I just finished watching this on Netflix.  It’s called “The Days” which is based on true story of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.  It was very educational and very shocking to me.  I had absolutely no idea on what was happening at the Fukushima nuclear plant at that time.  Now I do.  Please watch it.

Japan’s government put up an evacuation zone of 20KM from the nuclear plant.  American’s government issued a warning for 80KM.  They told Americans to defer travel to places like Tokyo, Chiba, and everything North of that.

One of my friends sent me this chart of radiation exposure the day before I left for Fukushima and said “be very careful.”  I looked at the chart and told him “I wish you didn’t send me this.”  But at that time, there was no turning around.  It felt like we were driving right up into an invisible war zone.  It’s almost like preparing for death.  Before that particular trip, I remember giving my little Princess a hug like it could be our last one.  To her, it was just like another trip, but this one was different.

I failed my science class in high school but my teacher would have been very proud of me because this is real science.  As we approached Fukushima, things started to get real.  You can’t see, feel, taste, or smell radiation so it’s basically a silent killer.  Yes there was radiation in the air, but where and how much?  That depended on the weather and wind.  My dosimeter alarm went off a few times but we kept on going forward.

Now we reach 25KM from the Fukushima nuclear plant and this is when you realize everything is real.  And we were very unprepared for this.

This is the “Do not enter” zone exactly 20KM from the nuclear plant.  They evacuated the whole area so it was like a ghost town.  This is where our first “We Are One” mission started.  A mission that changed my life forever…

Low Tide…

Good morning 3:05am.
North shore chest high and good.
Ala Moana waist high and good.
Diamond Head chest high and bumpy.
Trade winds at 20mph.
Sunny and warm.
Going to the sea.
Have a wonderful day!

Foiling changed my life.  It made me challenge myself, and more importantly, it made me love surfing a lot more.  I feel more connected than before because I can approach waves differently, read the ocean better, and slow myself down.  And slowing down looks and feels better all around.

Thank you Neal Miyake for snapping the shot on the very close pass by.  I actually saw your lens from the corner of my eye.  Thank you for trusting me.

I had a very nice evening of pupus and cocktails with my closest friends.  It was very peaceful and very happy.

For 20 years, I took my little Princess with me traveling throughout Japan.  I taught her to “try everything, experience everything, and go with the flow.”  Now she took her closest friends on a tour throughout Japan.  I can imagine her telling her friends “try everything, experience everything, and go with the flow.”  Haha.  She’s been sending me photos and it looks like they are having the time of their lives…

OMG, this is my favorite!  Grilled scallops!