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Cormorant fishing
I don’t know how the cormorants feel, but I think they probably enjoy catching fish. Rather, humans are more attentive so that the cormorants can catch fish comfortably. Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method that uses trained cormorants to catch river fish such as sweetfish (ayu). Cormorant fishing is called “Ukai” in Japanese. Cormorant fishing has a long history, with clay figures depicting cormorant fishing excavated from ancient tombs in Gunma Prefecture dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries. Cormorant fishing is mentioned in Japan’s oldest history books, “Kojiki” and “Nihon Shoki”, and in the Chinese history book “Suishu (Book of Sui)” (7th century), cormorant fishing in Japan […]
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Momotaro shrine
A pilgrimage to the holy land of the folktale”Momotaro”! Momotaro Shrine in Aichi prefecture introduces the legend of “Momotaro” with a unique view of the world even though it is a shrine! The legend of “Momotaro” is most famous in Okayama prefecture, but the legend of “Momotaro” also remains in the middle basin of the Kiso River, which straddles Aichi and Gifu prefectures. According to the legend of “Momotaro“, which has been handed down around the Kiso River, “Momotaro Shrine” in Inuyama City, Aichi prefecture, is where the grandfather and grandmother in the story lived. It is said that when They died, Momotaro hid himself in a nearby mountain and […]
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The children’s story of “Momotaro”
The children’s story of “Momotaro” is known to every Japanese…, but I found the original story of “Momotaro”! In Japan, from north of Aomori Prefecture to south of Kagoshima Prefecture, many legends use children’s story “Momotaro” as a model. “Momotaro” is a story in which Momotaro, born from a peach, slay demons in Onigashima (island of demons) with a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. However, in particular, Okayama Prefecture, Kagawa Prefecture, and Aichi Prefecture are famous for three great traditional places of “Momotaro”. The story of “Momotaro” passed down across Japan seems to be closely related to the unification war of Japan by Yamato administration (the name of the Imperial […]