Fukue Island, Japan
Miiraku Matsuri
12 August 1999
This was a free jibikiami, done as part of the Miiraku Matsuri. Jibikiami are also done throughout the year as an activity for tourists in several places on Fukue Island. The cost for adults is Y3500 (about US $35). |
This was the day of the Miiraku Matsuri (Festival), and one of
the events was a ji-biki-ami (ground + pull + net).
A fishing boat had brought its day's catch to the bay.
The lines of the fishing net were brought ashore and everybody helped
to pull the net and its still-live contents to within 15 feet of shore,
in about two feet of water. The gloves were helpful here to avoid rope burn.
It was like the old days before mechanization, when the strength of
a whole village was needed to haul in a net.
The kids (junior high school and younger) were allowed to try their
luck first, then it was the turn of the adults. On the signal of
the Master of Ceremonies, everybody rushed forward into the water.
I got in there too -- the sand immediately got so churned up that
I couldn't see anything, though I could feel fish swimming around
my ankles. They were fast!
Other people were coming away with sizeable octopi and fishes of all types.
The best strategy seemed to be to go to the net and trap the fish
between the net and one's body. They had to keep a firm grip,
or their catch would wriggle away! Now you see why the gloves
were important! Those who had quick reflexes and weren't so
squeamish got themselves a free and undoubtedly tasty supper.
visitors since 10 June 2000