Japan: Boats set out on journey to replicate migration 30,000 years ago

Two boats made of bulrush set out on a journey Sunday to replicate part of a hypothetical migration by a group of ancient settlers from what is now Taiwan about 30,000 years ago.

A research team from Tokyo's National Museum of Nature and Science left Yonaguni Island for Iriomote Island, both in Okinawa Prefecture, aboard the 6-meter-long vessels made of a local plant called "himegama," which is similar to narrow leaf cattail.

Fourteen people, including marine adventurers, were planning to row more than 30 hours to cover the 75-kilometer journey between the two Japanese islands near Taiwan, according to the team.
 [Kyodo News]