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Japan island hermit Masafumi – update

Daily Mail (UK) among other popular media reports on Masafumi Nagasaki, now 87 year old. Masafumi lived as a hermit on the Japanese island of Sotobanari for nearly 29 years and when discovered by popular media was dubbed the “naked hermit” because he had lost his clothes during a typhoon. A number of films and documentaries on Masafumi exist over the years. The Japanese government eventually obliged Masafumi to vacate the island , placing him in public housing in the city of Ishigaki. His return to Sotobanari was a farewell visit.

URL: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10962259/Japans-naked-hermit-spent-29-years-tropical-island-returns-final-farewell.html

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Visiting a Japanese Hermit

Tokyo Lens presents “24Hours with a Japanese Hermit in a Hidden Village” posted to YouTube (see below). Norm Nakamura (“Tokyo Lens”) climbs a lush green mountain to visit with the hermit. We learn the hermit’s story, about a little-known phantom village — and bears.

URL: https://youtu.be/z4Bze9T27kw

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“Hermit,” Children’s play

In May 2022, the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival presented the play “Hermit,” a nonverbal mime performance. The Festival has posted a one-minute trailer and this description:

“There is a square. Is it a house? There is sound. What happens inside? A lid opens. Is there something inside? What is inside? Who is inside?

Hermit is an original, visual, funny and moving performance about being alone and coming home.

With a background in music theatre and modern mime, Simone de Jong creates work based around music, movement and imagination, with performances which appeal to the multiple senses of its young audience, in a secretive way.”

URL: https://youtu.be/8KFjIMjIKX4

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“How to be Alone” by Pádraig Ó Tuama

On Being features the poem/film “How to Be Alone” by the Irish-born poet Pádraig Ó Tuama. A small short piece reflecting on the topic of self and world.

“How to Be Alone” by Pádraig Ó Tuama, A Poetry Film by Leo G Franchi.
More information on the Youtube page, including links to On Being.

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Hermettes: NYC network of women hermits

Risa Mickenberg, founder of the Hermettes

ABC/RN (Australi anBroadcasting Corporation/Radio News) offers a profile of women hermits in New York City and beyond in its article: “A secret society of ‘Hermettes’ is reclaiming and celebrating female aloneness.” From the opening paragraphs:

“Risa Mickenberg lives in a stylish New York City apartment, but she prefers to call the dwelling something else: Her “cave”.

Despite being in close proximity to around eight million other people, Ms Mickenberg shuns many social connections and relationships. Instead, she enjoys time in her cave or experiencing the world outside alone.

And she’s not the only one living like this. Ms Mickenberg is the founder of “Hermettes”, a secret society of like-minded women who are reclaiming and celebrating female aloneness.”

URL: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-11/hermettes-secret-society-risa-mickenberg/101212682