Day 50

Fireworks, balloons, music, and dancing with the locals at the Minamisanriku Summer Festival after a long day of "sightseeing" in the area devastated by the tsunami.

Day 49

Spent the afternoon with some seniors making lanterns in Minamisanriku in preparation for a festival next week. Activities like this give seniors affected by the tsunami a chance to make a little bit of money to work towards new homes, businesses, etc.

Day 48

People looking through water-stained photos recovered from the tsunami rubble, searching for their own lost photos.

Day 47

  Sea urchin and abalone caught in the morning and eaten at lunch!

Day 46

"Temporary" living. Homes, shops, and businesses have relocated into temporary structures since being destroyed by the tsunami and earthquake - a step on the path to rebuilding.

Day 45

What used to be the town of Onagawa before the 2011 tsunami and earthquake. In the foreground is a 3 story building knocked on its side. The area is being cleaned up and filled so that houses and businesses can be rebuilt at a level 5-10 meters above the existing grade in hopes of escaping the next tsunami.

Day 43

A day spent in the muggy, rainy hot springs town of Beppu.

Day 42

Looking out over the city and the castle grounds from the top of Kumamoto-jo.

Day 41

Starting a crazy descent down Taka-dake Mountain to the valley below with the tops of the clouds visible in front of us and steamy plumes of sulfur blowing at us from the nearby volcano.

Day 40

Surrounded by the beautiful scenery, temples, and shrines on Miyajima Island is the cheesiest tourist attraction of all - the world's largest rice scoop!