Jodogahama Beach I couldn’t stop staring at the water I scooped up

I came to Jodogahama Beach on an August morning. I took in the white rocks and pines above them, then headed for the water’s edge. I rolled up the sleeves of my light cardigan and crouched down. Even the pebbles in the shallows were easy to see. The sea felt so much closer than it had from a distance.

I gently cupped my hands and scooped up some seawater. I wanted to make sure I could still see the water once I lifted my hands. When I leaned in close, I could even see the lines in my palms. “That’s amazing,” I blurted out.

Water slowly slipped through the spaces between my fingers. I didn’t want to let it go just yet, so I pressed my hands a little closer together. But my hands don’t exactly make a bowl. I knew that, but I still wanted to watch a little longer. I found myself staring down at my hands.

I let the water flow back into the sea, then slowly scooped up another handful. I wanted to make sure I hadn’t imagined that first surprise. Every time I looked, I was delighted to see the lines in my palms through the water. Before I knew it, I was smiling again.

When I looked up, the pointed rocks were lined up before me. I’d come to see the big rocks, but even the little pool in my hands was enough to amaze me. I took another slow look at the whole beach, from the pines on the rocks to the water at my feet.

I gently let the last of the water fall back into the sea, then stayed crouched for a little rest. If I tell someone about Jodogahama Beach, I want to start with the water I scooped up in both hands. Even when I look back at the photos once I’m home, I think I’ll remember that moment when the water was so clear I just had to say something.