There is this to be said for walking: It’s the one mode of human locomotion by which a man proceeds on his own two feet, upright, erect, as a man should be, not squatting on his rear haunches like a frog.
Edward Abbey
Listen! a frog. Jumping into the stillness. Of an ancient pond!
Matsuo Basho, Spring Days, 1686
Japan: In April 2008, two Australian writers are leaping into a very big and exceedingly ancient pond, walking the entire length of Japan, upright and erect (at least at the start), a journey of up to six months and 3,500km. Ian is hiking solo from ‘mainland’ Japan’s most easterly point (Cape Nosappu: 43, 22′ N; 145, 49′ E) to its most westerly (Kousakibana: 33, 13 N; 129, 33′ E) ; Chris is starting at the opposite end of the country, walking from the most southerly point (Cape Sata: 30, 59′ N; 130, 39′ E) to the most northerly (Cape Soya: 45, 31′N; 141, 56′ E). Though physically and psychologically demanding, their adventures will provide two intimate, ever-changing views of Japan. At the same time, they plan to raise money for the Fred Hollows Foundation which aims to eradicate preventable blindness in the developing world and amongst indigenous Australians. And, with your help at the same time, opening up many more eyes4earth.
The two will be traversing all four of the main islands, whenever possible through remote or challenging terrain, including the rugged interior of Hokkaido, the high peaks of Tohoku and the North Alps (including several of Japan’s highest peaks) and the relatively ‘unseen’ interiors of Shikoku and Kyushu.
They’ve chosen 20 Waypoints – shrines, mountain summits, restaurants, hot springs, bridges, graves, even an active volcano – that both have to pass through. Between points, they will be free to improvise, as long as 100 percent of the journey is on foot (other than transport between islands). They’ll meet and pass somewhere in central Honshu. Where? Your guess is as good as theirs. They’re hoping it’ll be close to a bar…
Chris writes, “Hopefully the inevitable disasters that befall us along the way will make for good reading – though personally I’ll be happy if I never write about pressing the red button on my satellite distress beacon. To help convince ourselves we’re not completely crazy, we’re raising money for the Fred Hollows Foundation. FHF eradicates preventable blindness in the developing world, as well as among indigenous Australians.”
To follow Chris and Ian’s adventures check out: Four Corners of Japan . Chris will be capturing the action with his Canon camera and posting photos on their Four Corners flickr page.
