Aug. 26 - I first learned about cormorant fishing from my fifth grade teacher in San Diego. Ever since then I have wanted to visit the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture to see the fishermen who catch river trout using sea cormorants. As you can imagine, I was absolutely delighted to accept the Imperial Household Agency's recent invitation for my wife Ann and me to observe these fishermen.

Before we embarked on our boat, we met a fishing master named Mr. Sugiyama on the sandy riverbank. He explained about his boat and his birds. He said that he keeps the cormorants in his home, and he chooses which birds he will bring each day by their vigor and disposition. He introduced us to one of his cormorants who has been working with him for 16 years!

He also demonstrated his unique clothing including the navy blue linen cloth wrapped around his head to prevent his hair from catching on fire from a spark, his navy cotton kimono, his straw skirt that repels the water's spray, and his straw sandals that are only half the size of normal straw sandals so that the wearer will not slip on the wet boat.

We set off downriver in a boat that floated alongside the cormorant fishing boat. The current was much stronger than I expected. I thought the birds did all the work, but the three fishermen on each boat were extremely busy navigating the fast currents, keeping the lines to the cormorants untangled, and pulling up cormorants who had caught a fish onto the boat to disgorge their catch. After our fishing expedition, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with many Japanese dishes. Of course, we especially enjoyed the fresh trout!

Ann and I had a wonderful time learning about this Japanese tradition that dates back 1,300 years. One of the things we enjoy most about living in Japan is learning about ancient customs. We are glad that Japan is making efforts to preserve its cultural heritage in Gifu.

Until next time,

Jim