Cormorant Fishing: Inuyama City, Gifu Prefecture
- 弓長金参
- Apr 15
- 2 min read
Gifu prefecture is a region where cormorant fishing is thriving.
In cormorant fishing, a cormorant fisherman controls about 10 cormorants at once to catch fish.
The fishing season runs from around May to October each year. In typical cormorant fishing, bonfires are lit at night and the cormorants catch the fish that are startled by the light.
This cormorant fishing method has a history of over 1300 years.
A census record from 702, preserved in the Shosoin also lists a person who appears to be a cormorant fisherman in Gifu province.
The Kiso river is home to the only place where cormorant fishing takes place during the daytime, known as "Daytime cormorant fishing." You can board a houseboat submerged almost to the water's surface on the Kiso river, which flows beneath the national treasure lnuyama castle and witness the cormorant fisherman's skills up close ―― It's a truly impressive experience.
By the way, what is the origin of this unique cormorant fishing method?
There are two theories regarding its origin: one that it was introduced to ancient Japan from China and another that it developed independently in Japan.
In eastern mainland China, particularly in provinces like Shandong and Zhejiang, there has been a from of cormorant fishing for over a thousand years that is remarkably similar to that in Japan. It is called "鸕鶿捕魚" in Chinese.
In typical Japanese cormorant fishing, the cormorants are always held by ropes to prevent them from escaping, whereas in China, cormorant fishing is a "Free-range Cormorants Fishing" method where the cormorants are released without ropes, and once they catch a fish they return on their own to the raft.
Furthermore, the cormorant fishing season is the exact opposite of Japna's, with winter being the peak season and cormorant fishing being most active from late autumn to early spring.
Ideally, in winter, when the cold slows down fish activity is the best time for fishing. Howerer, the fishing seasons in two countries are reversed because it coincides with the opening of the ayu fishing season in Japan.
This cormorant fishing method is unique and has not taken root in neighboring countries other than Japan and China.
