Government official Jun Matsumoto promoted the ocean and swimming because of its restorative, health benefits and a hospital was built in Oiso. Before this, the ocean was considered a dangerous place only for fishing, never for swimming! Oiso was chosen from many sites as residents, used to accepting new ideas and methods because of its role as a post town along the Tokaido during the Edo period, welcomed the hospital and swimming!

Great day of research, filming and interviews in Oiso, Kanagawa, where Katsu Goto was born, raised and worked at the city office. Filmed at his (ceremonial; remains are at the Honokaa site) and the family’s gravesite, met and interviewed the mayor of Oiso, Dr. Hisao Nakasaki and other key locations and sites. Thanks very much to Dr. Yoshinori Kato, our key resource and contact in Oiso who completed his Phd at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a fellow Katsu Goto researcher. Also to Kazuhiro Sagawa of the Mayor’s office, who drove us around in the city van!