How are deer and cats helping boost tourism in Japan’s Tohoku region?
The huge earthquake and tsunami of 2011 devastated Japan’s Tohoku region but a national park full of cats and deer is playing a major role in the area’s recovery.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 Japan's Northeastern Tohoku region
00:06 often gets overlooked by travelers,
00:08 but this remote and breathtakingly beautiful part
00:10 of the country is full of hidden treasures,
00:13 including islands where cats and deer reign supreme.
00:17 Welcome to this edition of Focus.
00:20 (upbeat music)
00:23 The region of Tohoku unfolds over several prefectures.
00:26 Along its eastern coastline
00:28 is the Sanrikufuku Reconstruction National Park.
00:31 Established to help revitalize the region
00:34 after the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in 2011,
00:38 the park includes a group of quaint islands.
00:41 This one is Toshirajima, but as you arrive,
00:43 you soon realize why everyone calls it Cat Island.
00:47 Here, felines outnumber the human residents
00:49 by more than four to one.
00:51 Local fisherman and all-round cat expert,
00:53 Hamatan, tells me more.
00:56 Why does the island have so many cats?
00:58 (Hamatan speaks in foreign language)
01:03 And I'm guessing you don't have a mice problem anymore.
01:16 (Hamatan speaks in foreign language)
01:24 (upbeat music)
01:26 When it comes to being fanatical about felines,
01:28 this place takes things to another level.
01:31 The island is frequently overrun by cat lovers,
01:34 mutually assured pleasure for all.
01:36 (Hamatan speaks in foreign language)
01:42 (Koji speaks in foreign language)
01:46 In addition to the boatloads of cat-mad visitors,
02:00 there's a cat restaurant
02:01 and cat manga-themed holiday homes.
02:04 Perfect, I guess, for a cat nap.
02:07 There's also, wait for it, a cat shrine.
02:11 (upbeat music)
02:13 Yes, Toshiroshima has its own cat shrine
02:17 where you can come and pray to the cat god
02:19 who is said to bring good fortune.
02:21 Local fishermen are also apparently able
02:24 to read the gestures of cats
02:25 to predict the weather and fishing conditions.
02:28 (Hamatan speaks in foreign language)
02:33 (Koji speaks in foreign language)
02:37 Okay, much more reliable.
02:43 And how do you feel about there being
02:45 so many cats on the island?
02:47 Are you happy about it?
02:48 (Hamatan speaks in foreign language)
02:52 (Koji speaks in foreign language)
02:56 If cats aren't really your thing,
03:06 then what about deer?
03:07 The neighboring island of Kinkazan
03:09 is one of Japan's holiest places.
03:12 Here, hundreds of sacred deer roam freely.
03:15 They are said to be divine messengers of the gods.
03:18 In addition to the deer,
03:20 the island is also famous for its 8th century Shinto shrine.
03:25 Now, legend has it, if you come to pray here
03:27 for three consecutive years,
03:29 you won't have to worry about money
03:31 for the rest of your life.
03:32 (gentle music)
03:36 For around 1,200 years,
03:41 prayers and ceremonies have been practiced here.
03:44 To find out more about the wealth and fortune
03:47 bestowed on visitors,
03:49 I spoke to one of the temple's priests.
03:52 Why is this place so sacred?
03:56 (Koji speaks in foreign language)
04:00 There's a strong chance I won't be able to come here
04:11 three consecutive years in a row to pray.
04:14 Is there any chance you can make an exception for me?
04:17 (Koji speaks in foreign language)
04:21 Kinkazan's stunning landscapes and deep spirituality
04:27 make it truly magical.
04:29 Today, it's hard to believe both it and Toshirajima
04:32 were hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake
04:35 and tsunami in 2011.
04:38 Few traces of that disaster remain,
04:40 a testament to Tohoku's,
04:43 but more broadly, Japan's spirit of resilience
04:46 and recovery.
04:47 (gentle music)
04:50 (gentle music)
04:52 (gentle music)
04:55 (gentle music)
04:57 (upbeat music)