The ironman of travel Yoshimasa Ikeuchi

Lightly carry two people's luggage at Shishmaref Airport

Richard's daughter Stacy

Shishmaref

Men who dream of getting rich

Gnome dog sledding race

1200km dog sled race goal point from Anchorage to Gnome

Gnome

Caribou horns are Eskimo medals

Straight road from the airport

Kotetsu taking a commemorative photo at the entrance of the Richard family home

As I approached the Island, I could see the blue sky

Sand buggy in summer and snowmobile in winter

Richard's entrance

Cessna heading from Gnome to Shishmaref

Shishmaref

It is only 200km to the tip of Russia.
　
It is 100 km from Wells at the northern end
and is visible to the naked eye.

I learned about the Islands of the Arctic Circle
where the photographer Michio Hoshino spent,
and wanted to go and see whatever he wanted.

There are no accommodation or dining rooms on the Island.

　Responses from all travel agencies are also "NO".

I am curious about what kind of life
is waiting for life in the Arctic Circle.

A pick-up truck and a Japanese-made sand buggy were waiting at the airport,
which had only a runway.

The first person I met on the Island was Richard's third daughter,
Stacy (26), who had a strange connection.

That person is a beautiful Eskimo who was waiting for the Cessna
to go to Gnome on the same flight.

There was a 6-hour waiting time at the transit
which allowed me to explore the town.

Cessna took off at 5:30 on time.

The visibility is zero due to the rain that has begun to fall.

It is the beginning of a lonely journey.

However, as we approached the sky above the Island,
the weather recovered and the Island appeared.
　
Travel requires a heavenly ally.

34 years ago, in 1973,
a Japanese experienced a three-month life with an Eskimo.

Winter is a world of minus 40 to 50 degrees Celsius,
and the sun does not set in the midnight sun from April to August.

In September in the Arctic Circle at 66 degrees north latitude,
I visited the Island without knowing that strong winds would blow.

I was informed locally that the best season is from June
to August and the temperature rises to around 15 degrees Celsius.

Japanese people who visit should bring a sleeping bag
We stay in gymnasiums and churches.

Twice we were fortunate and had the opportunity to live with the Eskimos.

The usual route is Kansai-Narita-Seattle-Anchorage-Nome-Shishmaref.

From Kansai, I had a bad connection at Narita
and went through Vancouver, Canada.

Mr.Kato, who runs a B & B in Anchorage, was the only one who connected his hopes.

He is an experienced visitor to the Island as a media guide.

The accommodation where the good news
finally arrived Just say "Richard family".

Located in the western part of Alaska near the Bering Strait on the US-Russia border,
it suddenly came into the limelight as an Island sinking
due to global warming and became world famous.
"Shishmaref" is Russian.

Character　

Richard Edwin Stasenko (65) Accommodation master teacher

Richard Walleck Stasenko (61) wife

Eldest son Dennis (39) tanning factory manager, airport staff, hunter 　　　　

Eldest daughter Mary (30) Kindergarten teacher Second daughter Kate (29)

Third daughter Stacy (26) Married on September 22

Robbie Ninget (40) Dennis' friend, carpenter, ship owner

Lord Rick (6) Mary's eldest son Harry (2) Mary's second son

Joy Black Principal, the only school (3-18 years old) 185 students 　

Driving took less than 5 minutes after telling
the names of Richard's son Dennis (39)
and his accommodation Richard (65).

That day is "September 11th",
It was the day when the Twin Towers in New York
collapsed due to terrorism.

Television has shown the images of the Twin Towers
at that time many times.

Prologue