurant menus). Also, the cost of Japanese dishes are very reasonable! You can enjoy a lot of delicious food and drinks at a lower price. When calling the waiter, you don't need to make eye contact. You can call out a little louder to the waiter in the distance (it can be any waiter in the izakaya). Depending on the type of izakaya, there is a button on your seat that you can press, and the waiter who is available will rush right over to you. “I can't be that rude!” you say? Don't worry, there is no tipping culture in Japan, and if you call out, any waiter will happily stop for you. Themed Izakayas What I have written so far are common features of all izakayas. There are also some unusually themed ones, such as the following:  ・Prison Izakaya 　You become a prisoner and are taken to a fake jail. The food may be a bit shocking looking. ・Elementary School Izakaya 　An izakaya based on the concept of an elementary school classroom. When you are enjoying the food, you are suddenly given a quiz on science, math, or some other subjects. ・Monk Izakaya 　An izakaya staffed by Japanese monks. If you are troubled by life, you might want to go there. Maybe you'll find some enlightenment from them? Are you starting to get interested? Once you get hooked on Japanese izakaya, you will want to walk through the entrance again and listen to the shouts of the waiters echoing throughout the izakaya: "いらっしゃいませ！(Welcome!)” Image source: https://www.enjoytokyo.jp

New technologies have made it possible to design and develop aircraft that can operate at altitudes never seen before. As demand increases, operation in Upper Class E airspace (defined as above 60,000 feet) is an opportunity for alternative traffic management approaches. Read how the FAA and NASA, along with those in the aviation industry, are making efforts to ensure safe and efficient operations at these great heights. < Back Civil Aviation Assessment for Utilizing Upper Class E Airspace in the United States By Yoshihiro Fujimaki New technologies have made it possible to design and develop aircraft that can operate at altitudes never seen before. As demand increases, operation in Upper Class E airspace (defined as above 60,000 feet) is an opportunity for alternative traffic management approaches. Read how the FAA and NASA, along with those in the aviation industry, are making efforts to ensure safe and efficient operations at these great heights. Download the Report

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JITTI Journal Cultural Article November 2020 Back to All JITTI Journals November 2020 Cultural Article A Recent Style for Domestic Traveling in Japan by Daisuke Miyamoto Introduction I hope that all JITTI Journal readers and their families are in good health during this pandemic. Covid-19 has stopped our movement itself, like commuting and traveling around the world. This has also caused devastating damage to the tourism industry in Japan, as well as the transportation and other industries. Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Land Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan has started a promotional campaign called ‘’Go to Travel,’’ which helps people sightseeing in Japan by discounting travel fees and/or distributing coupons for activities, restaurants and so on. On the other hand, people who want to lower the risk of infection as much as possible may prefer to go traveling near their homes. Thus the “Go to Travel” campaign is a reasonable idea for many people who were frustrated by the quarantine but hope to travel shorter distances. The Shuzenji Area With this in mind, as I have lived in Tokyo and am familiar with the surrounding locales, I want to recommend going to the Shuzenji area, which takes about 2 hours by train, or 3 hours or less by bus or car from Tokyo. The area’s name comes from the Shuzenji-temple, which was established about 1,200 years ago, and the region is called the “Small Kyoto of Izu,” so to speak. The most symbolic spot in this area is the Tokko Onsen, which is among the 100 most famous hot springs in Japan. Of course, there are also many “must-visit” spots here too, like Japanese traditional gardens, scenic streets, and restaurants. I’d like to introduce two of these must-visit spots, Bamboo Street and an area with a series of love bridges. Bamboo Street This street is a signature tourism location in Shuzenji. Visitors can enjoy and relax while walking. It’s beyond description, so please appreciate the picture below. Bamboo Street A Series of Love Bridges If you want a boy/girlfriend, you must visit the series of love bridges. The five bridges are named “Togetsu Bridge,” ”Kokei Bridge,” ”Katsura Bridge,” ”Kaede Bridge,” and ”Takishita Bridge,” which all span over the Katsura River. It is said that your wish for love comes true when you cross over all the bridges. Kaede Bridge A trip to Shuzenji will surely allow you to be able to feel relaxed!!