Day 1: Celebrating Respect for the Aged Day in a Remote Japanese Village

It’s Respect for the Aged Day here in Japan 🇯🇵—a national holiday that began back in 1947 as “Old Folks Day” before being renamed in the ’60s. I just learned that you officially qualify as “aged” here at 70… which makes me a newbie to the celebration! Here in the village of Buren, where I’m moored with my sailboat Wahine, they’ve welcomed me into their community festival. And in true local style, the holiday is combined with their love of Sumo—complete with a parade where, yes, I’ll be joining in. This is Day 1 of my 30-day solo journey through Japan, exploring longevity, resilience, and the traditions that shape aging well.