Living in Harmony with the Ocean: Ishigaki Island

Surrounded by pristine water and coral reefs, Ishigaki Island lies at the far southwestern tip of Japan, around 1,900 kilometers from Tokyo. The largest of the Yaeyama islands, it is part of Okinawa Prefecture. Many tourists visit Ishigaki throughout the year to enjoy its beautiful cobalt blue seascapes. Every aspect of the islanders' lives is closely connected to the sea. Since ancient times, the local people have believed there is another world on the other side of the ocean called Nirai-Kanai, and that all life comes from it and eventually returns there. Teodora Vegh came to Okinawa from Hungary 5 years ago to study the traditional culture. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, she meets with a number of Ishigaki islanders, and finds out about the strong connection the local people feel for the sea.