Studio Ghibli movies are a world of their own. Truly, the magic that Hayao Miyazaki weaves in each film breathes life into surreal characters and surroundings.

This beloved studio has fans worldwide through films like Spirited Away, Howls Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and my all-time favourite, Ponyo.

Interestingly, Spirited Away was also the first anime to win an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003.

For me, anime had shaped what Japan looked like.

I envisioned flowing fields of green, quiet rural towns and bustling city centres.

But visiting Japan showed me I was right, and wrong, in equal measures.

Last week, I shared briefly about Tokyo and this week, I’ll write about the trip to Kagoshima, which lies on the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan.

We flew from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Kagoshima. The moment we landed I could feel the change in the air.

Things were instantly a lot more relaxed as compared to Tokyo.

The sun was out and we enjoyed a picturesque ride to the restaurant we would have lunch at. On our way, our bus driver pointed out a mountain in the distance, towering with smoke billowing from its peak.

As curious journalists looked out, he told us it was an active volcano, Mt Sakurajima.

The curiosity turned to some degree of unease when we were informed that it had not erupted for some time. We breathed a sigh of relief and continued our journey.

Upon arrival, we were treated to a medley of local dishes cooked to perfection and my tastebuds were absolutely tantalised by their unique flavours.

During our meal, stories were shared about the region’s specialty — black vinegar. Now, the only vinegar that my palette can tolerate is salt and vinegar potato chips.

So, imagine my surprise when our hosts informed us that all the items on our table were prepared using black vinegar — including the dessert!

After a hearty lunch, we were shown the process of making black vinegar. The acidic is matured for a few years and then sold as drinks.

According to staff, it is good for the skin and one’s overall health. From here, it was off to Osaki Town, a small municipality with just over 12,000 residents. For me, Osaki was everything I envisioned a small Japanese town to be.

Fields of green stretched as far as the eye could see, with friendly townsfolk ready to welcome us.

Here, we had the opportunity to see for ourselves how waste management worked in the town.

The group visited the landfill and to my surprise, there was no stench or muck anywhere. We also visited the private recycling facility and saw for ourselves how different materials were recycled.

After a hectic day, we settled in Osaki, and it was at night when we realised just how different rural Japan as from its more metropolitan areas.

It’s quiet and the only places open are the 24/7 konbinis.

Again, I cannot stress enough how crucial convenience stores are to life in Japan.

Also, shout out to Lawsons for having amazing meal sets and spicy chicken that satisfied the pangs of hunger which sprung up at odd hours. A

fter a restful first day in Osaki, the next day was to be a treat from the get-go.

The first was a visit to the composting centre, where we were shown how fertiliser was made.

It wasn’t enough to just see it, of course we experienced it.

Now, while most of the work was carried out by machines, we were handed a pair of boots and a shovel. A mound of kitchen waste, consisting of leftover food and broken-down garden waste, was piled in front of us.

Standing there in my sulu-i-ra, I wondered just how I would get this done, and as someone who doesn’t have much experience of being in the garden, learning how to make compost from scratch was an amazing experience.

True enough, by the time we were done, I was tired and ready to call it a day. But we had to spare a little bit of energy because we were also scheduled to visit Osaki Elementary School and meet with Year Six kids — about 60 or so energetic kids.

This turned out to be the highlight of our trip in Japan. Meeting with these primary schoolers was a refreshing break, and we saw firsthand how children help during lunch — from serving,  eating, and clearing away — and how they dispose of trash. It is a behavior ingrained in them from home, and what they learn from their parents translates into their daily routines.

It was so endearing to chat with these children and learn their about dreams, aspirations, and plans.

It was difficult to say goodbye but then, it was time for us to move on to the next part of the program, visiting the Osaki Town Hall to meet with the mayor and other municipal staff.

Imagine my surprise when we were greeted with staff all holding up flags of our countries – Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Guam, and Trinidad & Tobago.

It was a thoughtful gesture, one wholly appreciated by the journalists present. With this, our time in Osaki was ending, and on our third day there, we had a chance to speak with residents directly about their waste management practices, following which we were on our way to Kumamoto.

I have to say that being in Osaki was an incredible experience. The way in which this small town has embraced sustainable waste management is nothing short of remarkable.

The thought which sprung to my mind at the time was: “If they can do it, why can’t we?” and that is really the question we must all ask ourselves. In the face of Fiji’s litter problems, how can we as individuals start making a difference and take accountability for our actions. Food for thought.

• Next week, I’ll relay the story of my trip to Kumamoto, Japan, the land of shochu and hometown of One Piece mangaka Eiichiro Oda.