Japan's northernmost coral reefs exist around Amami-oshima. They are home to various creatures and have a close relation with human life. People hunt for shellfish and sea urchins at low tide. They also fish and catch octopuses there. But apart from utility, the diversity of the creatures observed there is quite intriguing.

Picture 1: Janome Sea Cucumber   Generally speaking, sea cucumbers are eerie. But isn't this one very stylish? They say it's edible. (I have never tried eating one, yet.)

Picture 2: Hermit Crabs   Are they sunbathing? No. Hermit crabs living underwater can't walk without the help of buoyancy.

Picture 3: Octopus   A local caught a big octopus. Their hideouts are said to be camouflaged with small stones, which all the better reveals where they are hiding. 

Picture 4: Turban Shellfish   A tuban shellfish, called Katannya in Amami dialect, is very popular. However, today no one but a pro can find many of them because their population is sharply declining.

Picture 5: A Crab with Red Eyes   An unidentified crab with red eyes watched my movements on full alert. It was quite cute.

Picture 6: Sea Turtles   I wasn't able to positively identify if this one was a Green Turtle. Early summer  is the egg-laying season for sea turtles, so you may encounter them near the coral reefs.