Arima Town, Kumano City, Mie Prefecture

Photographed in February 2004

We proceed along the gentle coast road, a road of faith that was walked by travelers from Ise to Kumano. The rough waves of the Kuroshio Current lash the beach at Shichiri-Mihama, then pull away again. Mountains are dimly visible through the haze of misty rain. February 2nd is the Grand Spring Festival, when the traditional rope-hanging ceremony is held. Ropes are braided, flowers are attached to them. The sight of these, hanging high in the air, makes us sense the world of the Kojiki legends.
The Shrine deities are Izanami-no-Mikoto and Kagutsuchi-no-Mikoto.
The Shrine altar is decorated with cotton banners and seasonal flowers. The inner precincts, hazy with drizzle, are fresh and invigorating. At length, the cheerful sounds of the festival die away, and we make a solitary visit to the beach. Hear the sound of the waves beating on the shore, the Kuroshio current from the Genkai Sea. Look back to see the Hana-no-Iwaya Shrine. In this season, there’s no sign of human presence on the shore; a strange atmosphere, indeed. Brighter skies appear faintly in the distance. Only the sound of the waves can be heard. The pounding of rough seas, white waves that advance slowly from afar, then disappear there on the beach.