Kikuno has devoted herself to the life of a geisha since the age of 15. She lives in Nara Prefecture's entertainment district, once home to more than 200 geisha performers. The district has steadily declined, and a decade ago Kikuno became Nara's last remaining geisha. Now 45, she is working to keep 150 years of tradition alive by adapting to the times. She has turned her geisha house into a company and began paying the entertainers a salary. In the summer of 2018, she faced her next challenge: preparing a young geisha and an apprentice for a major performance.

High in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture on Japan's Shikoku Island are small communities known as "sora." The residents enjoy a way of life that values both self-sufficiency and mutual cooperation. Hisayabu is one such place. Located about 600 meters above sea level, it's known as "a village of hydrangeas" for its 6,000 flowering bushes. The 20 or so residents share a close bond nurtured by working together on tasks such as harvesting, securing fresh water, and preparing for their annual hydrangea festival. Hisayabu's natural beauty and lively spirit inspires younger people living elsewhere to come back and help keep the community going.