Never Too Late Blog: Announcement from Lowell’s Desk
Hi there! I hope your 2025 is off to a fantastic start. As for me, I’m full steam ahead with plans for Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2, a sailing adventure that will take me the length of Japan this spring—just in time to celebrate my 70th birthday in March.
This voyage is a full-circle moment for me. Twenty-five years ago, I followed the Cherry Blossom Front by bicycle over six weeks, spurred on by a dissertation I was writing on changes among Japanese youth. The bicycle journey took six weeks and resulted in a book published by LION Publishing in the UK and a Japanese Version by RIC in Japan.
Now, the theme has shifted to aging and longevity—a topic Japan is uniquely positioned to teach us about, given it has the highest rate of centenarians globally. I will document some of my findings on the Pacific Solo YouTube channel, and there are talks about another book and maybe a short documentary.
You might know about Okinawa’s status as a “Blue Zone,” popularized by National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner. However, did you know Shimane Prefecture tops the list for centenarian rates in Japan? Conveniently, Shimane is also the last prefecture I’ve yet to visit, so it’s definitely on the itinerary!
Here’s where you come in: While I’ll be sailing solo at times, I’ll need crew members for various legs of the journey for safety and company. Let me know if you’re handy with mechanical or engineering, have sailing experience, or love an adventure! Also, if you’re an artist, writer, content creator, or researcher interested in using the boat as a base to create or study while I’m in port, I’d love to hear from you.
You can email me at lowellsheppard@gmail.com to join for a leg or two.
The Schedule
(Subject to Weather, the Boat, and the Sakura Zensen/Cherry Blossom front)
January:
Finishing boat preparations in Yonabaru Marina, Okinawa.
February:
Sail to Itoman, west side of Okinawa, to position Wahine for the first leg in March. While there, I’ll gather updated info on Okinawa’s Blue Zone.
March to June:
Here’s the rough outline of the legs. After each leg, I’ll stay a week or more in a location with minimal overnight passages and plenty of harbor hopping along the way:
Leg 1: Okinawa to Kagoshima
Goal: Arrive in Kagoshima by March 20th and visit Sakurajima (Cherry Blossom Island/Mountain), where my first Chasing the Cherry Blossom journey began 25 years ago.
Leg 2: Kagoshima to Shimane
Kagoshima has Japan’s second-highest rate of centenarians, and Shimane ranks number one. Hoping to meet some incredible individuals and gain their insights into longevity.
Leg 3: Shimane to Fukui
A highlight: Seeing the Tottori Sand Dunes from the sea.
Leg 4: Fukui to Niigata
Sail past the impressive 300-foot granite cliffs near Itoigawa, where the Japanese Alps plunge into the sea. This is where I first stumbled across a statue of Walter Weston, the father of Japanese mountaineering. Weston helped popularize alpine sports in Japan over 100 years ago. I’m curious to explore whether his influence has contributed to the longevity of Japan’s seniors, who dominate the hiking trails today.
Leg 5: Niigata to Aomori
I am continuing my quest to visit cherry blossom sites and learn from centenarians about their secrets to a long and meaningful life.
Leg 6: Aomori to Hokkaido
The journey continues north!
This journey is much more than a sailing challenge. It will explore Japan’s physical beauty, cultural richness, and an aging society's sociological and spiritual aspects. While Pacific Solo started as a dream of crossing an ocean before I turned 70, I’ve come to terms with that no longer being attainable. But this new goal—to explore Japan more deeply—has me more inspired than ever.
If you’re up for an adventure or know someone who might be, reach out! Let’s make this voyage unforgettable. But at the very least follow along.
Cheers,
Lowell
