Fish, blood, history.

We went to Toguchi beach today. Depending on who you talk to it's called Toguchi/Hagushi beach. 65 years ago US forces started their assault on Okinawa at three different places on island, this beach was one of them. Approximately 182,000 men descended on the island in that first assault, that's 75,000 more than landed on Normandy on D-Day. They were met with very light resistance though because the Japanese were entrenched on the southern part of the island.

I didn't know any of that until we got home from the beach and I was looking up the proper spelling for Toguchi.



We had all kinds of fun, there were a ton of tide pools thanks to the low tide. We saw all kinds of creatures.




I would like to preface this story by saying we did look for water shoes, but didn't find any and figured we would just wear our sandals. I only have flip flops but T's were sturdy and thick and to be honest I really only care about him.
Josh convinced me to go farther out than I wanted. Which was totally cool because we could put our mask on and check out the brightest blue fish I've ever seen. There were crabs and starfish all over the place! So cool!
But then I slipped. And my shoe came off. And I lost a few good chunks out of my foot.

My first thought was to get out now! Sharks! They can smell blood! So that's what I did. The really fun part was pulling little pieces of beach out of my wounds. Really just a joyous experience. I've never seen so many bubbles from hydrogen peroxide before.

I think I'll survive, but I'm not going anywhere near anything with a reef without water shoes..and perhaps some gloves and maybe a life vest ever again. I was kind enough to not photograph my flapping foot skin.

I was in quite a foul mood until I got home and read the history behind that beach. It's all relative right? It just blows my mind that that beach was full of servicemen just a few decades ago. I also read that the Japanese surrendered on the land that is now Kadena Airforce Base. The same place that I've been buying my groceries and candles and diapers....just crazy.