Stargazing guide, Hiroyuki Takazono
Hiroyuki Hozono, who returned to the island from the city and rediscovered the wonders of its nature, is now sharing the allure of the Yaeyama starry skies. He is a certified "Chura Hoshi Meister" by the Ishigaki City Tourism Exchange Association and works as a stargazing guide on Ishigaki Island and Kohama Island. We asked Mr. Hozono to tell us about his recommended stargazing spots on Ishigaki Island.
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park is the first place in Japan to be provisionally designated as a "Dark Sky Reserve" by the International Dark-Sky Association. The Winter Triangle is captured beyond the mangroves. The blue light slightly to the left is Sirius, one of the stars in Canis Major, which makes up the Winter Triangle.
The Milky Way is clearly visible. This is the coast near Tamatorizaki, which is within the Dark Sky Reserve. From the pitch-black sandy beach, you can see the starry sky stretching southward. "I really want people to see the beautiful starry sky of the Yaeyama Islands, which is among the best in the world."
This photo was taken at dawn. Venus shines brightly on the left. And to the right of the large cloud, you can see the constellation Scorpio. "It's amazing to see so many stars so close to a residential area."
From the fields on the hilltop in Miyara, you can see sugarcane fields and the Milky Way. The best thing about this spot is that, because it's high up and unobstructed, you can see stars even in the low sky, just above the horizon. "Sometimes you can even see constellations, the Milky Way, and the moonrise at the same time."
The cluster of stars visible slightly to the left of the center is the Pleiades. It can be observed from autumn through spring, primarily in winter. The single road south of the Osato settlement has few streetlights, so you can park your car and enjoy a magnificent view of the starry sky right there.
After graduating from Yaeko High School, he moved to Tokyo to study architecture, and then worked in sales for a record company. In 2012, he returned to the island and worked for a food company and other places before currently working primarily as a stargazing guide for Hoshizora Tourism, while also handling advertising design under the name "730 creative works," and acting as a CD promoter for artists such as PANA, Kiyama Shoten, and BEGIN.