Beyond the Blue Zone: Why Okinawa’s Healthy Lifespan Is Falling #japan #bluezone #boatlife

At 4:30 AM I boarded a ferry south through the Ryukyu Islands, retracing the route Wahine and I had sailed just months ago. Destination: Okinawa—once called the Land of Immortals by the Chinese. But today, Okinawa is no longer a Blue Zone. In fact, it’s the only prefecture in Japan where lifespans are actually declining. Why? What went wrong? This is Day 4 of my 30-day solo journey to Japan’s longevity hotspots—seeking answers, stories, and wisdom about how to live long and live well.