0’00 It has been 10 years since I came this island. Somebody asked me why I chose this island but it goes without saying. It’s a same question for me why you got married with my wife. Maybe, I might have meet better girlfriend. Well…it happened first or second. Well, you know it’s like a system of matchmaking, "Omiai" in Japan. I visited some islands which I’ve visited frequently but I’ve never visited since I decided to live this island. That’s why I decided. I have 12 cats now. Those cats outside will come soon after calling. 2’00 I’ll call them later. They will came soon after calling. Well, they will come out from there. Wait for a moment. I’m going to feed cats. They all have their own names, such as Mori-kun, Mita-san, Torazou, Toraichi, Kuroichi, Hachi, Sakura, Woods. Ah, his name is Taiga. Tiger Woods. Look, the tail looks like number 2("Ji" in Japanese), so his name is Kuroji. He is always very aggressive. Now he became a father but he is still aggressive. I’ll call him when I can give him high quality fish like sliced row fish, "Sashimi" . Hmm, there were 80 people before, but the population is decreasing day by day. After the earthquake, there are just about 50 to 60 elders now. And, there are about 20 to 150 cats. 4’00 We are identifying these cats by their feature points. I can recognize these cats by their picture because I’m taking their pictures too. I’m sharing my information of identification with Dr. Kress. Umm….My name is Yoshinao Tanaka, photographer for cats of Tashiro island. I came here about 8 years ago. I’ve been here almost every day during making photo book for taking photos throughout the year. I stayed almost 50 days a year. I can understand their characteristics gradually through taking their pictures. Well, there were only 2 cats here, this harbor after earthquake. Before the earthquake, there are a lots of cats thought. Well, the earthquake happened in 2011, so it was 2008 or 2009 maybe when we met fishers in the house. They put their instruments behind like this. This got washed away by Tsunami of the earthquake, and all things were gone. Furthermore, The land was submerged over one metros by rising sea levels. it’s subsidence area here at full flood, so we didn’t work here. 6’00 Finally, the construction had started just now. I hope we can work like before. Many fishers gave up their jobs as suspected. It might be very tough to reverse the damage like before. Fishes cannot swim at all during cold winter season like now. It’s hibernating state. That’s why I always invest for fishing after working on a farm. Fishing can work automatically as long as there is water. I like this kind of job than money. The meet is very famous in Tokyo too, so I chased them on the cockboat. I have like 100 or so. It’s the first time I caught this since I worked for 40 years. I have sea cucumber, white sea cucumber. It’s white. Look like this. I took this picture, and it makes us happy. I have a feeling that something good will happen if I have this picture. I’ll give this for everyone for their happiness. I really appreciate Mr.Otake too. The meeting made me happy too. 8’00 You can eat this which I rubbed with a salt. It’s really important. It’ll go moldy. Yes, I was born in 1978 and raised here. When I was a student, we don’t have nothing like battery, and car. Nothing! We studied by candlelight or light like this. The school was abolished in 1989. This was our abolished school. My classmate and this is me. There were many students in this athletic festival. All of them are students. This picture was taken at full strength. 10’00 In March, 1947. Ah, it was a successful party. We did Kraoke, ate and drunk. Cats were insistent but we don’t care now like before. It’s shrinking population here. I miss them. If there is one student, teacher will come, but nobody comes here. Ah they are my friends. Excuse me, excuse me. They are like my family. His name is Ichiro Chino. When were the Shinto Shrine built？ When？It was there since I was born. Ni, Nini, Nini,Ni~fufufu,Ni~~. There are 2, 3, 4 cats more. These kitties have negligent parent. I feed them. Oops,do you want to go to Shinto Shrine？The center of the way is for God, so we cannot walk there. 12’00 You know the offering box? We throw change in the offering box and saying thank you, but it’s closing now. We can ring the bell. Normally, bow twice and two claps. After that, put your hands together and pray and bow again before you leave. It’s guardian god of this island. This kind of architecture will have been new until a century. It was worshiped Oinari-sama(Fox’s deity) as a god of the island. This Shrione is one of the revered places by everyone of the island. They devoted all their energy to construct this Shrine. 