The ancient art of cormorant fishing is more than just a major tourist attraction in Japan.
It’s a 1,300-year-old way of life that shows how humans and nature work together to survive.
There’s a lot to see in this traditional fishing method, also known as “Ukai.”
It usually occurs at night, most prominently along the Nagara River in Gifu City.
The usho, known as royal master fishermen, catch sweetfish using long wooden boats and trained cormorants.
Flaming lamps on the boats serve two purposes: they light up the darkness and attract fish.
To shield themselves from ashes, water, and cold, the ushos don traditional long straw skirts.
Deepen your understanding of Japanese culture by exploring this unique method of fishing, where cormorants and humans team up.
Ukai, or cormorant fishing in Japan, is a mesmerizing 1,300-year-old tradition where fishermen and trained cormorants work in unison. Most prominent on the Nagara River, this ancient practice illuminates the harmony between humans and nature, offering a unique spectacle under the night sky.
Adam Payne – Japan Insider Secrets
Fascinating Facts About Cormorant Fishing
Cormorants are aquatic birds with exceptionally clear eyesight and a fondness for humans.
These qualities make them a perfect fit for their role as fishing partners.
Cormorants require up to three years of training before they become expert fish catchers.
Fishermen often take young cormorants on fishing trips so they can learn from the older, experienced birds.
The special aspect of the long-standing Ukai tradition is the friendship between Japanese fishermen and their cormorant partners.
Their close bond leads cormorants to live with fishermen even after retiring from fishing.
The Cormorant Fishing Process
Ukai, a nighttime summer activity, involves teams of one to three fishermen, each leading dozens of cormorants.
The men wear a navy blue uniform and traditional straw skirts or “koshimino” around their waists.
The fishermen’s wooden boats, known as ‘ubune,’ measure 13 to 15 meters long.
They use fire lanterns on their boats when darkness falls to attract fish.
Initially, the cormorants are kept in baskets. When released, each bird is on a loose leash.
The leashes ensure cormorants don’t swallow large fish but can eat smaller ones.
When a cormorant catches a large fish, the fisherman retrieves it.
Their most common catch is a sweetfish called “ayu,” a Japanese delicacy.
The Rich History of Cormorant Fishing in Japan
Japanese fishermen discovered cormorants’ amazing fish-catching skills over 1,300 years ago.
The birds can store fish in their throats.
The Imperial House of Japan has protected this tradition for generations, receiving a portion of each season’s first catch at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
Cormorant fishermen from the Nagara River, known as ‘Imperial Fishermen of the Royal Household,’ inherit this title from their fathers.
Currently, cormorant fishing happens in 13 spots across Japan, with Gifu City in Gifu Prefecture being the most well-known.
In Gifu Prefecture, six fishermen conduct ‘Goryo Ukai,’ or Imperial Cormorant Fishing, eight times yearly.
Foreign ambassadors and their families are often invited to these events to experience Japan’s traditional culture.
Notable Events in Cormorant Fishing
After visiting the Nagara River in Gifu City twice, Charlie Chaplin lauded cormorant fishing as ‘the finest art Japan has to offer.’
Matsuo Basho, a renowned haiku poet, visited Gifu City to observe this ancient tradition and penned a famous haiku: ‘Exciting to see / but soon after, comes sadness / the cormorant boats.’
Since 1890, the once flourishing profession and ancient tradition of Ukai have declined, overtaken by large-scale commercial fishing.
Experience the Cormorant Fishing Tradition
Don’t miss the chance to witness the lively nighttime fishing tradition of Ukai in Japan.
The fishing is done under the light of fire lanterns on pristine rivers.
You can meet the master fishermen as they demonstrate their one-of-a-kind fishing techniques and catch a glimpse of cormorants as they expertly retrieve fish in several locations in Japan:
- Nagara River in Gifu City (mid-May to mid-October)
- Uji River in Uji (mid-June to late September)
- Hozu River in Kyoto (early July to mid-September)
- Kiso River in Inuyama (early June to mid-October)
You can watch the fishing up close from covered boats at dusk.
The covered boats drift beside the traditional fishing boats.
Viewing from the riverbanks is also an option.
Ukai Viewing Boats
Viewing boats, known as ‘yakatabune,’ are available in five sizes, accommodating 15 to 50 passengers, with options for public and exclusive bookings.
On some cormorant fishing tours, guests can enjoy a delicious dinner onboard featuring freshly caught river fish.
At the start of each cormorant fishing session, women in kimonos perform traditional dances accompanied by Japanese drums and fireworks.
Sightseeing trips typically last just over an hour.
They depart at 6:45 pm on weekdays and 7:15 pm on weekends and public holidays.
Ukai viewing boats typically charge 3,200 yen for adults and 1,800 yen for children.
Be aware that tours can be cancelled in severe weather like typhoons or river flooding.
Final Thoughts on Cormorant Fishing
Cormorant fishing in Japan is a breathtaking sight, whether you’re on a boat or standing on the shore.
Prepare for an unforgettable night filled with bright lanterns, cormorants, delicious food, and an exciting boat ride.
The fishing ceremony may be short, but it leaves a lasting impact on anyone who sees it.
Don’t miss the chance to step back 1,300 years and witness the unique spectacle of cormorant fishing in Japan!
