Stories of Kyushu, Japan

Kyushu’s People and Way of Life, Shared with the World

Vol. 2 | Living with Sakurajima

An Encounter with Volcanologist Dr. Daisuke Fukushima

A Journey into the Pulse of the Earth

Discover the Story of “Living with Volcanoes” in Kagoshima and Sakurajima

For those who have journeyed across the world, encountered extraordinary landscapes, and immersed themselves in diverse cultures—there are still places that have the power to reveal an entirely new way of seeing the world.

Through this newsletter, the Kyushu Volcano Tourism Council invites you to discover a lesser-known side of Japan through “Living with Volcanoes”—a journey into landscapes shaped by the forces of the Earth, and into the lives, wisdom, and culture of the people who have learned not merely to endure those forces, but to live in harmony with them.

Our story begins in Kagoshima, at the southern edge of Kyushu, with Sakurajima—one of the world’s most remarkable active volcanoes.

Sakurajima — An Island Living with the Breath of the Earth

Just a 15-minute ferry ride from central Kagoshima City, Sakurajima rises dramatically from the waters of Kinko Bay.

It is not a dormant monument to the distant past. It is a living volcano, still sending plumes of smoke and ash into the sky as part of everyday life.

And remarkably, approximately 3,500 people make their homes at its foot.

Why remain in a place that has experienced repeated eruptions and natural disasters throughout its history?

The answer lies in an extraordinary relationship between people and nature.

For generations, the people of Sakurajima have learned to transform the challenges of volcanic life into abundance.

Mineral-rich volcanic soil nurtures distinctive produce, including the Sakurajima Daikon, renowned as the world’s largest radish, and the delicate, exceptionally sweet Sakurajima Komikan, one of the world’s smallest varieties of mandarin.

Geothermal forces give rise to restorative hot springs, while the meeting of volcano, sea, and sky creates magnificent panoramic landscapes unlike anywhere else in Japan.

Yet Sakurajima’s greatest treasure may be something less visible.

Here, generations of ingenuity, resilience, and adaptation have transformed the formidable power of nature into a source of livelihood and culture. A deeply rooted way of life—sustainable long before the word became part of our modern vocabulary—continues to thrive today.

This is what it truly means to live with a volcano.

Meet Daisuke Fukushima

— The Volcanologist Who Knows Sakurajima Inside and Out

To understand Sakurajima is to look beyond its dramatic landscape.

Your guide into this extraordinary world is Dr. Daisuke Fukushima, one of Japan’s foremost interpreters of the relationship between volcanoes and human life.

A Doctor of Science specializing in volcanic geology, Dr. Fukushima also serves as Chairman of the NPO Sakurajima Museum.

His approach is distinctive: he sees the whole of Sakurajima as a single, living museum—an ecomuseum without walls.

His knowledge extends far beyond geology. Through the lens of natural science, history, culture, and the everyday lives of local communities, he reveals how the volcano has shaped not only the land, but generations of people who call it home.

Why do people choose to live with a volcano?

It is a deceptively simple question.

Yet through Dr. Fukushima’s profound knowledge and passion for Sakurajima, it becomes a doorway into something much deeper: a story of human ingenuity, resilience, and our relationship with the natural world.

For discerning travelers seeking authentic cultural encounters and intellectual discovery, few experiences offer such an intimate perspective on Japan.

Profile

Dr. Daisuke Fukushima 

Chairman, NPO Sakurajima MuseumVolcanic Geologist

Dr. Daisuke Fukushima is a volcanic geologist and Chairman of the NPO Sakurajima Museum. Drawing on his expertise in geology and his deep connection to the region, he shares the story of Sakurajima from the perspectives of nature, history, culture, and local life.

A Private Journey into an Untold Story of Kagoshima

Our specially curated journey begins with an intimate, private experience led by Dr. Fukushima himself.

This is not a journey designed simply to see beautiful scenery.

With a volcanologist as your guide, you will walk across landscapes sculpted by ancient and recent lava flows, discover the geological forces that continue to shape Sakurajima, and gain a tangible understanding of how eruptions have transformed this extraordinary land.

Standing upon terrain born from volcanic fire, the immense energy beneath the Earth suddenly becomes real.

And once you understand that power, another story begins to emerge.

You begin to see the ingenuity of those who chose to remain here. The farmers who learned to cultivate volcanic soil. The communities that adapted their homes and customs to eruptions and ash. The generations who discovered how to create livelihoods, traditions, and beauty within an environment that could never be completely controlled.

What first appears to be adversity reveals another face: a source of possibility and abundance.

It is here that the philosophy of “Living with Volcanoes” becomes more than an idea.

It becomes something you can walk through, taste, hear, and experience for yourself.

Kyushu Volcano Tourism offers journeys that go beyond conventional luxury.

Rather than luxury defined solely by exclusivity or comfort, we invite you to discover something increasingly rare: privileged access to knowledge, people, places, and stories that cannot be experienced elsewhere.

Feel the pulse of the Earth beneath your feet.

Encounter the wisdom of those who have built their lives alongside one of nature’s most powerful forces.

And perhaps, through their story, discover a new perspective on your own relationship with the world around you.

Your journey into “Living with Volcanoes” begins here.

We look forward to welcoming you to Sakurajima, where the magnificent landscape—and the living Earth itself—await.