It’s September, and the weather in Tokyo is beginning to cool. Fall is on its way, and the change of seasons here always feels so striking. Change, after all, is inevitable. As I’ve been walking across different parts of Japan, I’ve found myself hearing Africa’s call more strongly with each step. Soon, you’ll notice a gradual shift—more photos from other countries and, alongside them, more conversations with runners from around the world.
Let's Explore Japan
For the next couple of months, I’m going to walk and explore a portion of every prefecture in Japan as a love letter to this country. As of mid-September, I’m at 9 of 47 prefectures. I’ve slightly changed my plan—focusing not just on running or walking, but also on interesting spots—using Japan’s 100 Hidden Towns as a guide.
If you’d enjoy exploring all 47 prefectures on foot with me, follow the journey on:
YouTube
Featured Episode
Deep Japan Ultra with Ashwini Ganapathi
The guest in this episode is Ashwini Ganapathi. Ashwini is an ultramarathon runner and endurance coach from Bengaluru, India. After leaving a nine-year IT career, she progressed from her first 10K in 2014 to tackling some of the world’s toughest events, including the Everest Base Camp Ultra, the Asia–Oceania 24-Hour Championship, and Japan’s gruelling 173 km Deep Japan Ultra Trail. In 2025 she set out to race the Lake Sonoma 100-miler; her effort ended when the event was called off. Known for her resilience and community focus, Ashwini advocates for more women in India to explore trail and ultra running.
In this episode, we talk about her run at Deep Japan Ultra, the training, nutrition and the actual race itself. Ashwini talks about how this Ultramarathon has been a culmination of 6 years of work and training.
Photo by Masataka Chiba
