気候変動の時代の移動：縄文のサバイバルに学ぶSurviving Extreme Climate Challenges

The extreme heat coupled with the humidity typical of East Asia this summer has drastically depleted all of my energy, severely affecting my health each day—even though I generally possess relatively high levels of activity and creativity. This intense heat is expected to persist for at least another two months, and today, temperatures nearing 40 degrees Celsius were recorded in parts of Hokkaido, sparking significant discussion. Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost region, has never experienced such high temperatures since records began. Conversely, Okinawa, located at the southernmost end of Japan, is currently enjoying relatively stable weather. Over the past few decades, it has become increasingly clear that our traditional understanding of Japan’s climate and environment is no longer valid.

Naturally, this is a global phenomenon, but personally experiencing life in such extreme conditions makes even going outside daunting; a brief outing can lead to symptoms of heatstroke, requiring considerable recovery time. Amid these circumstances, I’ve strongly realized that modern people are transitioning from lifestyles based on previously stable climatic conditions toward a new phase where they actively seek out locations better suited to their individual needs.

Indeed, since June—when Japan’s rainy season started—my own creative activities have significantly stalled, prompting me to seriously reconsider and reassess my lifestyle for next year onward. This year, I’ve started acquiring cutting-edge knowledge about health, but that alone is insufficient for addressing the present challenges. Thus, I’ve begun integrating comprehensive perspectives, including Japanese history, to develop and adopt new strategies for surviving in this era.

However, even in modern times, our lifespans average around eighty years at best. Within this limited period, it’s challenging to break away from deeply rooted assumptions that stable climatic conditions will continue indefinitely. At the same time, failing to quickly abandon these assumptions could render us immobile, overwhelmed by the severe changes brought on by climate fluctuations. To avoid this fate, we must first confront ourselves, gaining a deep understanding of our own nature, and then determine, through movement and experimentation, which location best suits us. In other words, whether or not you have previously identified your own personal utopia during stable climatic periods could significantly impact your future.

This utopia isn’t a universal ideal for everyone; rather, it refers specifically to an environment uniquely suited to enabling each individual to lead their ideal lifestyle, making it highly subjective. For instance, while many people are currently moving to Okinawa to escape the intense heat affecting most of the Japanese archipelago, a place popular among the masses is not necessarily ideal for each individual.

Historically, large-scale human migrations typically occurred at the level of communities and groups, a tendency still persisting today. However, we are simultaneously entering an unprecedented period in human history, one where individuals can independently seek out their own utopias. Personally, over the past seven years, I’ve traveled extensively across Japan, evaluating factors like climate, population, geography, culture, and history, ultimately discovering the place most suitable for me. Consequently, I am seriously considering moving my base away from urban areas along the Pacific coast, such as Osaka and Tokyo, to the Sea of Japan side of northern Tohoku from next year onwards, and I have already begun planning how I might live there.

Clearly, the ability or inability to move in response to these harsh climatic conditions will greatly influence one’s future prospects. Such severe climate change poses genuinely life-threatening challenges and thus cannot be underestimated. Therefore, rather than simply viewing current phenomena superficially, we must make informed decisions regarding our future, taking into account the comprehensive historical context. Where and how we choose to live will become increasingly significant themes. As a Japanese individual, the primary reference I’ve used in making these choices is the lifestyle of the Jomon people.

It is little known that the Jomon period was marked by severe climate fluctuations, significantly impacting demographic patterns across regions. The Jomon people repeatedly migrated seeking new lands, and this tribal-level movement directly contributed to the creation of multifaceted cultural spheres. Simultaneously, groups unable to migrate became extinct, with volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis further driving human movements. These “Jomon survival techniques” are precisely what we must now learn again, as we face major climatic shifts for the first time in roughly ten thousand years.

Those residing in Japan today must therefore revisit and learn from the survival capabilities of the Jomon people, adapting and incorporating these lessons into their own lives through trial and error. Generally, such adaptations aren’t achievable overnight but require considerable time. By steadily accumulating knowledge over several years and reconsidering history from various angles, I believe we can find pathways toward enduring our current severe climate challenges.

I’ve pursued this exploration continuously, and recognizing its increasing importance this year, I am setting off tomorrow for a three-day research trip to the relatively overlooked western region of Fukui Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan side. Beginning tomorrow, I will publish related articles as I proceed, hoping the insights gained from this investigation will provide new pathways for contemporary survival. This region holds critical importance because, over roughly sixty years since the 1960s, our understanding of the Jomon lifestyle there has been radically transformed, completely overturning traditional perceptions of the Jomon people as mere hunter-gatherers. Indeed, this region could be considered the epicenter for understanding Jomon culture, offering potential insights and hints for modern individuals. Personally, the more I’ve learned about the Jomon people in this region, the more convinced I’ve become of their nature as true survivors, offering substantial lessons for us today.

Ultimately, can humanity survive this global climate upheaval and persist for thousands or tens of thousands of years into the future? Can we carve out our own destiny beyond this critical juncture? Given that survival in this era increasingly depends on individual rather than collective decision-making, I urge everyone to reconsider the history of their current living spaces and awaken the survival skills deeply rooted in those places.