On his first visit to Urato Junior High School a year and a half ago, David Goldberg was awestruck. He was glad that he had followed his predecessor's advice to take a camera along. On the early morning 30-minute ferry ride from Shiogama City in Miyagi Prefecture to the island of Nonoshima, Goldberg found himself snapping pictures, one after another.
The beauty of the Matsushima islands -- comprising Nonoshima and more than 260 other tiny islands -- is renowned in Japan. Together they make up one of the so-called Nihon-sankei (Japan's three most scenic sights).
As Goldberg's boat approached Nonoshima, he could see his new school at the top of the island's only hill. For the next month, he was going to enjoy the expansive view from those school windows alongside Urato Junior High's staff and just 18 students, who come from the four small inhabited islands in the area.