[Yukio's Local Stories #04] Nagara River Ukai Cormorant Fishing – I can't swallow it, X!
Yukio Regional Stories #04
Nagaragawa Ukai – I can't swallow it, dammit!
Each Yukio holds a small story from a region of Japan. This episode's protagonist comes from Nagaragawa, Gifu Prefecture, a cormorant Yukio with an ayu (sweetfish) in its mouth, a resigned expression, and "Ugh..." written on its chest.
Nagaragawa Ukai (Cormorant Fishing)
"Ukai" is a traditional fishing method using cormorants (u). It has a history of over 1,300 years in Nagaragawa, Gifu Prefecture, making it one of Japan's oldest surviving fishing traditions. Nagaragawa is one of the few first-class rivers in Japan that still maintains clear water quality. Every summer night, bonfires illuminate the river, and the ujo (cormorant fishermen) work alongside their cormorants, creating an unforgettable beautiful scene.
The ujo of Nagaragawa also hold a special status – they are Imperial Household Agency's official ujo, directly under the jurisdiction of the Japanese Imperial Family. This position is passed down through generations, holding a very high status. There are only a few officially recognized Imperial Household Agency's ujo in all of Japan, making them living intangible cultural assets.
Cultural Background Knowledge
The principle of cormorant fishing is as follows: fishermen (ujo) tie a grass rope around the cormorant's neck. At night, they light bonfires on small boats, and the light attracts fish to the water's surface. When the cormorant sees a fish, it dives into the water and bites it, but because of the rope around its neck, it gets stuck – ugh… it can't swallow it. As a result, it is forced to spit the fish back out for the fisherman.
This method is primarily used to catch ayu (sweetfish) – a precious freshwater fish that only thrives in clear rivers and has a faint watermelon scent. It is a specialty of Gifu. Precisely because of Nagaragawa's exceptionally clear water, the quality of its ayu is particularly excellent, and the ayu caught through ukai is especially prized.
Cormorants are not just randomly caught and used – each working cormorant is hand-trained by the ujo from a young age, building a deep bond of trust. An experienced ujo can control ten to twelve cormorants simultaneously, using the tension of the ropes to direct their movements and actions. This requires decades of skill.
Nagaragawa Ukai Today
Even today, Nagaragawa Ukai still genuinely uses cormorants for fishing, but it is no longer primarily for commercial fishing. Instead, its core purpose is to preserve traditional cultural performances. Every year from May to October, you can truly witness this ancient fishing method recreated – with bonfires, ujo, and cormorants diving into the water to catch ayu.
Tourists can ride on yakatabune (houseboats) to observe the entire ukai process up close on Nagaragawa. Enjoying a meal on the boat while watching the bonfire fishing grounds is a unique nighttime experience in Gifu. It's worth booking in advance for your next trip to Gifu.
The ukai culture has also been designated as an important intangible folk cultural asset of Japan and is currently applying for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage status, attesting to the historical value of this thousand-year-old fishing method.
"Ugh... when will it be my turn to eat?"
-- Nagaragawa Ukai Yukio, grunting "Ugh..."
Nagaragawa Ukai Yukio, with its dark blue design reflecting the serene river surface of the night bonfire fishing grounds, has "Ugh..." embroidered on its chest and "のみこみません" (I can't swallow it!!!) written on its back – every detail is a microcosm of this thousand-year-old, much-abused fishing partner.
Yukio Regional Stories #04｜Nagaragawa Ukai Edition
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