Rockets and space feel closer here because JAXA’s Uchinoura Space Center is in this town. Maya acts as the ex-wife of the main character in the TV drama “Shitamachi Rocket”, whose job is a researcher at an aerospace exploration agency. Originally, Maya loved space and even said “I really wanted to be an astronomer or archaeologist.” She looked excited to have the opportunity to see a rocket service tower and launcher. We normally think of launch pads as being placed on a shoreline, but these ones are built on a mountainside. I wonder if it is to launch a rocket from the place as close to the sky as possible. And it may be the first time for me to see the view of such a beautiful Pacific Ocean and the sky. I can somehow understand the feelings that they decided to build launchers here. If one stands in a place like this, it’s no wonder that they will have a dream like that.”
After Uchinoura’s beautiful ocean view, let’s go to a restaurant serving a fresh fish cuisine and eat delicious food from the sea. Kimotsuki town is suitable for fishing is also well-known as a prosperous fishing region of spiny lobsters. The catches of spiny lobsters in Kimotsuki town is one of the largest in Kagoshima. Spiny lobsters are called “eggane” in the local area. While eating a sashimi dish, Maya said, “It has a bit of sweetness and great texture. What a luxurious experience!” She was greatly impressed and said so. “I love sashimi. I have Kyushu’s sweet soy sauce on hand in my house. It’s because my husband is from Miyazaki prefecture. Without this soy sauce, it feels like something is missing.”

In Kimotsuki town, there are remaining historical structures that have been inherited for a long time. Ms Maya visited one of them in the beginning of her trip, the Shijukusho shrine, where the local Ubusunagami (a guardian deity of one’s birthplace) is worshipped. Awaited up the stairs are the main buildings of a Shinto shrine. The impressive, timeworn red colored shrine with its moss-covered roof stands in a serene setting with the greens of a bamboo thicket in the background. Maya tweeted, “Oh, it’s refreshing.” “This is a world of red and green! I feel a solemn historical atmosphere.” She finished paying reverence and offered an Ema (a votive wooden tablet painted with a picture of a horse). The sky which seemed to be ready to rain when she arrived had changed to sunny weather. Just as everybody expects from her, she never fails to bring sunshine.
Looking back from the shrine, there is a path extending straight to the south from the Torii (a gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine). Every October, this path is used for the Yabusame (horseback archery ritual) which is dedicated to pray for good harvest. Maya, seeing many photos of the archers on a horse wearing colorful kariginu, was very interested to hear that the archers who are selected for the role are 13 year old boys. “Just riding on a horse is difficult. He lets go of the reins and shoots arrows! Is it possible to become able to do so in a short time? I’d like to go to see the great traditional event someday.”

She also visited the Nikaido House, a local house from the Edo period. This residence was built by connecting two thatched roof houses, which is unique to this region. This is where late Susumu Nikaido was born. He worked as the Chief Cabinet Secretary of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka’s cabinet to dedicate for the restoration of diplomatic relations between Japan and China. Maya said, “The residence is maintained in a good condition. I think it good that we can see it like this. I am actually seeing the reality but I’m in a feeling being rapidly drawn to the past.” She had a tour on the building built by using massive old knowledge in an impressed manner.
Let’s go back further in time to the Kofun period. The town has Tsukazaki ancient burial mound which is assumed to be built in the 4th or 5th century. There is a camphor tree believed to be 1300 years old on the first mound. Through the well-maintained boardwalk, Maya reached the huge tree. She caught her breath for some time while gazing at the majestic appearance. “I wonder what kinds of history this great old tree has witnessed…” She said, with her hand on the thick trunk with a circumference of about 14 meters. “Samurais with their hair arranged in a Japanese topknot may have took a rest under this tree. That is so fantastic. It makes my imagination flow. Looking up the tree, I come to think that I need to get back to the basics and live in a polite manner.” She experienced the history of the town and seemed to have made a fresh resolve.