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	Our Tanegashima Story The decision to move to Tanegashima was a bit of a surprise for family and friends, although they are pretty much used to me doing these kinds of "crazy" things. We went through a lot to get to this place, including four international moves. The moves, the island house, and getting set up, all proved to be very challenging but the benefits of being on this island were are worth the difficulties. Picture - Us doing the traditional first visit of the New Year to a Japanese shrine a couple of years ago. I decided to put our Tanegashima story online in order to provide additional information about the island (information in English is minimal at best) including small points which you cannot find elsewhere online. These small details might prove useful to those of you planning to visit Tanegashima or even to travelers to other places in Japan. I am hoping these pages might also serve as inspiration for those of you who are contemplating moving to a new place and a bit nervous. Hopefully you enjoy our story and can find some time to post your thoughts. Thank you for joining us on our ongoing island adventure. ISLAND NEWS Covid-19 Our little island dodged a bullet since the first case of Covid-19 was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. On December 22, 2020, the first case of Covid-19 was discovered on the island. (details below) Picture - Notice at the entrance of our property with instructions about keeping distant and delivery instructions. TRANSLATION: TO EVERYBODY Due to the virus, we are not communicating in person for awhile. Mail delivery, Invoices, ETC., please put in the mailbox. Whatever does not fit in the mailbox, please put in front of the entry. If you need to speak with us directly please call the following number. Thank you very much. Today - Covid-19 Update: Still no new cases of the virus reported. January 27, 2021 - Covid-19 Update: A second case of the virus has shown up on the island sometime during last week. Apparently a man in his sixties is the second confirmed case. We continue to self isolate. Our days are being spent at home, working online, playing, listening to music, watching comedy, staying warm, and enjoying being together. December 22, 2020 - Covid-19 Update: An 80 year old woman in a nursing home tested positive for the virus. Although information is limited, it appears that three family members came to visit her from Tokyo. The island has been issuing daily announcements over the public broadcasting system urging residents not to panic but to take precautionary measures. We isolated ourselves months ago and just began easing up with a couple of house parties recently. Now because of the virus hitting the island, we are back to isolation once again. We made the decision to totally self isolate pretty much at the beginning of the pandemic. We only go to our farms and to the beaches where there are no people. We are no longer grocery shopping. We are purchasing all of our dry goods online and we are growing more fresh food at our farms than we can even use. We are currently using a quarter acre farm close to our house which belongs to our friends. They let us use it for free since they do not need to deal with weed control and because they are very nice. We are also growing most of our herbs on the quarter acre of land where our house is located, and during the last couple of years, we put in over 200 fruits trees including about 40 different varieties in our yard and bordering our property. Yup, making absolutely sure we are growing enough fruits and veggies for all our needs. We are home educating our kids which keeps us from dealing with school issues. Actually none of our kids have ever attended any form of school or preschool....thank goodness. I spent the last couple of years changing our property into a place which is interesting and educational for our kids….basically converted our property into a virtual park….please see picture. There is a huge animal habitat with a rock mountain and a pond. This is a totally open habitat where animals can come and go as they please, with the exception of our small turtle, who is unable to scale the walls. We caught tons of frogs, toads and lizards in the farms the last couple of years, which we bring home for bug control at the house and to keep them from getting trampled at the farms. There is a huge greenhouse where we are growing most of our herbs. There is a combination smoker and BBQ which we also use to make bread. A huge picnic table, constructed with a concrete block base and wood top, is located in the middle of the recently installed sod. The foot area of the table is filled with beach river rocks for drainage and for foot massages. There is also a huge sandpit not shown in the picture. We are also converting the other three buildings on the property into a family room, a playroom, and a farm processing area. We are a family who spends 24/7 together to the astonishment of our friends. This is with no fighting, well occasionally a few disagreements. We have always been together and are very used to our situation. This turned out to be a huge benefit since we were already set up to endure this pandemic and any others which might spring up in the future. The economy, school closures, event cancellations, all have little or no affect on us. Unlike America, the health insurance in Japan is fantastic. Premiums and copays are totally on a sliding scale dependent on income. There is very little crime in Japan, and none on this island. We enjoy a very simple existence, something you would find hundreds of years ago (albeit with access to modern technology....lol), with self sufficient farming begin our work, the island along with the rest of the world being our source of education, and the incredible friends we made on the island as our source of socialization. As previously stated, our kids are being home educated. We do not give them formal instruction at all. We teach them how to support themselves. We let them fully participate in farming, we teach them how to cook, basic construction and home maintenance, and they actually enjoy cleaning. They have space in and out of our property which is totally their own and it is up to them how they maintain that space. They have tons of books, mind expanding toys such as Lego, board games, and many shows online where they learn about the world. All math and science is taught by application to daily chores such as farming and working around the house. We also talk a lot, which is probably their main source of information. The conversations are on an adult level. They know all about the pandemic, sex, politics, societal issues, and basically about the good and bad in the world. We have fantastic friends of all ages with kids of all ages. This gives our kids the opportunity to constantly communicate on many levels with people of different ages. We speak mostly English in our house but our kids can understand Japanese as it is spoken all around them on this island. We even watch mostly English language shows. Now we are binging on The Late Late Show with James Corden...a brit and an incredibly funny guy. Our kids do not play video games, they do not eat garbage, and they do not hate, in fact they are exposed on a daily basis to the humor and music of different cultures. Although me and Akiko read the news online, the news is not ever playing on the TV. In fact, there is music playing the entire day in out home. Our kids are very happy, they love each other, our home, and are very happy to be in Japan. We are sad though not to be able to meet our friends as much now. Hopefully things will be much better in 2021. Be safe everybody....wear masks....keep distant. Farm Purchase We are now in the process of purchasing a couple of small farms….the farm adjacent to the huge farm our friend is letting us use and another farm across the street. We received permission to use the small farms pending completion of the paperwork finalizing the purchase, which in Japan could be quite awhile. This year we are at least doubled our farm production. This season we already harvested over a thousand sweet potatoes, tons of regular potatoes, a wide variety of white and colored radishes, and many different leafy veggies. We also grow a lot of herbs, including basil, dill, and parsley, which we eat pretty much every day. FARMING ROCKS FOR SURE. Message To Friends Really looking forward to meeting friends again. We are no longer inviting friends to the house....better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully you are all doing well and getting through these difficult times. Would really be nice to get a message from all of you. Please post a comment on my Facebook page or send a message through messenger. 2020 Year in Review This was both an exciting year and a difficult year for us. We were happy to welcome our third son into the world. This was by far the best news of the year. We were lucky all of us were able to be there for his birth. There was a window of only a couple of weeks during the pandemic where kids were allowed in and we were fortunate he was born during that time. Much of the year was spent in isolation with the exception of a few small parties at the house with friends and occasionally meeting friends at our farms. We stayed away from the public beaches and most of the island events were cancelled. We spent most of this year finally getting control of our farms and finishing off a bunch of house projects. Then in August I could not walk for a few days. Although not confirmed, I now have most of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Really sucks and I plan to write volumes about this in the coming year. Anyway, with 2021 approaching, I would like to say Happy New Year to all of you. Hopefully COVID will go away at some point and the world can return to normal. Until then. Welcome to Our New Son June 9, 2020 - Welcome to our new son, Ethan Mishael Hayman, who was born in Nishinoomote, the north city of Tanegashima, on June 9, 2020. Check out our crazy story about the night before and see pictures of the little guy. 2019 Tanegashima, Japan We began this year with trips to a few of our favorite beaches. We made our usual pilgrimage to Homan Shrine for hatsumode, which is the traditional first trip to a Japanese shrine of the new year. We returned to the farms and harvested tons of delicious potatoes. Then we were hit with a pretty strong earthquake with the epicenter only about ten kilometers from the house. Summer arrived and with it a lot of trips to the beach. We got a visit from family for a few days and got together with friends at the house. August 2019 - Rice processing and a trip to the beach. A party with family and friends and a rocket festival. January 2019 - Happy New Year fun and a trip to our favorite beach. A return to farming and a pretty strong earthquake. 