The countdown is on! Myself and team of five, consisting of Darin McQuoid, Ryan Knight, Brandy Suppi, Shon Bollock and cinematographer Nick Calderone are headed to one of most seismically active (and beautiful) areas in the world. Japan. That’s right. Having booked tickets months prior to the tri-disaster (Quake, Tsunami, Nuclear Crisis)…we as a team are still going ahead as planned, but with an added objective to help out where needed. As expressed by many friends over there, the tourism industry has taken a near 100% dive. So this will be a good way to highlight the safe travels and fun we’ll have along the way. Having done quite a bit of research and talking with people inside and outside the nuclear industry, it is advised to “stay out the evacuation zone that is 50km of the Fukushima Power Plant, and you’ll be just fine”. So expanding our own personal safety barrier of 100 km, we are touching down in Tokyo and headed to the hills of the Gunma Prefecture. Last trip to Japan was highlighted in Huckin Huge’s first film, The Risen Sun, and showcased the Japan’s incredible countryside, amazing people and unique-slot-canyon whitewater. I’m very excited head back there and meet up with the friendly paddlers over there, help out in the Quake/Tsunami Zone and safely descend new creeks and waterfalls. Sayounara!
Cody Howard, Team IR
(Photos from the 2008 “Risen Sun” Expedition)
