Cormorant fishing - Ukai

Japanese: 鵜飼い - うかい

A fishing method using trained cormorants (Japanese cormorants or great cormorants) to catch sweetfish. It has been practiced in Japan since ancient times and has continued under the protection of the Imperial Court and the Shogunate. It is practiced in various places, such as the Chikugo River basin, but the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture is the most famous tourist destination. From May to October, bonfires are lit on the side of the boat to lure the sweetfish, and the cormorants are then forced to spit out the fish by manipulating the hemp rope around their necks, which is called a "kubiyui," to prevent them from swallowing the fish. A cormorant fisherman can handle up to 12 cormorants at a time, and the fishing is stylized to be suitable for viewing by nobles. There are various techniques, depending on whether or not there are cormorant boats, whether or not there are hand ropes, and whether fishing is done during the day or at night. A similar fishing method remains in various parts of mainland China, although it is a more practical form with the sole purpose of catching fish.
→ Related topics Inuyama [city] | Iwakuni [city] | Japanese cormorant | Katsura | Gifu [prefecture] | Gifu [city] | Suzume-so

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

訓練したウ（ウミウまたはカワウ）を使ってアユなどをとる漁法。日本では古代から行われ，朝廷や幕府の保護を受けて続いてきた。筑後川流域など各地で行われるが，岐阜県長良川が観光的に最も名高い。５〜10月，舟ばたにかがり火をたきアユを誘い寄せてウにとらせ，首につけた〈首結い〉とよぶ麻縄をあやつってアユをのみこませず，引き寄せて吐き出させる。一度に１人の鵜匠が扱うウは12羽までで，貴人の上覧に合わせて様式化されている。なお，鵜船の有無や手縄の有無，昼漁と夜漁の別などで多様な技法が立てられる。また漁獲だけが目的の，より実際的な形ではあるが中国大陸にも各地に同様の漁法が残る。
→関連項目犬山［市］｜岩国［市］｜ウミウ｜桂｜岐阜［県］｜岐阜［市］｜雀部荘

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