Through My Lens: A Marine’s Journey Through Kumamoto, Japan

The dust had barely settled from Exercise RESOLUTE DRAGON, a grueling joint training mission between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Japanese Self-Defense Force (JSDF). After weeks of operations, from amphibious landings to complex field maneuvers, our mission was complete. The intensity of the exercise had sharpened my skills as a Marine, but now, with a few well-earned days off, I had another mission—to explore Kumamoto through my lens. Photography has always been my way of processing the world. The stillness of a well-framed shot, the way light and shadow tell their own story—it’s a stark contrast to the structured chaos of military life. With my Sony mirrorless slung across my chest, I boarded a commercial bus from base, bound for the landscapes and history that awaited me in Kumamoto, Japan.

Mt. Aso: A Land of Fire and Fury

The morning air was crisp as I made my way east toward Mt. Aso, Japan’s most active volcano. The bus climbed higher into the mountains, winding through endless stretches of grasslands and rugged terrain.Arriving at Nakadake Crater, the first thing that hit me was the scent of sulfur, thick in the cool breeze. Steam hissed from deep fissures in the earth, curling skyward like battle smoke after a hard-fought engagement. I set up my shot, adjusting for the morning light, ensuring I captured the ethereal glow of the crater’s milky blue lake, framed by blackened rock and shifting mist.It was easy to lose myself in the sheer power of this place. After weeks of maneuvering through combat scenarios, this felt different—this was nature’s battlefield, sculpted over millennia by fire and time. I walked further along the ridge, switching to a telephoto lens to capture the vast Aso Grasslands, where wild horses grazed peacefully. The contrast was striking—the chaos of the crater against the serenity of rolling green fields.

Kumamoto Castle: Strength Through Adversity

Returning to downtown Kumamoto, I made my way to Kumamoto Castle, a fortress that had seen centuries of war, peace, and reconstruction. I had read about the 2016 earthquake that heavily damaged the castle, yet it still stood tall, a symbol of resilience. Walking through its towering stone walls and reconstructed wooden interiors, I let my camera tell the story of survival. The sharp, black-and-white facade of the rebuilt keep reflected against the moat’s still waters—a perfect composition of past and present.I set up a wide-angle shot from the main entrance, capturing the sheer scale of the fortress. The evening sun cast long shadows, emphasizing the castle’s samurai-era architecture. This was once the stronghold of Kato Kiyomasa, a legendary warlord whose legacy echoed through these halls.

Miyamoto Musashi: The Spirit of a Warrior

One of my most anticipated stops was Reigandō (Spirit Rock Cave), where Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary samurai and author of The Book of Five Rings, had spent his final years in meditation and writing.The cave itself was tucked away in the foothills west of Kumamoto, a place of solitude and reflection. As I stepped inside, the air grew cooler, and I could almost feel the presence of history pressing in. Here, Musashi wrote his timeless strategies on combat, discipline, and life—wisdom that even a modern Marine could appreciate.I adjusted my settings for the dim light and snapped a shot of candles flickering at the shrine, casting eerie shadows along the cave walls. It was a moment of quiet reverence, a contrast to the battlefields and training grounds I had come from.Outside the cave, the view of Kumamoto stretched far into the distance. I framed the shot, placing the rocky cliffs in the foreground and the city beyond—a meeting point of history and modernity.

The Final Shot: A City Alive

As night fell, I returned to downtown Kumamoto, where the city pulsed with life. After weeks of military precision and discipline, the hum of normal life felt almost surreal. Neon signs flickered over bustling izakayas, the smell of sizzling yakitori filled the air, and locals chatted animatedly over steaming bowls of tonkotsu ramen. I set up my tripod, capturing a long-exposure shot of headlights streaking down the street, a visual representation of the city’s relentless energy. Another shot framed a couple walking beneath glowing red lanterns, a quiet, intimate moment frozen in time. Finally, I put my camera down and took in the scene, this time with my own eyes. Kumamoto wasn’t just a place—it was a story of resilience, power, and tradition. And in my brief time here, I had the privilege of witnessing and documenting that story. 📷🇯🇵🇺🇸 #KumamotoThroughMyLens #MarineOnTheMove #RESOLUTEDRAGON