CONNECT TRAVEL
Iki Island: Land of Gods and Adventure Trevor West (Nagasaki)
Iki Island will forever be a special place for me. I worked and lived on Iki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, from July 2019 to July 2021. I worked as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) through the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. I came fresh from college, having studied International Relations, Japanese, Chinese, and Philosophy for three and a half years at Seton Hall University. I’ve had a lifelong interest in spirituality, religion, and philosophy. I love reading about the various creation myths of different religions and find there is often great value and wisdom in these ancient writings. With Japan, their creation myth is written in the Kojiki.
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The Kojiki forms the basis of the original Japanese religion, Shintoism. In modern day Japan, most people observe both Shinto and Buddhist religious practices. My Japanese teacher in high school would always say, “Shintoism is for fun festivals and Buddhism is for funerals.” I’ve always been interested in esoteric and mystical things. This passion was accelerated by the powerful spiritual energy of Iki Island, which connects to its interesting roots with Japan, such as with the Kojiki and local folklore. My time in Japan was the deepest initiation I’ve had into becoming an adult. Totally cut off from family and friends, I made new friends and found new family as I made my way on Iki Island.
