Ukai –fishing with the birds
July 11th, 2008 by TEIt may not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially in this day and age, but cormorant fishing – ‘ukai’ in Japanese – goes back a long, long way.
Apparently first mentioned in Japanese literature way back in the dark days of the 8th century AD, this type of fishing involves around ten to fifteen large black birds, controlled by way of a long leash type strap held by a master fisherman and his staff.
On a given command, the birds jump into the black water near a blazing Indie Jones type torch (set in place to attract fish to the surface*), dive, then re-emerge several seconds later with slightly bulging throats.
One pulled back aboard the small wooden craft, this ‘slight bulge’ is disgorged; the contents whole, undigested sweet-fish flopping onto the deck below or into a prepared container. The bird itself is prevented from actually swallowing the fish by way of a small ring at the base of its long neck in what is, in a sense, a far more eco-friendly form of fishing than the rod, weight, line and hook forms used (and left behind) in other parts of the world.
Repeated many times each night, and particularly during the summer months – roughly June to August or September, the ‘ukai’ form of fishing is a very popular form of entertainment for locals and tourists alike: the actual fishing often just a back-drop to scenes of revelry on boats rented out for the evening by tour groups and companies out for to relax and sink a few cold ones.
Single travelers, couples and those in small groups need fear not, however, as many in the Kyoto and Gifu areas of central Japan cater to visitors on a first book, first to get a seat basis: often for around 1500-3500 yen or more, depending on the type of boat and refreshments served.
Ask at your hotel for details, or, if a longer term visitor, speak to your local tourist information counter.
* NB – ‘Ukai’ fishing is best achieved on moonless nights and normally does not take place on rainy days or the days immediately after a downpour due to water conditions being affected.
