In Japan, boat trips of whimsical formations

Takashi Hayashi, The News of Japan

11h05 CDT, Saturday 14th July 2018

SASEBO, Nagasaki – "Everyone, that is Fukuro [owl] rock, it's a work of art created by nature, "says Yoshiteru Mizuguchi, 79 years old. pointing to a rocky area that comes out in a blue sea. The passengers aboard the boat, the "queen of pearls", exclaimed: "It's the spitting image!"

Mizuguchi is a guide to the seaside resort of Kujukushima, a complex City-managed marine marina including an aquarium, restaurants and souvenir shops in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture. He became popular with tourists for the unique names that he gives Kujukushima islands and their strange rock formations resembling animals and other creatures – so popular, in fact, that this month he gave the 7,000th tour of his 15-year career. 19659020] It has so far named about 30 rocks, including "Merlion" (the Singapore mascot), "Nemuru Komainu" (sleep guard dog) and the fanciful "Ago no Hazureta Monster" (monster with jaws) dislocated).

A native of Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Mizuguchi worked as a salesman at a department store in Yokohama for about 40 years before moving to Sasebo, where his wife's parents had a home. Attracted by the beautiful scenery of the Kujukushima Islands – a chain of more than 200 islets, large and small – he became a volunteer guide in August 2003. He is currently visiting 50 times a month.

He had the idea of ​​offering tours One day, about two years after starting as a volunteer guide, he noticed that the rocky areas resembling human faces would pass from "london". "peaceful expression of a Buddha" to "a furious expression of demon" according to the variations of light and shadow. When he told his discovery to the passengers of the pleasure boat, he was struck by the greater than expected reaction of his observation on the part of the passengers, young and old

"Although [passengers] is easily tired of difficult historical theories, everyone can Mizuguchi said: "Rather than one-way, boring tours, explanations with interesting names leave an impression because they are something that everyone can"

Mizuguchi was commended by the Ministry of Environment, the Government of Sasebo City and other entities for its unique visits. He even has fans who join his tours several times, bringing memories to show their appreciation.

Yoshimi Nishimura, a member of the Kujukushima Visitor Center, which serves as a headquarters for volunteer guides, said, "I take my hat off his enthusiasm, such as how he hand-manufactures the visual aids that He uses it to help tourists understand his explanations more easily.

In April, Kujukushima was added to the World's Most Beautiful Bays Club, a non-governmental organization working to promote famous bays as tourist spots and to protect landscapes.

In addition, with the Recent rapid rise of foreign cruise ships at the port of Sasebo, Mizuguchi has taken a direct approach to promoting photos in order to show tourists the islands that he likes.

"This is the work of my life, "Mizuguchi, who will turn 80 next year." As long as my health will allow, I would like to continue to promote the beauty of Kujukushima and Sasebo. "