First fishing celebration - Hatsuryoiwai

Japanese: 初漁祝 - はつりょういわい

This is an event held at the first fishing expedition of the year, in which the fish caught in the first catch are offered to Ebisu, the god of fishing, Funadama, or the local deity. Generally, two fish are offered, but these fish are called Ohatsuo, Niai, or Hatsuo, and in some places they are not eaten by ordinary people, but only by the elderly and kashiki. In Oki, Shimane Prefecture, the celebration of the first catch is called Kuroyaki no Iwai, and when the first fish is returned from the first fishing expedition, the larger fish are grilled black and offered to Ebisu, and later eaten and drunk in celebration of the large catch.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

その年の初めての出漁のときに行われる行事で，初漁でとった魚を，漁の神であるえびすや，船霊（ふなだま）あるいは氏神などに供える。一般には2尾の魚を供えることが多いが，これらの魚をオハツオとかニアイ，ハツウオなどと呼んでおり，一般の人には食べさせず，老人やカシキに限るという所もある。また島根県隠岐では，初漁祝をクロヤキの祝いといい，初漁から帰ると，魚の大きいものを黒焼きにしてえびす様に供え，大漁を祝って後日飲食する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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