14’00 “Ukidama” was a floating ball on the net of sea made by glass. It’s fragile because it was made by glass. Now it’s made by plastic. It’s a treasure of history. It’s hung as a fancy interior nowadays. It has been excellent since the earthquake happened in 2013. After 2013, it has been messed up here, everything. Due to bad instruments, the number of people decreased though two or three people come every day at least still now. How many people? My husband was died in 1997, so I’ve overcome by myself…. hahahahaha, but hit by Tusnami. It’s not business. I like talking and drinking green tea with everyone. Yes I know it. Look, like this. It happened before like this cat before. I sent baby bib, so I had a letter from everyone. Hmmm Look. I have something to look forward to doing like this. This was a junior high school. Now nobody is here. 16’00 Ummm… you can do it with everyone. It’s better to dress longer clothes, and sing a son,Pi-To-Ro-Sanbasyo, Pi-To-Ro-Sanbasyo, Ah Yeah Ah Yeah Ah Yeah Yeah. Like this. Well, cats and we run away from the earthquake. There is not hair crab now. I though the reason of the earthquake.. I really appreciate everyone. I was here, here. Everyone said “Go out, go out”. My idea is that… well, this is a place for camping for everyone who wants to stay. Mr.Syotaro Ishinomori, famous manga artist was going to move to this island before. He had named whole island ”Manga island”, but he died before moving to the island. In the lodge, there are hand-drawn arts everywhere like wall. I would like everyone to enjoy it. 18’00 What’s kind of the bell？Like Kang kang？It’s like a alarm for 7 AM, 12 PM, and 5 PM. Everyone has the alarm in own house. Every family. Everyone. Well, well how should I say? Sleep～Sleep～baby girl. It’s song alarm for 5 PM. Earthquake. It was out of water here after the earthquake. This guy brought water from next village by car. After that, we are like parent and child. I’ve lived here for 82 years. There were a lot of people, and there were 1,000 people when I was an elementary student. Now, there are only 50 people. We didn’t have stray cats like now. People were famers here. It was called as famers inTajima, so sparrows were gathered to eat wheat and rice. Sparrows, Sparrows ate wheat and rice we had kept there, so they needed own cats. The mother’s name is Mrs.Hatakeyam. Her husband has that boat which was decorated. 20’00 The mother has to prepare food for them working on the boat, so they will be gathering during that time. Look, the mother cat is coming. She has a lot of babies. I came here for earthquake disaster reconstruction from Nagasaki…well from 8th, August. I’m turning back the height of the land like before. This depression of land was caused due to the earthquake. I’m working to get work started for them, so I feel that people recognize me as a dependable person. Some people deliver dinner to me. Hahahaha, they might appreciate the effort I’m doing, so they give me dinner. Hahahaha, it’s unbelievable that they give foods for stranger, right? Haha. Oh, it’s office and bedroom. Until a while ago, we don’t have any water, so I’ve been to draw water from the room. Well, it’s day off today. Actually, I’m going to buy wholesale after afternoon if we will be able to use the boat. 22’00 If the boat will be able to go back. Hahaha Oh, good morning. Lift machine? The boat was fallen because of the wind yesterday, so someone ask us whether we can help or not. Well, everyone knows everyone else. It’s different from that of the city. We can ask easily and gather soon. It’s kind of a local rule in the island that we gather and help each other basically. There is no such a thing as “minimum level”. We have many things to do. We asked more than we did. We need to work together with our administrative institution too. No matter how it’s big or small island, island with 100 people, island with 1000 people, the issue is same. 24’00 Well, some cats cannot help spending all day together for living like this. It’s really cold in the island. In Japanese, it was called “Neko-dango”, the scene that cats are gathering like rice dumplings. How should I say…like this. They are gathering together like rice dumplings, curled-up cats for cold protection. It was called “Neko-dango”. I did the same thing for my cats because winds are very strong at a port. Well, it became better than before. Hmm… My name is Kiyomi Kress. I’m a veterinarian. Well…I really like cats since I was born. Everyone said that it’s tough that you came here from that faraway place, but it’s one of my life work because I like cats a lot. I’ve left from Japan for 35 years though. Recently, I come back to Japan once in two months. The reason is that I’ve wanted to do something as a veterinarian after earthquake. There aren’t any veterinarians who come here with regularity like me, so I’m doing to immunizing for cats, and treat sick cats. Well, I’m making a database, medical records for cats through activities with Mrs. Kress. 