No story today. I am beginning to go through my photos to select those to be included in my Japan photobook. I took this shot near the beginning of my time in Japan, and it remained one of my favourites all year. I just thought I’d share it with you.
This is right next to the famous Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni. With this photo, you get no sense of the press of people or of what a tourist destination it is. The river is spectacularly clear, and filled with fish. There are locals fishing all day long every day. Many with a fishing pole, many with boats like these in the photo, and a few also employ an ancient fishing method using cormorants. Yes, the birds. Cormorants have a loop around their necks and are tethered to boats. When they catch a fish, they return to the boat, where fishermen tighten the loop and the bird gives up the fish. Every so often, the birds get to keep a fish, to maintain their cooperation.
Conscious Engagement 
glad you shared this … the picture is lovely and your description of the river, too
Beautiful.
😮 Wow! Such peace, until I imagine the ruckus of cormorant fishing. I’m glad that my photo reminded me of your favourite.
I am so sad that I never did see the cormorant fishing. They did it at night, using baskets filled with fire, mounted on the boats. It must have been a ruckus as you say. I can’t even visualize it.