Thank you Shikoku. Spent the month of October last year on the Shikoku pilgrimage walk. Want to say "thank you" to the people of Shikoku for their friendliness and hospitality.

There is no place in the world like Shikoku and there are no people in the world like those who live there. It was the most wonderful experience of my life and as I only completed half of the walk I plan to go back one day to complete. Ever since I was a child I wanted to go to Japan — collected books on Japan and studied the language.

When the song "Sukiyaki" would come on the radio I would cry. Wasn't until I turned 62 that I was able to visit. The island can be very proud of everything it presents, and I was overwhelmed by the kindness of people there — the times I was "rescued" when looking lost, the friendship and gifts. Thank you also to the people who maintain the walk and erect the little red signs that are so important. Thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

joy martin
port pirie, australia

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.