26’00 Umm…We take care of cats which catch a cold or have disease. It’s amazing to do that kind of thing is happening here. Absolutely not. Cats are sensitive to ours feeling. Mrs. Kress stay from some distance with feeding here. I’ll call her roundly after catching cats “Mrs. Kress!!” like this. Well, it shows my age physically after coming to the island once because of that, but it’s not big problem. It must be paradise because there is a lot of nature. Cats are assimilating into the community naturally, so I think that the relation between cats and human are really good. They have to survive in this hard situation. The life might be taught for cats too. Ah crow. The number of crows has increased in this island for 5 or 6 years. Specially, after the earthquake. Crow is natural enemy for cats. Many cats got hurt by crows. For example, crows injure their back and eyes. Crows are competing for survival too, so it can’t be helped. It’s tough for cats. That experience was harder thank you think. Well, it was to immunize for cats after the earthquake. We had to finish all for 80 cats in 2 day. We captured cats by net at that time. 28’00 I became dirty with a lot of cat’s droppings. Furthermore, my hands are covered with cuts and bruises but immunized for 80 cats. There is a cat,“Cyobihige” (little mustache in Japanese), but it’s female though. “Hanataro” has own territory in this village, and he is strong. The fisher, Mr.Aimoto has a cat,”Chameko”, and it will happen good thing if we can meet it. Her name is Hachi. Ammm she is the oldest in the group of the cats living in this port. Ah Ouch! Ouch!!! Like grandmother, the oldest. This photo was taken about 7 years ago. Maybe, 6 or 7 years ago. It was called “Kang fu cats” Cats made a dash for fish like Kang fu. He punched right-hander and left-hander like this. It was called “Hime”(Princess in Japanese), but it was a male cat. Hahahahaha, the name was Hime but it was a male. Normally, cats’ ears are like this right? But Hime has ears like this, and keeping same in position like this. It’s not like this. I have a small picture here, and Hime were looking carefully what other cats were eating. Look, he has not eaten yet like this. First, other cats start eating, and he will start eating after that. It’s like his principle as a boss. It’s really adorable. 30’00 I had a cat which had lived together for 17 years. The cat was died 8 years ago. Then, the cat was like my children. Pets are same as my children. My first cat ,“Cappuccino” after I felt like pet loss his death. The reason why people feel pet loss is to give suffering for not knowing what to do with their feeling of love. Then, I decided to devote my love to all of cats in the world at the first death anniversary. I would like to look all cats like my lovely cats and decided to take pictures. They are really different. All cats are expressive, and show us their emotions, so I find it attractive. 32’00 There are some goods cats once in a while. I’ve been salaried employee since I came to this island. I started the guest house here, and caught fishes to cook. Through this life, I felt that it might be better to live here. I think it’s good if person have enough money and time Well…I was meant to meet….I went to Yanaka where has projects to economically develop the area. Well. In Yanaka, they got a portable shrine by chance which was made in Tokyo university of the art. It blew great guns by a typhoon. Then, the wind was stronger than before due to this subsidence area. It was blown off easily by a strong wind if it weighs more than 300 kg. Then, it was broken. But in Yanaka….Well….Normally, a portable shrine will be destroyed, or be burned after the event. At last of the event, it will be destroyed, so it’s not so big problem if we destroy it by ourselves in my opinion. 34’00 I would like to fix it and reuse one more time, but I’m not sure whether I can do it or not. Yeah, Yes. There is god through the age. Long long time ago. As long as cats are under the tree, it helps to deliver this like this. It became like this after that, and fishers clime from this side to the river. It was amazing when I came there and… My name is Chikao Ogata. Umm…I’m good at winding. It will take 2 years to wind normally. 36’00 It’s too big beyond expectation. This is All. Look. By stick. OK, this one. Yes, we were doing two persons together like this. I was doing that when I was a kid. I was not son and heir. My father was passed away from Tsunam. Well….I searched my brother, but it had passed a month after Tsunami and my brother was passed away too. I received a certificate after checking bite-mark analysis and took him finally. It was very difficult because we don’t have computer at that time. It was very tough. I moved to other prefecture and bought books... I had a lot of difficulties 38’00 It’s very nice place here. Yeah, the nature is the best. Nothing is good. Nothing. According to unknown people, tourist, nothing is amazing. Umm, water and rocky shore are great. You should see from the hill. Try it once. Big boat, big boat and small boat. 40’00 Small boat. I have one more boat which has nothing special, so the roof was broken. Atsujyun. It’s Atsujyun. Well, I might help it if I were young. He was a really good guy. There were flags and rice paddies before. Rice paddy was prepared for youth when we came here about 50 years ago? Well, but nobody uses rice paddy now, so it’s very difficult to find the road here. We got a good catch in the past. There were a lot of red sea breams. Recently, we cannot catch at all. They are my grandchild. Where it was? All things were driven by Tsunami. My grandchild is living in this house. All of them. Ah because I have to go to hospital. 