Kuala lumpur: Featured in travel publications as one of Japan’s most elusive and beautiful places, Ojika Island in the Goto archipelago of Nagasaki prefecture exudes a nostalgic and mysterious charm. It is a place where every spot and corner weaves a tapestry of its past narratives that shaped the island’s culture and the people’s lives.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, many islands surrounding Ojika are unpopulated, mainly due to a lack of infrastructure. For most Malaysian travellers, Ojika Island is off the radar, preferring instead to visit popular cities such as Osaka and Tokyo. To get to the island, one must take the Shinkansen high-speed train from Osaka to Hakata station in Fukuoka prefecture, then take the train to Sasebo city in Nagasaki prefecture before boarding a ferry to Ojika Island.
At the Ojika Island tourism office, near the dock, the writer was greeted by Victoria Simkovic, a local tour guide. Simkovic, in her 30s, hails from Lithuania in eastern Europe and has been living on the island for seven years. “This is a volcanic island where the soil is red in color and full of minerals, perfect for planting root vegetables like peanuts and sweet potatoes,” she explained.
Ojika was a flourishing and prosperous village during the ancient Edo period in Japan, associated with its history of whaling. Simkovic noted that the sea surrounding the island is shallow and full of seaweed due to volcanic eruptions millions of years ago, making it rich in marine life and biodiversity. However, the island now faces challenges with many abandoned houses and empty spaces due to its ageing population. With government support and grants for the tourism industry, younger people are moving back to open restaurants, cafes, and shops.
In Ojika’s past, farmers and fishermen were known for making sake to complement their income, but this practice has largely faded. Heritage industries are also in decline, with only one man on the island still making smoked fish. Today, Ojika Island has a population of approximately 2,300, with about 50 percent over 65 years old, mostly working in fishing or the tourism and retail industries.
Walking through Ojika Island, one can visit Shinkosha, a 100-year-old letterpress printing shop run by Momoko Yokoyama and her family. The shop maintains traditional printing styles from before the Second World War. Yokoyama is passionate about continuing her family business and retaining the spirit of Ojika Island. Another notable local business is the Ojika Island Produce Processing Plant, which processes peanuts known for their creamy and sweet taste. However, exporting is limited due to manpower shortages and transportation challenges.
Visitors can experience the traditional warmth of Ojika Island’s culture by staying in local family homes, where they can experience the Japanese philosophy of ‘Omoiyari’, which represents compassion, empathy, and thoughtfulness. Before leaving, tourists should not miss visiting the white torii gate at Madara coast on Madara Island, considered a sacred site and a gateway into another spiritual realm.
Ojika Island awaits like a dragon, patiently beckoning travellers to discover its secret treasures.