Japan is enjoying a "walking boom," with something like 28 million people taking up the habit as a recreational activity. The main idea is exercise, but there is also a cultural component. Walkers are seeking out scenic routes that have historical significance, thanks mainly to renewed interest in the late writer Ryotaro Shiba, who published several books about famous travel routes.
Olympic medal-winning swimmer Kyoko Iwasaki will follow one of these routes through the island of Shikoku. Her walk will cover 200 kilometers and take two weeks. NHK will go along with her and offer 15-minute reports on her progress every morning starting Nov. 14 on "Kaido Tekuteku Tabi" (Highway Hiking Trip; BS-2, 7:45 a.m.).
Iwasaki will note the many changes that have occurred to the towns and villages along her route, and look at the abundance of natural beauty and the special cultural significance of the areas she visits. She will start in Kotohina-gu Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture and end up two weeks later in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. Each day's report will contain both taped footage and live interviews.