42’00 My name is Yuko Kawamura. I like cat and travel. Well… Chameko? Hahahahaha. My favorite cat. Well…Chameko got plenty of attention by the father, Mr.Endo. The collar was made by hand of Mr.Endo! Well, the cat had not come back shortly after the earthquake, but it went back finally after a few days. Ah well, we met in guesthouse. My husband was one of the clients. Then, I travel a lot of countries to take pictures of cats and sceneries of islands. For example, Republic of Malta, Zanzibar of Tanzania in Africa. It was amazing that cat was walking in historical streetscape like the Middle Ages. Well, I made photo album of Tashiro island after the earthquake to tell someone. Yes, he is my father. Hahaha, it was taken to show he’s fine! It was taken before the day is over. Cats… 44’00 It’s a picture of Chameko when it was young. Hahahahaha. I think that morning of Tashiro island is the best: the scenery in the morning, fishing, cats, people, sea, mountain. Hahahahahahaha. It has a lot to offer. She is going to have baby soon. She has a baby bump. It’s aggressive a little. Ummm…New and Old residences have moved into and out of the island over the past 5 or 6 year. I think that it depends on them for the future of Tashiro island. I’m sorry that well, um…I’m not sure in terms of atmosphere. How should I say….The elderly is strict, nagging…. I'm trying to find a good word…like taking care of us. They can teach us whatever we want, so it means not so strict. Well, I came here because I like fishing, and I became a fisherman. Well, how can I say…? I realized it was fun after coming here hahaha. I caught the momentum, momentum. Depending on the situation it might become an uninhabited island. Well, it’s up to how we, Mr.Ishikawa and I work. We want to change the island that young people can come more. 46’00 I’m doing for everyone with my wife. Yes. It’s been just 3 month since we arrived here. Excuse me. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. Ah, it’s not restaurant but guest house. This has been closed of business here after the earthquake, but I heard that it will open from this April. So, my wife and I came here from this March. I’m an owner here. Hahahahaha, I’ve had cats for a long time. Well, my cat was died 5 or 6 years ago. I met the cat which was 19 years old when I was an elementary student. I’m 33 years old now. I know someone like that. Well, I think we will meet that kind of person, a little though. It’s a problem of school, right？If so, it’s better to establish a school. We have a school, so we only need teachers. I hope that the hospital should set up too. hahahaha 48’00 Hahahahaha, he hasn’t eaten yet because he was born in this island. It’s so delicious! People haven’t tasted beef in the village. You’ve never eaten, right? Umm….I think that he will live forever maybe. Hahahahah, Mr.Kazu composes his own lyrics and music. ♪Lets take their hands with young to elderly people Get over memories of crying and Farewell Yes! The name of the island is Tashiro. Yeah! People help each other～ Not everyone is skinflint～ Filled with flower The moon is outs～ We are one, Tashiro island 50’00 Yes, Yes. Drinking party. I did Karaoke at night in a nursing home. Look, isn’t it right? It’s the thing we caught the day before the festival in Shinto Shrine, right？ Even if someone says come here, I’m never ever going there. Tashiro is the best. This song is my favorite. Come to Tashiro for setting the mood! Should I close the drinking party? Let sing a song! ♪Ah～Ah～Ee～Ei Bang Bang Tashiro island～ Smile of young to elderly people We are one like a family～ Everyone’s Love island～ Ah～Ah～Ee～Ei Bang Bang Tashiro island～ Not everyone is evil～ People help each other～ Tashiro is good place We live in perfect harmony with nature～ The people are filled with deep humanity～ Ah～Ah～Ee～Ei Bang Bang Tashiro island～ What a peaceful marathon～ 52’00 Let’s drive all the way around the island～ Sound of laughing from that lodge～ Unexpectedly Dream island～ That might be guest house Can we stay～ Cockboats are keeping the sea～ Ray, nodilittorina granularis, squid, sea cucumber～ Octopus break into a dance too～ Ah～Ah～Ee～Ei Bang Bang Tashiro island～ La La La La La La La～ It will be all right. We will have a plan for our healthy life. I really worked to some extent. My friends were said that you look so happy but I really had wanted to go there.