akira amaura is a local tour guide who has lived here for six years, and he says he loves the energysand isn't really sand, rod laver ash. tourists he meets are always surprised that the volcano erupts so frequently and that people actually live here stop but that's because they are so well—prepared. the monitoring equipment here are some of the best in the world, and locals take the danger in their stride. mayumi was recently forced to evacuate from her beloved hometown. but in spite of the constant threat of upheaval, she wouldn't live anywhere else. and there are some fringe benefits from living in a volcanic zone. south of kagoshima lies a unique hot spring resort. basicallyi kagoshima lies a unique hot spring resort. basically i am about to be slow baked in a sand of 50 celsius. for therapeutic reasons, i am assured. it's hot, i'm sweating underneath here. and it is a very strange experience but i think the thing is to relax into it i guess. so at the end of my all too brief time in japan i am struck by the sheer diversity of the country in terms of culture, landscape and people