Vol. 39: FROM THE EDITOR

There used to be a secret spot in the waters off Iriomote Island in Okinawa Prefecture that I visited every summer. It was only accessible by charter boat, and the waters there were probably around 15 meters deep. Even from the surface you could clearly see the brightly colored coral and seaweed on the seafloor, and even the small fish that lived there. The water was so clear that as I snorkeled there, stretching out my arms and legs, it felt like I was floating in midair.

I stopped visiting after the summer of 2016. Some might remember that was the year a massive coral bleaching event occurred in Sekisei Lagoon. I was stunned when I visited that summer. The coral was bleached and the fish had gone. The clear water just made it all the more eerie. It felt sad, like a wonderful spell had suddenly broken.

The Ministry of the Environment has been surveying rates of coral bleaching at Sekisei Lagoon since 2016. According to the 2023 report, the coral does appear to be starting to recover, but it is still early days. While compiling this month’s special feature, I couldn’t help wonder what the coral off Iriomote Island looks like now.