Japanese Shinto priests held Kawabiraki, a religious ceremony to open fishing season on Katsuragawa River
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-01

Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto
Shinto priests during a river opening ceremony (Kawabiraki) near Togetsukyo Bridge, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-02

Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto
Shinto priests during a religious ceremony to open fishing season near Togetsukyo Bridge, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-03

Usho (Ukai fishing professionals) - in traditional costumes during a river opening ceremony (Kawabiraki)
Togetsukyo Bridge, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-04

Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Fishermen - Usho - during a Shinto ceremony to open fishing season on Katsuragawa River,
Arashiyama, Kyoto Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-06

Cormorant depiction on a paper lantern
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-07

Japanese man lighting paper lanterns on sightseeing boats
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-08

Japanese fisherman preparing sightseeing boats for Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-09

Japanese man lighting paper lanterns on sightseeing boats
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-10

Usho (Fishing professionals) in straw aprons lighting torch
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama near Togetsukyo Bridge, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-11

Fishermen - Usho - in straw aprons lighting torch to open fishing season
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama near Togetsukyo Bridge, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-12

Fisherman
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama near Togetsukyo Bridge
Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-13

Usho fishermen attaching a ring around cormorant neck to get ready for Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-14

Usho fishermen attaching harness around cormorant neck to get ready for Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-15

Usho fishermen preparing cormorants to get ready for Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-16

Usho fishermen attaching leash to cormorant before Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-17

Usho (Ukai fishing professionals) onboard a torch-lit boat (Ubune)
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-18

Usho fisherman with leashed cormorants onboard a torch-lit boat
shows off his skills of Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-19

Usho fisherman with leashed cormorants onboard a torch-lit boat
shows off his skills of Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-20

Fisherman returns his cormorant back to basket after night fishing
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-21

Usho fishermen unleash their cormorants after night fishing
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing in Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-22

Mariko Sawaki, one of only three fisherwomen in Japan
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-23

Usho fishermen tying cormorants to a rope before going for Ukai - Cormorant Fishing
Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-24

Mariko Sawaki, one of only three fisherwomen in Japan, posing with her cormorant
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-25

Fisherwoman feeds her cormorant with sweetfish (ayu)
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-26

Cormorant eating sweetfish (ayu)
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-27

Cormorant on leash posing
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-28

Japanese girl with her cormorant waiting for dark
to start traditional Cormorant Fishing (Ukai), Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-29

Japanese girl with her cormorant waiting for dark
to start traditional Cormorant Fishing (Ukai), Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-30

Cormorant drying its wings
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-32

Cormorant drying its wings
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-35

Silhouette of cormorant against boat torch
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-36

Silhouette of cormorant against boat torch
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-37

Silhouette of cormorant against boat torch
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-38

Silhouette of cormorant against boat torch
Ukai - Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-39

Visitors on sightseeing boat watching Ukai
Cormorant Fishing in Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-40

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman recovering sweetfish from cormorant’s neck during Ukai
traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-41

Usho - Japanese fisherman on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-42

Usho - Japanese fisherman on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-43

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-44

Usho - Japanese fisherman on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-45

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-46

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-46b

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman forcing her cormorant to disgorge fish
Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-48

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman forcing her cormorant to disgorge fish
Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-48b

Usho - Japanese fisherwoman on torch-lit boat with cormorants on leash
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-49

Cormorant in bamboo basket shortly before Ukai
traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-50

Japanese fishermen loading fishing boat with cormorants in bamboo baskets
shortly before Ukai, traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-51

Japanese fisherman resting on his boat before Ukai, traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-52

Stormy cloud lit by setting sun, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-53

Japanese fisherman prepares his cormorants for Ukai
traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-54

Japanese fishermen attach harness around cormorant’s neck for Ukai
traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-55

Japanese fishermen attach harness around cormorant’s neck for Ukai
traditional Cormorant Fishing, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-56

Usho - Japanese fisherman in traditional costume on torch-lit boat with leashed cormorants
during traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-57

Usho - Japanese fisherman on torch-lit boat with cormorants on leash
shows his skills of traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-58

Usho - Japanese fisherman on torch-lit boat (Ubune) with cormorants on leash
shows his skills of traditional Cormorant Fishing - Ukai, Uji, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-59

Cormorant image on fisherman’s kimono, Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-60

Kintai-kyo Bridge in Iwakuni reflected in Nishikiga-kawa river, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-61

Japanese fishermen loading fishing boat with cormorants in bamboo baskets
shortly before Ukai, traditional Cormorant Fishing, Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-62

Japanese fishermen loading fishing boat with wood for Ukai, traditional Cormorant Fishing
Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-63

Usho (Japanese fisherman) opens fire for Ukai, traditional Cormorant Fishing
Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-64

Usho (Japanese fisherman) opens fire for Ukai, traditional Cormorant Fishing
Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-65

Usho - Japanese fisherman, Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-66

Usho (Japanese fisherman) on torch-lit boat with cormorants on leash
shows his skills of traditional Cormorant Fishing
Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-67

Usho (Japanese fisherman) on torch-lit boat with cormorants on leash
shows his skills of traditional Cormorant Fishing
Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-68

Usho (Japanese fisherman) on torch-lit boat performing cormorant fishing under Kintai-kyo Bridge in Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-69

Usho (Japanese fisherman) on torch-lit boat performing cormorant fishing under Kintai-kyo Bridge in Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-70

Usho (Japanese fisherman) on torch-lit boat performing cormorant fishing under Kintai-kyo Bridge in Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-72

Usho (Japanese fishermen) returning their cormorants in bamboo baskets
after Ukai - cormorant fishing Iwakuni, Japan
Image Ref. No: ukai-p-73