nordic notes in japan

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful island Okinawa. Not gonna lie, before visiting I thought “its just one of many tropical islands” like the “Hawaii of Japan”. With palm trees, Hawaii shirts and majestic but, oh so scary, marine animals. Although the above said is true, I saw much more, that deepened my appreciation of this place. Okinawa is not only a beautiful sight for the eye, its a place with deep culture and a complicated history. Champuru – a word I came across when researching about the island and which translates to “mixed” in Okinawan. Having influences from countries such as China, Korea, USA and mainland Japan; Okinawa really is a tropical fusion cocktail. The main reason for starting this blog was to shrink the distance between the north & east, which is why I´d like to share my observation visiting this beautiful island. Here are my nordic notes on Okinawa: At first glance, the icy fjords of the North and the sun-drenched shores of Okinawa seem worlds apart. Yet both share a rhythm of life in tune with nature: fishing nets and forest paths, seashells and saunas. In the far corners of the map, people have learned the same secret — simplicity, community, and balance are the true keys to longevity. – Nordic Notes