I AM in Okinawa, a prefecture of 150 islands where the locals refuse to die. The archipelago, part of Japan and one of the so-called Blue Zones, regions in the world where people live longer than average, has a higher percentage of centenarians than anywhere else on the planet. Other Blue Zones include Nicoya in Costa Rica, and Icaria in Greece. It is, in many respects, a time capsule of longevity. And, after only a few minutes being here, it’s easy to see why.
Okinawa is part of a larger chain of islands called the Southwest Islands, semitropical and coral-fringed (some UNESCO listed), far removed from the mania of Japan’s mainland and the obsession with modernity, trends, technology and the fast lane it shares with the West. Here, a propensity for the slow life, stretching back generations to the 15th-century beginnings of the Ryukyu Kingdom, still endures.
Denne historien er fra June 07, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
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Denne historien er fra June 07, 2023-utgaven av Country Life UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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All gone to pot
Jars, whether elegant in their glazed simplicity or exquisitely painted, starred in London's Asian Art sales, including an exceptionally rare pair that belonged to China's answer to Henry VIII
Food for thought
A SURE sign of winter in our household are evenings in front of the television.
Beyond the beach
Jewels of the natural world entrance the eyes of Steven King, as Jamaica's music moves his feet and heart together
Savour the moment
I HAVE a small table and some chairs a bleary-eyed stumble from the kitchen door that provide me with the perfect spot to enjoy an early, reviving coffee.
Size matters
Architectural Plants in West Sussex is no ordinary nursery. Stupendous specimens of some of the world's most dramatic plants are on display
Paint the town red
Catriona Gray meets the young stars lighting up the London art scene, from auctioneers to artists and curators to historians
The generation game
For a young, growing family, moving in with, or adjacent to, the grandparents could be just the thing
Last orders
As the country-house market winds down for Christmas, two historic properties—one of which was home to the singer Kate Bush-may catch the eye of London buyers looking to move to the country next year
Eyes wide shut
Sleep takes many shapes in art, whether sensual or drunken, deathly or full of nightmares, but it is rarely peaceful. Even slumbering babies can convey anxiety
Piste de résistance
Scotland's last ski-maker blends high-tech materials with Caledonian timber to create 'truly Scottish', one-off pieces of art that can cope with any type of terrain
