Bringing Vitality to the Amakusa Treasure Islands
By Noyuki Takada (18, high school student) Kumanichi Shimbun MARCH 9, 2015
AMAKUSA CITY
Amakusa is a group of islands rich in natural beauty of its mountains and the sea. The island`s tallest mountain dominates the village of Kuratake and the nearby Tanasoko Bay provides an abundance of seafood delicacies. In the past, the village has tried to take advantage of these natural resources by hosting various events such as a marathon race.
Over the last few years, a new event has emerged: the “Amaxa Xathlon”, an event that features sea kayaking, mountain biking, trail running and paragliding. This exciting event is not only perfectly suited to the village of Kuratake, but I feel it is a way to really put Amakusa on the map.
As a volunteer for last year`s Amaxa Xathlon, I was surprised to see so many athletes from all over Japan including Tokyo and even from overseas. My hope is that these participants will spread the word about Amakusa`s beauty, and encourage others to visit the area in the future.
I am optimistic that by hosting such events, we can re-energize tourism in Amakusa and encourage more people to visit our “treasure islands”.
this article was published in the Kumanishi Shimbun on March 9, 2015 and was translated by Leanne Brezina