The starting point. Japan’s southernmost inhabited island ”Hateruma Island”

2009 – The beginning of this trip

Hateruma Island, Japan’s southernmost inhabited island – the place Nakata chose as the starting point of his journey.

The name of this island derives from ”Hate No Uruma (end of URUMA (coral reef))”. Nakata planned to head toward the northernmost point of Japan from this land.
Thus, Nakata’s trip to visit 47 prefectures of Japan by car began.