'Ukai - the finest art Japan has to offer' - Charlie Chaplin -

Photographs of Ukai - Traditional Cormorant Fishing in Japan Ukai, or cormorant fishing, is a traditional method of river fishing that has been practiced in Japan for some 1300 years. This method involves fishermen using cormorant birds on leashes to catch sweetfish (such as the Ayu). Ukai is not as widespread as it once was, because it is no longer an economically viable form of fishing. Nowadays, there are only a few people authorized to perform ukai, and it is protected under the Imperial Household Agency. Positions are usually inherited and passed on within each family. The photographs bellow were taken during my several trips to Japan in Uji, Iwakuni and Arashiyama. I was lucky enough to cover the whole event including: 1) Kawabiraki - River opening ceremony 2) Preparation of the birds 3) Preparation of the fishermen 4) and fishing itself. Unsorted list of all photographs of Ukai are here and here.

Photography by Frantisek Staud

1) Kawabiraki - River opening ceremony

2) Getting ready - preparing cormorants for fishing

Ukai usually uses sea cormorants from the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture. The life span of a wild cormorant is approximately 4 to 5 years, but the cormorants used in Ukai are well fed and cared for and are treated like family by the fishing masters. Their life span is 15 to 20 years.

3) Getting ready - preparing fishermen

The Usho fishermen still wear the same traditional clothing as that which was worn by their ancestors - a dark cotton kimono, Kazaore-eboshi (headdresses to fend off sparks) and Koshimino (straw apron that repels water).

4) Lights, Camera, Action! Ukai starts!

Ukai fishing is done from small flat bottomed boats called Ubune. The boats are designed to be able to navigate through the shallow waters of the rivers where the fish are easier to catch. Ukai fishing requires a team, usually comprised of 3 members. The leader of the team is known as 'Usho'. The Usho guides and handles the cormorant birds as they catch the fish. He is accompanied in the boat by two other men, the "nakanori" (middle rider) and the "tomonori" (companion rider) who pick up the fish that are caught, paddle the boat and guide the rudder-oar.

As they begin their fishing run, the fishermen attract the fish by lighting bright burning fires in the metal baskets suspended from the front of their boat. The cormorant birds are then sent out into the water to catch the fish. Each bird is on a leash, and it requires particular skill by the Usho to prevent the leashes from becoming entangled as the birds dive repeatedly for their catch. The leash is connected to a small metal ring that is attached around the cormorant's neck. Every time a cormorant manages to catch a fish, the Usho pulls them back into the boat and forces them to disgorge the fish.

5) When everything is said and done