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Acknowledged as an Important Intangible Cultural Property, Gifu Cormorant Fishing stands as a cornerstone of Japan’s cultural tapestry. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
1/15Acknowledged as an Important Intangible Cultural Property, Gifu Cormorant Fishing stands as a cornerstone of Japan’s cultural tapestry. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
The shimmering torchlight adds enchantment to the ancient ritual, casting ethereal reflections on the Nagara’s waters. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
2/15The shimmering torchlight adds enchantment to the ancient ritual, casting ethereal reflections on the Nagara’s waters. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Each avian companion wears a delicate collar, ensuring the retrieval of fish without ingesting larger prey. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
3/15Each avian companion wears a delicate collar, ensuring the retrieval of fish without ingesting larger prey. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Gifu Cormorant Fishing, a tradition spanning 1,300 years, graces the Nagara River, embodying Japan’s ancient heritage. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
4/15Gifu Cormorant Fishing, a tradition spanning 1,300 years, graces the Nagara River, embodying Japan’s ancient heritage. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Skilled “usho” fishermen guide cormorant birds, adeptly capturing sweetfish, or “ayu,” in a harmonious dance of nature. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
5/15Skilled “usho” fishermen guide cormorant birds, adeptly capturing sweetfish, or “ayu,” in a harmonious dance of nature. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Echoes of this practice resonate across continents, tracing its roots to ancient customs found in Asia and Europe. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
6/15Echoes of this practice resonate across continents, tracing its roots to ancient customs found in Asia and Europe. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Trained Japanese cormorants, honed from youth, execute precise dives, deftly securing fish without consumption. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
7/15Trained Japanese cormorants, honed from youth, execute precise dives, deftly securing fish without consumption. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Beyond cultural significance, this tradition fuels local economies, drawing tourism and nurturing peripheral industries like hospitality. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
8/15Beyond cultural significance, this tradition fuels local economies, drawing tourism and nurturing peripheral industries like hospitality. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Under the cloak of night, torch-bearing fishermen orchestrate a captivating spectacle, casting their light upon the river’s surface. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
9/15Under the cloak of night, torch-bearing fishermen orchestrate a captivating spectacle, casting their light upon the river’s surface. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Stringent regulations safeguard the wellbeing of cormorants and the ecological balance of the fish population. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
10/15Stringent regulations safeguard the wellbeing of cormorants and the ecological balance of the fish population. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Beyond a mere fishing method, Gifu Cormorant Fishing is a cultural performance, captivating visitors worldwide. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
11/15Beyond a mere fishing method, Gifu Cormorant Fishing is a cultural performance, captivating visitors worldwide. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Annually celebrated through the Nagara River Ukai Cormorant Fishing Festival, marked by majestic boat parades and vibrant fireworks. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
12/15Annually celebrated through the Nagara River Ukai Cormorant Fishing Festival, marked by majestic boat parades and vibrant fireworks. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Heirs to tradition, cormorant fishermen inherit ancestral knowledge, preserving familial legacies through generations. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
13/15Heirs to tradition, cormorant fishermen inherit ancestral knowledge, preserving familial legacies through generations. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
Founded on mutual trust, the bond between fishermen and cormorants flourishes through years of shared experience and mutual understanding. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
14/15Founded on mutual trust, the bond between fishermen and cormorants flourishes through years of shared experience and mutual understanding. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
As an eco-conscious method, Gifu Cormorant Fishing avoids ecological harm, offering a sustainable alternative to modern techniques. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
15/15As an eco-conscious method, Gifu Cormorant Fishing avoids ecological harm, offering a sustainable alternative to modern techniques. Picture: Nicholas Eagar
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Original URL: https://www.themercury.com.au/news/photos/gallery-japans-ancient-art-of-cormorant-fishing/image-gallery/1f0817e172e436a5e4121b1bde1fb4ed