“The technique of sail trawling in Lake Kasumigaura “【公式】「霞ケ浦の帆引網漁の技術」記録映像【概要編（英語）7分】English version
[Music] Located in the southeastern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, Lake Kasumiga is the second largest lake in Japan by area. The sail trollling practiced here known as Hobiken is famous for its beautiful boats. The graceful sights of these boats has captivated people for generations. In fact, the charm of the sail sane boats is not just in their beauty. The true value lies in their unique mechanism and operating techniques which allow them to catch ice fish and smelt in a single hall. The Hobiken are truly worldclass innovative fishing boats. The technique of sail trollling in Lake Kasumiga along with the operation of the Hobiken was developed by Dio Onimoto from Kasumiga city in the early Maji era. At the time, large-scale nets called daunu nets, hand operated sane nets managed by net masters, were the primary method for catching ice fish. Yay, with his experience as a fisherman, envisioned a method that would allow a single person to catch as many fish as the large nets. After 3 years of hard work, he developed the ice fish sail trollling technique. [Music] Initially small affordable boats called sappa boats were used for these sail trollling vessels and the large diokunets were reused and miniaturized making it possible to catch many fish with little investment. This method quickly spread to fishermen around Kasumigoda. The introduction of the hobiksen significantly contributed to the development of the fishing industry along the shores of Lake Kasumiga. [Music] It also led to a shift from large-scale organized fishing to individual familyrun fishing operations drastically changing the fishing industry in Kasamiga. [Music] Around 1902, sail trollling was introduced to Lake Hachiroata in Akita Prefecture by Kanekchi Sakamoto, a resident of Kasumigawa. [Music] There the boats were called Uta Sebunet and they continued to operate until just before the lake reclamation began. The most distinctive feature of sail trollling is its ability to utilize the power of the wind to tow large nets underwater at a consistent speed. The key to this technique lies in a rope called tsurinawa which connects the sailard to the net. Let’s compare the Hobiksen with the traditional Honori boat. Once used in Lake Kasumiga and said to be the prototype of the Hobiken. Honi boats did not have the tsurinawa which caused the sail to tilt downwind. In contrast, the Hobiken has a tsuninawa that allows the sail to remain upright, enabling the boat to tow the net underwater without tilting, even when the sails are enlarged for more horsepower. This Tsudinawa is greatest invention and can be considered the key to the Hobikense mechanism. [Music] No other fishing boat in the world has a similar mechanism. A monument honoring Yoh Oimoto’s achievement reads, “Inventor of the sailing rope.” The essence of sail trollling lies in breeding the wind and when the wind changes immediately adjusting the ropes to maintain the balance of the boat and continue fishing. This operational technique unique to the sail sane boat requires multiple ropes each serving a specific role. Since the birth of the hobiken, the technique has been refined by many people and passed down from seasoned fishermen to newcomers. This technique is still alive and well in today’s Hobiken for tourists. Currently tourist hobiken operate in three cities, Kasamiga city and Nameata city. The preservation societies in each city are dedicated to passing down the techniques. How’s it go? [Music] Kasimiga sail trwling born and nurtured alongside the natural beauty of Lake Kasamiga is a cultural treasure. Let us pass down this precious folk technique as an important cultural heritage for future generations.
You can learn the technique and mechanism of sail-seine fishing in Lake Kasumigaura from this video. “Hobikisen(sailing boats) ” are truly world-class creative fishing boats. So, let’s enjoy watching !!
Movie Title
Nationally selected intangible folk cultural property that requires measures such as record-keeping.
“The technique of sail trawling in Lake Kasumigaura “(2025.3)
Cooperation
Tsuchiura “Hobikisen(sailing boats)” Preservation Association/Kasumigaura “Hobikisen(sailing boats)” and Sailing Net Fishing Preservation Association/Namegata City “Hobikisen(sailing boats)” Preservation Association
Project “The technique of sail-seine fishing in Lake Kasumigaura.” Film Production Committee
Produced by Ibaraki Video Pack Ltd./© 2024 Ibaraki Video Pack Ltd.
Scenario/Cinematography/Direction by Naoya Iwasaki
“The technique of sail-seine fishing in Lake Kasumigaura “ inheritance and utilization project
#Kasumigaura #Lake_Kasumigaura #Hobikisen
普及編（日本語）https://youtu.be/b_nMCS7mMPM
概要編（日本語）https://youtu.be/o5mB5gVKt4U