Fishing

Fishing and sea hunting play an exceptionally important role in the economy of Japan. More than 3000 types of fish, seashells and sea animals live in Japanese coastal waters, while there are only 1322 in the Mediterranean Sea. Over 400 types of fish is used for food or has different commodity importance.

Peasants or single fishermen are engaged in river fishing which is more of a sportive a spectacle character, like, for example, ukai – night fishing in the light of torches with the help of trained cormorants. In the past special pavilions for fishing were built in the aristocrats’ residences. Depiction of beautiful women fishing is one of popular themes of the Japanese traditional art.

Fishermen of coastal villages are engaged in coastal fishing throughout the year and use more than a hundred fishing techniques. The most popular fishing gear is nets, hoop nets, baskets, etc. The main types of food fish are salmon, herring, tuna, sea perch, mackerel as well as sharks, skates, etc. Among freshwater types of fish are carps, trout, cat-fish and numerous local species. Deep-sea fishing and whale hunting is mostly practiced by large companies.

Japan has always been one of the main getters of seafood. In the country various mollusks (octopus, cuttlefish, squids, mussels, etc.) and crawfish (crabs, prawns, lobsters) are obtained. At present Japan occupies the second place in the world (after China) in the obtaining of seafood: its share is 12% of the worlds catch (over 12 million tons a year). Japan is also one of the world’s leaders in the obtaining of edible seaweed.

Extraction of pearls is also a kind of sea trade: at present there are special sea plantations of pearl-oysters.

Fisherman.  Japan. The Japanese. Late 19th cent.		Octopus trap. Japan. The Japanese. 1920s.		Fish shop. Japan. The Japanese. Late 19th cent.
Fish shop at Enoshima market. One can buy fresh oysters, shells, tamaguri and othe sea products.Shells may be baked in hot salt on special roaster. Japan. Enoshima. The Japanese, Kupin K., 2002		Divers for pearls, "ama" since ancinet times have collected pearls, sea weeds, trepangs and shells. By now their hard work has survived usefullness. The 'ama' show their skills mainly for turists. Japan. Ise. The Japanese. Kupin K., 2002		Shell-picking on the shore of Sinagawa. Japan. The Japanese, mid-to-late 19th c.
Fishing village, Japan