Ten years ago, in spring 2000, Lowell Sheppard began a seven-week, 3,000-kilometer cycling adventure from the southern tip of Japan to its most northerly island. His aim: to discover insight into the heart and soul of Japan by following the Cherry Blossom Front as it progressed north. The Cherry Blossom is a powerful symbol of hope in Japan and forms the core of a remarkable diary. He chose a great setting to explore the soul of a nation in economic, social and spiritual transition.
Follow his journey here.
© Japan Today
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studebaker
There is a great book about hitch-hiking through Japan following the cherry blossom front called 'Hokkaido Highway Blues'. Probably one of the funniest and most accurate portrayals of Japan and its people I've read.
goddog
Cherry blossoms always bring rain. This guy must have been soaked all the time.
Badsey
It is time to take advantage of global warming once again.
azzassa
so this guy hitchhikes around Japan and he is "chasing the cherry blossoms"? Instead of hitchhiking around Japan for fun? He is a great man. I cannot imagine the deep insights he gets while waiting on a freezing night in a cloud of diesel. None of us can imagine the deep insights into Japanese culture he gets getting picked up by truckers and cleaning under his arms in a "service area".
hillside
I have read Hokkaido Highway Blues too. It is a funny whirlwind two trip around Japan. Chasing the Cherry Blossom, is a slow, bicycle speed, journey.
jason6
Getting soaked while riding a bike isn't as bad as it seems. I rode all the way around Biwako lake with friends last summer during that typhoon (we couldn't change the dates) and it was a pretty fun experience. All we had were cheap ponchos that kept our gear dry and swim trunks for the obvious precipitation.