Japan: East Asian Power House

       It's been awhile since the Mayor visited the democratic nation on Asia's eastern border. This island nation has been at peace since they entered the fateful conflict with the United States on Dec.7, 1941. Here we are 78 years later and Japan is an example of what can be achieved by a resolute culture after suffering through almost 10 years of total war.

A Snow-Covered Mount Fuji-Japan's Dormant Volcano Winter March 2023

     While visiting this beautiful country at the end of the winter season, we were hoping for an early exhibition of cherry blossoms, only to be disappointed as the trees waited for warmer temperatures. But snow lingered at the higher elevations which we saw in person near the city of Kanazawa on the west coast. We visited a small mountain town nearby, Gokayama, which was a center of paper making using old techniques that continue to this day. The locals make a paper called washi which is highly prized by artists from all over the world. Visitors to the cultural center can take a turn making postcard-sized examples of the paper.