Island Story: A true story of a never-ending summer

Ayumu Takahashi
One Peace Books (2010)
ISBN 9781935548027
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (07/10)


“Island Story” is traveler and author Ayumu Takahashi’s book about a journey to make a dream come true. At 256 pages, it is filled with as many photographs and photo-collages as it is words, making it a quick and inspiring read.

Returning to Japan from a two-year honeymoon traveling adventure, Ayumu and his wife want to keep that sense of adventure while finding a place to settle. They are drawn to the warmth and beauty of the island of Okinawa where a seed of a plan grows in Ayumu’s head.

“We saw a lot of islands in our world journey. On a quiet island, surrounded by beautiful beaches and mountains, together with friends that share the same vision, we could be self- sufficient. We could run an inn, a shop, have creative activities, and live in nature, surrounded by music and art. We only needed enough money to get by. Getting by does not take much if every day is filled with words and phrases like ‘Delicious!’ ‘Fun!’ and ‘Feels Great!’”

And just like that, the Island Project begins. Sure, we have all daydreamed about such a life, but Ayumu makes it happen. He gathers friends and strangers, gets loans, shares his vision, has his ups and downs, and after several years of hard work and hard play, his dream is realized.

I was drawn to this book because I wanted a good summer read. If you can’t get to the beach yourself, a book with luscious pictures of the beach is the next best thing. I was surprised to find an inspiring story written and illustrated in simple beauty. This book has the qualities of a Japanese sumi-e brush painting. It is as much about the white space as it is about the images and text.

As I read “Island Story” I thought this book would be great for any Board of Directors to read. Ayumu provides lessons to be learned on setting goals, persistence, and a well-planned exit strategy. I recommend this book to anyone who needs to be reminded that you can shape your dreams into reality.

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