2018 Tanegashima, Japan This year we moved to our new house in Japan and are finally settled....NO MORE MOVING. The house we purchased has a one and a half car garage, a concrete storage building, and a huge farm storage building, all this on about a quarter acre of land. The house was basically in really good condition but the outside was a mess. Much of the year was spent completely changing the landscaping and painting and staining the outbuildings. The island was hit by a really strong typhoon, in fact, the eye went directly over the island. It was crazy and pretty much destroyed the huge 100 year old tree at the entrance of our property. During Summer, we threw plenty of house parties. We spent a lot of time at our favorite beaches and went to lots of music events. (pictures coming) 2017 Tanegashima, Japan This was without a doubt the most difficult year for our family. The owner of the house we were renting in Tanegashima said he might be thinking about returning to the island someday and said we should beging thinking about moving. Although there was no time limit given, we decided to take matters into our own hands and move anyway. We found another house in Minamitane town but right before we were to meet the owner, we found out it had already been rented. We completely changed the plan and decided to return to America and give it one more try there. I still owned my condominium and had all my personal stuff stored there. It was a matter of time before we had to return anyway. The thought of moving to the condo with two young boys was unacceptable and I came up with an alternative plan. I found a home up in the San Diego County mountains and began negotiating the sale of the condo and the purchase of the mountain property, all online. Thanks to the help of our friends and an incredible real estate, I was able to pull it off. We moved to the mountains during the Summer. It took only about three months to realize how awful this place was. It took about another three months to prepare the property, mostly the outside landscaping, for sale. We sold the property for a pretty nice profit and moved out in January of 2018, a mere six months after we moved in there. I plan to post a very detailed account of this really interesting story. (pictures coming) 2016 Tanegashima, Japan This was a really good year for us. We were happy to welcome our second son into the world. This was the happiest news of the year for sure. We were all able to be there for his birth. This turned out to be our last full year on the island before returning to America the following year. This was actually our second full year on the island, and what fun it was. We spent plenty of time visiting our favorite beaches, throwing a bunch of house parties, and perfecting our farming skills. Basically enjoying our very simple existence on this incredibly beautiful island. Rocket Launch and Thanksgiving November, 2016 - A rocket launch, hometown fair, picnic, beach trip, and a really nice Thanksgiving on the island. More Beach Camping and Crazy Parties October, 2016 - Another fun filled month with beach camping, crazy parties, and plenty of home grown bananas. Full Moon Music Festival September, 2016 - A fantastic music festival, cool clouds, another typhoon, and lots of bike riding. Family Visits and Surfing August, 2016 - A visit from family and a whole lot of surfing. Oldest Son Learning to Drive July, 2016 - Our oldest son Shai Maxwell Hayman got to drive a little for the first time about a week after he turned seven years old, albeit in a beach parking lot. Welcome to Our Other Island Son May 3, 2016 - Welcome to our other son, Lael Rani Hayman, who was born on May 3, 2016 also in Nishinoomote, the north city of Tanegashima. Check out our story from this fun and happy month. Live long and prosper. December 2016 - A very cool nighttime rocket launch and the case of the missing tooth. November 2016 - Another Thanksgiving on Tanegashima, a hometown fair, and a rocket launch. October 2016 - Really nice camping trip and a crazy Halloween party. September 2016 - A couple of typhoons and a fantastic music festival. August 2016 - A visit from family and fun at the beaches. July 2016 - Happy Birthday Shai and a month focusing on him. June 2016 - This month was our wedding anniversary, Daddy Day, and a trip to our favorite beaches. May 2016 - This month was all about the arrival of our new son Lael, and a very special Mommy Day. April 2016 - A couple of birthdays but overall a pretty quiet month. March 2016 - The rocket marathon, a couple of parties, and a trip to the park to see beautiful cherry blossoms. February 2016 - The focus this month was mostly on farming. January 2016 - Happy New Year. We spent a very traditional New Years on the island. There was also a beach cow and a penis. 2015 Tanegashima, Japan This was actually our first full year on the island. This years was incredible with parties, festivals, and rocket launches. We got our new mountain bikes from America. Then we participated in the Rocket Marathon which was one of the best events ever on the island. There was a before and after party with plenty of food, wine, and beer. The Summer was spent at the beach, doing BBQ, and spending time with friends. Then we closed out the year with our second Hanukkah on the island. Beach Camping and a Crazy Party October, 2015 - A fun month from our second year on the island. A Really Busy Month March, 2015 - The Rocket Marathon, tons of parties, and a rocket launch. December 2015 - Celebrated our second very Happy Hanukkah on the island. November 2015 - Another fun month on the island. Connected our bikes with a tow bar and watched another spectacular rocket launch. October 2015 - A fantastic couple of days camping at beautiful Kumano beach. Then a very crazy party at the end of the month. September 2015 - Continuing to work on this month. August 2015 - The annual rocket festival and a rocket launch. July 2015 - A fun Independence Day party at the house. June 2015 - Another pretty quiet month with a relaxing BBQ and some very beautiful lenticular clouds which formed over neighboring Yakushima. May 2015 - Another crazy weather month. A very strong typhoon and torrential rains which flooded and damaged the farms. April 2015 - Relatively quiet compared to last month. A really boring preschool event and confirmation our son wants to be home educated. March 2015 - A very busy month. Another rocket launch and the rocket marathon along with a couple of associated parties. February 2015 - Nice new toys. Our Haro mountain bikes came this month and we took them to the Tanegashima Space Center for the initial ride. Oh yeah, another rocket launch this month. January 2015 - Happy New Year. This was actually our first new years on the island. Nice weather allowed us to hang out at the beach. 