Junko Kimura, 38, was among the many people who were moved by the Bhutanese King and his new wife as they traveled through Tokyo and Fukushima to encourage those affected by the March 2011 disasters.
It was November 2011, a time when Japan was struggling to lure back fearful tourists and the disaster victims were feeling despondent about the future. Amid this sense of stagnation — as well as government vows that rang hollow amid the squabbling legislature — the sincerity and charisma projected by the young couple made such an impression on Kimura that she packed her bags and flew off to see the tiny Himalayan nation.
Kimura, a photographer at Jana Press who focuses on domestic news, flew to Bhutan in late March to get a first-hand look at the Buddhist country known for its Gross National Happiness index, which is said to measure spiritual well-being. That index stands at 97 percent in Bhutan, meaning an overwhelming majority of the people are happy with their lives.