My catch of the day… little treasures from Japan

We’re settling into life here in Katsuura, Japan—exploring the coastline, eating locally, and stopping whenever something catches my eye. Which, as you can imagine, happens quite often.

Beside the bay is a little place of worship where, I’m told, local fishermen pray for an abundant catch from the sea. A lovely place to pause and think about how much this town’s everyday life depends on the water.

Meanwhile, I’ve been gathering my own catch of the day…

Little shells and fragments of blue-and-white pottery. Japan’s version of sea glass, perhaps?

There’s something about finding a broken piece with just a tiny part of its pattern remaining. Once part of somebody’s cup or bowl, now a little mystery on the beach.

I don’t know how old these pieces are or where they began, but that makes me even more curious.

Our other catch of the day required considerably less bending down: dinner at a local izakaya with the family. Fresh tuna sashimi and spicy yakitori were on the menu.

Judging by the sashimi, the fishermen’s prayers had certainly been answered!