Ten Landscapes: Shunmyo Masuno
"Japan is a small country, but it stretches in a long line of islands over 3,500 kilometers, and so it is blessed with a climate and terrain of astonishing variety-from northern areas where snowfall averages more than ten meters in winter, to tropical regions noted for pineapples, mangoes, and other lush vegetation. It is divided by a backbone of mountain ranges, covered by a variety of vegetation, and has many lakes, swift-flowing streams, and fertile plains well suited for cultivation. In addition, as it is completely surrounded by oceans, it enjoys both arctic and tropical currents, and is rich in myriad types of fish.