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The Royal II swayed gently as we stood on the midship top deck, the crisp mountain air brushing past us. Around us, fellow passengers gazed in quiet awe at the scenery—towering mountains stretching into the horizon, the vast expanse of Lake Ashi’s deep blue waters, and the distant shoreline lined with lush greenery. There was something mesmerizing about this place, a tranquility that felt almost untouched by time.
It was our first time aboard a galleon-style pirate ship, and the thrill of sailing on a red, majestic vessel made the experience all the more surreal. The ship, with its intricate gold detailing and towering masts, felt as though it had sailed out of a forgotten era—yet here it was, gliding across a lake born not of glaciers, but of fire. Unlike Lake Lucerne, which owes its beauty to ancient ice, Lake Ashi was shaped by the volcanic forces of Mount Hakone, thousands of years ago. And yet, despite their different origins, the two lakes shared an uncanny resemblance—the way the mountains hugged the water’s edge, the way the lake’s surface mirrored the sky, the way it all felt like stepping into a postcard.
Behind us, Togendai Port grew smaller, a reminder of where our journey had begun. Above, the sky was layered with soft clouds, diffusing the light and adding a peaceful stillness to the scene. Ahead, the lake stretched onward, a passage through time and nature’s artistry. I looked at my wife and smiled—this was a moment worth capturing, a journey worth remembering. And if fate allows, we’d sail these waters again.
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The eight islands of Japan sprang into existence through Divine Intervention.The first two gods who came into existence were Izanagi no Mikoto and Izanami no Mikoto, the Exalted Male and Exalted Female. It was their job to make the land for people to live on.They went to the bridge between heaven and earth and, using a jewel-encrusted halberd, Izanagi and Izanami churned up the sea into a frothy foam. As salty drips of water fell from the tip of the halberd the first island was formed. Its name was Onogoro.So far, so good. But when Izanagi and Izanami first met on their island, Izanami spoke to Isanagi without being spoken to first. Since she was the female, and this was improper, their first union created badly-formed offspring who were sent off into the sea in boats.The next time they met, Izanagi was sure to speak first, ensuring the proper rules were followed, and this time they produced eight children, which became the islands of Japan.I'm sure you did not fail to miss the significance of this myth for the establishment of Japanese formal society.At present, Japan is the financial capital of Asia. It has the second largest economy in the world and the largest metropolitan area (Tokyo.)Technically there are three thousand islands making up the Japanese archipelago. Izanagi and Izanami must have been busy little devils with their jewelled halberd...Japan's culture is highly technical and organized. Everything sparkles and swooshes on silent, miniaturized mechanisms.They're a world leader in robotics, and the Japanese have the longest life-expectancy on earth.Text by Steve Smith.