2014 Tanegashima, Japan A really fun year and the beginning of our island adventures. Much of this year was spent setting up and getting used to this place. A couple of typhoons within a week of each other slammed into the island damaging the house and wreaked havoc on the farms. Caught some nice fish, and visited a couple of beautiful beaches, along with some incredible caves. We saw a rocket launch, went to a fun fish festival and celebrated our first Hannukah on the island. Can you guess which kid in the picture is our son Shai? A bunch of really cute kids for sure. Back to Back Typhoons October, 2014 - Our first attempt at farming turned to disaster compliments of back to back typhoons that slammed the island. First Days on the Island September, 2014 - Traveling back to the year 2014 and our first days on the island. December 2014 - A really fun month. We saw a rocket launch, went to a fun fish festival and celebrated our first Hannukah on the island. November 2014 - A nice change. Warmer temperatures, some nice fish, and visits to a couple of beautiful beaches, along with some incredible caves. October 2014 - Definitely call this typhoon month. A couple of typhoons within a week of each other slammed into the island damaging the house and wreaked havoc on the farms. September 2014 - The beginning of our island adventures. Much of this month was spent setting up and getting used to this place. July 2014 - Ando Town, Nara, Japan house for sale. (no pictures) June 2014 - Found a room for rent with internet that Akiko could use for work. Spent a lot of time at the beach before returning to Nara again. (no pictures) May 2014 - Found a rental house on Tanegashima island. Began work on getting this incredibly messy house ready for us to move there. (no pictures) 2013 San Diego, California Vacation March 2013 - Return to Japan and meeting friends and going to restaurants. (no pictures) February 2013 - Hanging out in beautiful San Diego, California. (no pictures) January 2013 - Family returned to Japan after vacation in America. (no pictures) 2012 Nara, Japan and Traveling to America December 2012 - A small house party and then traveling to America for a three month vacation. (no pictures) November 2012 - A very cool Halloween party at our house in Japan. (no pictures) 2011 Nara, Japan December 2011 - Decided to keep the English Global Group site online. (no pictures) November 2011 - Decided to close the English Global Group school. (no pictures) October 2011 - Totally exhausted from working on the adjacent house every day. (no pictures) September 2011 - Work continued on the adjacent house. (no pictures) August 2011 - We purchased the adjacent house. (no pictures) July 2011 - A lot of parties this month, a traditional Japanese festival, and the beach. (no pictures) June 2011 - Another Summer party at the house. (no pictures) May 2011 - Beginning of Summer party and a typhoon. (no pictures) April 2011 - Flower viewing in the mountains and another house party. (no pictures) March 2011 - A very strong earthquake hits Northern Japan. A beginning of Spring party at the house. (no pictures) February 2011 - The Super Bowl, tons of snow, and another party. January 2011 - New Years Day at Nara Park, Nara, Japan  and then a trip to Falafel Garden and Tullys coffee shop. A lot of house parties. Then a few days of beautiful sunsets. 2010 Nara, Japan December 2010 - Holiday party and trip to Nara Park. November 2010 - Baby Gap contest and a Thanksgiving party. October 2010 - Halloween Party. August 2010 - Yoshino, Shimokita Mountain for some camping, fishing, and hiking. Then hiking at Odaigahara Mountain,  Kamikitayama (Village) Mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara-Mie, Japan. July 2010 - Independence Day party at our house. Shai's Birthday parties at our house. Onbara Festival and Fireworks at Mimoro Mountain, Miwa, Sakurai, Nara, Japan. June 2010 - Hiking at Myoujin Mountain, Oji, Kitakatsuragi-gun, Nara, Japan. April 2010 - Yoshino Mountain cherry blossom viewing at Yoshino Mountain, Nara, Japan. March 2010 - Nabe party with friends. January 2010 - Purchase of home in Ando Town, Nara, Japan. 2009 America and Japan December 2009 - The beginning of our Japanese adventures. November 2009 - Meeting friends before moving to Japan. August 2009 - Spending time with our new son and friends. July 2009 - Possible home purchase in Grand Island, New York and posts from San Diego, California including Independence Day at Mission Trails Park. And most importantly the arrival of our new baby. June 2009 - Possible home purchase in Horyuji, Nara, Japan. May 2009 - Tons of posts while residing in San Diego, California including the 30th Annual Ethnic Food Fair at Balboa Park, San Diego, California. 1960-2000 Ancient History Ancient History 1960-2000 - A lot of really old stuff.