The past two days have been a lesson in contrasts. Between flying out of Beijing’s Peking Airport yesterday morning and running through the small island of Onomichi in Japan this morning, the air (albeit still humid) has gone from muddy to clear. Our diet has transitioned from greasy meats and sugary starches to fresh fish and steamed rice. The traffic has changed from insufferable to barely noticeable. The energy has gone from frenetic to zen. We have left a land filled with consumption and entered a country marked by moderation. People don’t seem edgy, they seem calm. I am officially having a love affair with Japan.

During my 4:30-5:45am run this morning, I watched the sun rise over lush green trees. The waterways that flank the sleepy villages were quiet, and it felt like everyone was still resting, as they should be early on a Sunday morning. I passed a few people out walking and working in their gardens, and I watched smoke slowly circle out of chimneys as the houses started to wake up. We went swimming in the Pacific after our runs, cooling our bodies and soothing our tired legs. After a sleep, we filled our bellies with fresh fish from a local sushi restaurant, washing it down with mild green tea. Aahhhhh…Japan.

I wonder whether Japan is as wonderful as it seems, or if its allure is
amplified by its stark contrast with China. Particularly on this
adventure, I have often wondered how our perspective on places is altered by constant comparison with the places we’ve visited earlier in the journey. If we did the trip in reverse, would our impressions be different? In the case of Japan, however, I think I’d like it anytime, anyhow. It was just announced that Japanese women have the highest life expectancy in the world, averaging a lifespan of 87 years, and I can see why. People here seem to take care of their land, their waterways, and their bodies – all luxuries of living in a developed country with abundant resources.

Without a doubt, the Japanese aren’t facing the safe drinking water issues we experienced in Russia, Mongolia and China; and many people wonder what we’re gaining from spending time here. The answer is, this marks the beginning of the fundraising portion of the run. People in Japan, and moreover in the U.S. and Canada have the resources necessary to fund water projects in countries that need them, and spending time educating the “haves” about the situation of the “have-nots” is just as important as spending time in the affected areas themselves.

For me, Japan is a place to re-charge and re-focus before “shouting from the rooftops” as I enter the U.S. portion of the run. It’s a place to reflect on the sharp contrasts I’ve seen on this journey – Germany versus Poland, France versus Russia, Austria versus Mongolia, and Japan versus China. It is these contrasts that help me understand our collective struggle and our collective potential as members of the global community. It is these differences that make me think about privilege versus bad luck and opportunity versus responsibility. It is in these comparisons that I have found things to shout about.