Presently, our JDS Japan photography workshop leaders are in the field for the annual Japan Autumn Leaves Essence of Japan photo workshop tour in an area that straddles both Niigata and Nagano prefectures, Akiyamago. As has been mentioned in previous newsletters, Japan is 70% unpopulated wilderness, and this region has some of the most dazzling red, gold, and orange autumn leaves that our workshop leaders have ever seen during their more than two decades exploring Japan. The location has gained some popularity on tourism websites as of late, but all of the locations that run of the mill photography/tourist agencies will introduce their clients to represent only the barest essentials. As our team consists of several lifetime adventurers, off the beaten path locations are their specialty, and since many of the roads in the Akiyamago region have no guard rails and require professional level driving for safety’s sake, when members of our team are on personal adventures, they explore to their heart’s content, but they always file away some of the safer locations to add to upcoming Essence of Autumn Leaves itineraries so they can introduce some of the mysticism and beautiful fall colors in the region. As the JDS team has a few amateur historians among its ranks as well, they have found the region to have a rich history that only fueled their curiosity to explore more of Akiyamago. Samurai and Samurai history play a large part in why there are settlements in the region today. The relatively remote location lends itself to isolation, and that’s precisely why some ronin samurai and their families called the region their home. The question you may have is, ‘what is a ronin’? A ronin is a masterless samurai, and when a samurai loses a battle and their master is slain, there are three possible outcomes. The first is to commit seppuku and die with honor on or near the battlefield. The second is to join the enemy's forces and become a traitor. The third, is to lay low and flee to the backcountry with your family and start a new life as a farmer. In Akiyamago, the natural barrier created by 1 - 3 meters of snow in winter with limited access meant at least a few months of peace and quiet before anyone seeking revenge or a bounty would be able to discover you, a pastoral safe haven. This year, our Japan photography workshop leader shared the samurai history and introduced our clients to some of the same trees that the samurai and their families enjoyed during this year’s Essence of Autumn Leaves photography workshop adventure.
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