This ancient tree reminded me that nature can hide dangers we do not immediately see.
It also reminded me that the forest is alive—and always changing.
Nearby, a young Okinawa urajiro oak was spreading its large leaves wide.
While the thousand-year-old tree slowly changes its form, a new generation is growing beneath it, reaching for the light. The forest is always changing—old life gives way, and new life grows.
ゆっくり歩くから、気づけることがある。
同じ森を繰り返し歩くから、発見できる変化がある。
危険を知り、無理をせず、それでも森を楽しむ。
それも、やんばるを歩く面白さの一つです。
When we slow down, we notice more.
When we return to the same forest again and again, we discover how it changes.
The forest has its dangers, but it is alive, changing, and full of discoveries.
I get into bed, but I end up watching videos online or checking social media.
Just as I’m about to drift off, my mind wakes up again.
Before I know it, another hour has gone by.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has nights like this.
So I came up with a slightly unusual way to help myself fall asleep.
Before going to bed, I put an image on my computer screen: a little wooden boat floating on a calm sea.
I play the gentle sound of waves and close my eyes.
And in my imagination, I climb aboard.
I even built a wooden “port side” along the left side of my bed.
When I rest my left hand on the wooden rail, somehow, I begin to relax.
Setting Sail from Nago
I close my eyes, and my little boat quietly leaves a harbor near Nago.
All I can hear is the gentle hum of the engine.
We pass offshore from the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and slowly head north.
About 32 nautical miles.
Around 60 kilometers.
Eventually, I arrive at the waters between Cape Hedo, Yoron Island, and Iheya Island.
By day, these waters are a beautiful emerald blue, and humpback whales sometimes pass through with their calves.
For more than 2,000 years, people, goods, and cultures have also traveled across these seas.
At night, there is very little artificial light here.
The darkness becomes deep and quiet.
I turn off the engine.
Now there is only one sound:
the gentle lapping of waves against the side of the boat.
I lie down on the deck.
And look up.
From the sea off Cape Hedo to Universe
From the Sea off Cape Hedo to the Universe
A soft, fresh breeze that has crossed Yanbaru passes over me.
Above me is the atmosphere.
Beyond that, the solar system.
Then the Milky Way.
Countless galaxies.
And farther still, the vastness of the universe…
What could lie beyond everything we can see?
Perhaps there are other universes beyond our own.
As I think about this enormous universe, my worries and thoughts begin to feel incredibly small.
Like tiny specks of dust floating somewhere in space.
And strangely, that thought comforts me.
My body begins to relax.
My eyes grow heavy.
I’m almost asleep.
My Little “Port Side”
There is something I especially like about the wooden “port side” I built beside my bed.
The top rail is a simple piece of wood, but I carved a very shallow groove where my fingertips naturally rest.
It keeps my fingers from slipping and lets me feel the warmth of the wood beneath my hand.
It gives me a small but comforting sense of security.
The wooden rail ends around my waist.
I rounded off the corners, but there is one particular spot that gently supports my body.
It feels surprisingly comfortable.
Almost as if my body itself were saying,
“It’s okay. You can go to sleep now.”
A wooden boat side I built onto my bed
But Then…
Reality, unfortunately, isn’t quite so cooperative.
“Ah… I think I’m finally going to sleep.”
And then—
Roll over.
Wide awake again.
Back to the beginning.
Sometimes I fall asleep, feel a cool breeze, and wake up again.
So once more, my little boat leaves Nago and heads north.
I have no idea how many times I’ve made the round trip to the waters off Cape Hedo.
Lately, I’ve even started worrying about the cost of fuel.
Fortunately, the boat exists only in my imagination.
How Many Trips Did You Make Last Night?
Surely I’m not the only person who has nights like this.
And perhaps knowing that other people are awake too makes a sleepless night feel a little less lonely.
So, if you can’t sleep tonight, why not take a little voyage to the waters off Cape Hedo?
No, you don’t actually have to go to sea.
Just lie down in bed and close your eyes.
And if you need a little wooden boat, just call me in your imagination.
I’ll have one ready for you.
.
If you feel like it, please join my little survey.
And if you feel like it, please take a moment to answer the short survey below.
＜Survey Results: How Many Round Trips to Cape Hedo?＞
Update 2026 Sep 13
Ratio %
すぐ眠ることができた。
Fell asleep immediately.
2
最初だけで、そのまま眠れた。
Only at the start, slept soundly well.
20
途中で１回目が覚めたけれど、また眠れた。
Woke up one time but managed to fall back asleep.
40
途中で２回以上目が覚めた 何度も往復した気がする。
Woke up more than twice, Felt like tossing and turning repeatedly.
36
ほとんど眠れなかった 漂流し続けた。
Barely slept at all; I just kept drifting.
0
.
Last night, when you couldn’t sleep, how many round trips did you make to the waters off Cape Hedo?
I’ll update the results from time to time.
So if you have another sleepless night, come back and take a look.
You may discover that somewhere out there, someone else was sailing through the same night.
Good night.
And tonight, may your first little voyage be your last.
.
🌿 YAAYA —————————-
Yanbaru is full of hidden wonders that can only be discovered by slowing down, walking, and truly experiencing nature.
At YAAYA, our small-group Yanbaru Guided Tours safely introduce you to the region’s natural history, unique wildlife, and stories passed down through generations.
Slow down. Leave nature untouched. Experience the air of Yanbaru.
YAAYA – Small-Group Yanbaru Guided Tours
