How a Whale-Watching Experience Transformed My Perspective on Nature
After traveling to Okinawa Island, I found myself becoming more conscious of environmental issues. One of the highlights of this trip was a whale-watching tour near Zamami Island, a secluded island neighboring Okinawa’s main island. It was a rare and precious opportunity, one that I had never imagined experiencing firsthand.
The day of the tour, the sky was overcast, shrouded in thick clouds, and the waves were high. The sea looked rough and unpredictable. Before departure, I couldn’t help but worry about whether we would be able to endure the turbulent ocean without feeling seasick. The uncertainty made me uneasy, and I mentally prepared myself for the worst. But in the end, luck was on our side—not only did we get to witness whales from a distance, but we also had an unforgettable moment when a whale suddenly emerged right next to our cruise. The sight was breathtaking, and the unexpected close encounter left even the crew members in awe.
Growing up in a landlocked area, I had little exposure to ocean-related matters. Marine creatures, tides, and the vastness of the sea were all foreign concepts to me. Because of my lack of knowledge, I never felt drawn to marine life or the idea of observing nature beyond what was familiar to me. I was indifferent, perhaps even ignorant, about the beauty and significance of the ocean. However, my perspective started to shift after I became a mother. My son’s fascination with nature, especially marine life, gradually influenced me in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Reading picture books with him introduced me to a world I had never paid attention to before. I learned about different fish species, the behaviors of whales, and the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. What started as a simple effort to engage with my child’s interests soon turned into my own curiosity. It was this newfound awareness that ultimately led me to arrange the whale-watching tour. I wanted to bridge the gap between what we read in books and what these magnificent creatures looked like in reality.
When you learn about whales from books or documentaries, you get an idea of their size and characteristics, but truly grasping their scale is another story. Numbers and illustrations fail to convey the sheer enormity of these creatures. Seeing a whale rise from the water, hearing its powerful exhale as it spouts mist into the air, and watching its massive tail disappear beneath the waves was a profound experience. It made me realize how small we are in comparison and how interconnected everything in nature truly is. This was one of the biggest reasons I applied for the tour—to witness, firsthand, the grandeur of these marine giants and help my son do the same.
The experience did not disappoint. Even when whales surfaced at a distance, their presence was undeniable. The sounds they made, the spray of water from their blowholes, and the way their tails cut through the sea before they vanished below the surface—all of it was mesmerizing. It was a powerful reminder that these creatures are not just mythical figures in children’s books or distant subjects of research; they are real, living beings sharing the planet with us.
One of my daily habits is browsing newsletters in English. In the past, I used to skim over articles about environmental topics, never feeling a strong connection to them. But after this experience, I found myself clicking on an article titled “Oceans Are Warming Faster and Faster as the Earth Traps More Energy.” For the first time, I felt a deep sense of urgency to understand what is happening to our planet. I wanted to know how human activities are impacting marine life, what consequences our actions are bringing, and what steps we can take to reduce pollution and carbon emissions.
I know that as individuals, our influence may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But I have come to believe that awareness is the first step toward change. Even a small shift in perspective can ripple outward and inspire those around us. We should never underestimate our ability to make a difference—no matter how small it may seem.