A pebble with hopes for Japan's prosperity

When you see very large objects in the natural world such as trees and rocks, you are simply amazed, and you can feel the strength and long years that have been built up within these large bodies.

In Japan, there has been a belief in giant rocks since ancient times, and it is believed that small pebbles stick together and grow into large rocks. The photo above is considered to be just a pebble in the process of growing into a rock and it is called "Sazareishi".
Japan's national anthem uses lyrics from ancient songs that mean, "I hope for the nation's prosperity for a long time (more over 8,000 years) until the pebbles turn into big rocks and become covered with moss". Sazareishi is found all over Japan and are cherished as symbols of the nation's prosperity.