photo by Kentaro
Cormorant fishing season in Japan starts together with the opening of sweetfish fishing season each year. A sight of a fishing master managing cormorants on a fishing boat and a large fire hanged above his head is one of the most charming summary image of Japan. If you take a good look at the fishing master, you will notice he is in old-fashioned outfits like a grass skirt and a traditional fabric hat. This is not really a surprise as cormorant fishing is a historical fishing method which has been around for more than 1000 years in Japan. This column will introduce a few places out of approximately 10 places where cormorant fishing is exhibited in present-day Japan.
What is cormorant fishing?
Cormorant fishing has been taken place in Japan since ancient times, and it appeared in “Records of Ancient Matters” and “The Chronicles of Japan” that were composed in 8th century. Commonly, a fishing master handles 5-10 cormorants on a boat to catch river fish while boat riders row the boat with a large bonfire to shine the river water. Each cormorant has a rope tied around its neck so that fish beyond a certain size wouldn’t go down into its stomach. A fishing master picks up a cormorant once it catches a fish to make it give up a prey into a basket on the boat. In other way, a fishing master takes a small number of cormorants and walk into a river to catch fish.
Originally, cormorant fishing was developed as a means of earning a living, however, it is now exhibited for the purpose of tourism in a limited regions. Only exception is “Goryo Ukai (Imperial cormorant fishing)” which is conducted in Gifu prefecture to catch sweetfish to be dedicated to the Imperial Palace, the Meiji Shrine or the Ise Shrine. Also, cormorant fishing is now conducted just to catch sweetfih, therefore it can be seen only in summer time that is roughly May to October, when sweetfish fishing is open.
No prior knowledge is necessary to watch cormorant fishing, but you can enjoy it greater if you know the roles of people or things below.
Usho (Fishing master)
He stands on the prow of the boat handling about 10 ropes tied to cormorants. While shuffling ropes to keep them untangled, he also control cormorants by pulling a rope, or picks up a cormorant that has caught a fish.This role requires a great deal of expertise and technique to handle cormorants.
Boat rowers
They read the wind and the flow of a river to bring a boat to the best spot for a fishing master to fish.
Cormorants
Cormorants used in cormorant fishing are caught by the seashore, rather than being raised in a farm, to be trained to fish as they are easily tamed. Cormorant catch fish by swallowing them down and tightening them to instant death. Fish caught by cormorants keep freshness longer than other fishing methods.
Fire on a fishing boat
A fire is hanged at the end of a boat to shine a light on the water to disturb sweetfish so that cormorants can easily catch their prey.
Three major cormorant fishing regions
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing (Gifu city, Gifu prefecture)
Cormorant fishing on the Nagara River has a 1300 years history, hosting Imperial Cormorant Fishing 8 times every year. Visitors can observe the proficient skills of well-trained fishing masters from a cruise boat. Cormorant fishing cruising tours are held every night between 11th May and 15th October each year, except for one night. Private boats must be booked on the phone while shared boats can be booked online. Cruise boats launch every 30 minutes after 18:15 on normal days but only 20:30 boats are available for general tourists when Imperial Cormorant Fishing is held.
Nagara River Cormorant Fishing
Hiji River Cormorant Fishing (Ozu city, Ehime prefecture)
The origin of cormorant fishing in Ozu city hasn’t been clearly identified, however, it was recognized as a common activity here at latest in the Edo period. After the Meiji period, cormorant fishing as fishery had gone into a decline but it was revived as a local tourism and has been popular among tourists visiting the area. Tour guests can enjoy watching cormorant fishing after river cruising dinner. They also offer daytime cruise plan as well.
Ozu Cormorant Fishing (Japanese only)
Mikuma River Cormorant Fishing (Hita city, Oita prefecture)
Cormorant fishing on the Mikuma River, which runs through Hita city, was first started as an entertainment about 400 years ago when the warlord back then brought fishing masters to his feud. Local hotels and inns organize cruise boat plan from late May to late October every year for their guests to enjoy watching a fishing master catch sweetfish while having dinner on the cruise boat. Booking can be made through each accommodation as all cruise plans are separately arranged by each hotel or inn.
※Booking required for all plans introduced in this section.
Cormorant fishing in Kyoto
Cormorant fishing has also been taken place in Kyoto since long ago, and it frequently appeared in Waka poems in the Heian period. Traditional cormorant fishing can be seen at the Uji-gawa River of Uji city and the Oi-gawa River of Arashiyama from 1st July to late September every year. Booking is required to ride on a private cruising boat while no reservation is required for a shared boat.
Uji-River Cormorant Fishing (Uji city)
Exhibition period: 1 July 2017 ‐ 30 September 2017
Boat schedule: Depart 19:00 (1 July – 31 August, desk opens 18:00), Depart 18:30 (1 -30 September, desk opens 17:30)
Prices (Shared boat): Adult 2,000yen, Primary school 1,000yen
Inquiry: Uji City Tourist Association TEL 0774-23-3334
Oi-River Cormorant Fishing (Arashiyama)
Exhibition period: 1 July 2017 ‐ 23 September 2017
Boat schedule: Depart 19:00 & 20:00 (1 July – 31 August except for 16 August), Depart 18:30 & 19:30 (1 -23 September)
Prices (Shared boat): Adult 1,800yen, Child (4-12 years) 900yen
Inquiry: Yakata-bune of Arashiyama (Japanese only) TEL 075-861-0302
※Exhibition may be cancelled if there is severe weather conditions including heavy rain, rise of a river and strong wind.
※Significant congestion is expected during Obon holiday and weekends.
Great art of a master and his birds
Catching fish by using wild birds, this a little strange method has been around for more than 1000 years in Japan. All fishing masters have been trained for long by their mentors as shuffling ropes to handle cormorants requires the highest level of skills. Especially, fishing masters of the Nagra River in Gifu prefecture have been trained by their fathers since their childhood under hereditary system. No wonder they have the most sophisticated handling skills. Cormorant fishing is also held in China. If you have seen Chinese one, why don’t you compare two cormorant fishing to find differences?
