Project Report : Miyagi

The third day begins at the island’s elementary school. The innkeeper drives us to the harbor to catch the city-run ferry.

Alice chats with an island resident she met the previous day. “Hey, Alice! The ferry’s come!”

We change to a smaller boat to cross over to Nonojima.

The group arrives at the elementary school, which is attached to a junior high school. There are a total of only about 20 students. Some students commute by ferry from the central part of Shiogama to take advantage of the special qualities of an island school.

Sao observes club activities in the gym.

Boram and Kyungju talk to students at the pool. Electronic dictionary in hand, they try their best to ask the kids about their families and school.

Outside the school, Sao and Alice explore a path that leads to the port.

They discover a tunnel through the greenery.

Boram and Kyungju strike up a conversation with an old woman at a nearby farm. The two are surprised to learn that by leaving harvested green onions on the field, by fall they become soft and sweet.

Alice and Sao take photos of men working on a construction site near the port.

The owners of the inn see the participants off as they leave the island. They handed paper ribbons to the girls, and held the other ends, like in the movies; everyone got a bit teary-eyed.

“Good-bye! We’ll be back someday!”

In the afternoon, the participants explore the city of Shiogama. Here, they learn about the process of sake brewing at a famous brewery. The team is blown away by the huge refrigerator.

Exploring a ceramics store. Kyungju also buys some gifts.