Day in the Life of a Japanese Fisherman

Day in the Life of a Japanese Fisherman

This is Kyoske 36 years old living in Japan’s coastal town of Mi and he’s just waking up for work [Music] It’s so early in the morning that his wife and three kids are still asleep So Kyoske was born and raised in Osaka And at the age of 21 he moved to pursue his lifelong dream to become a rioshi fisherman with no prior connection to the fishing industry Though he found his opportunity through an organization which helps people like him get started by organizing a 4-day long fishing trial After the full experience he realized that he had found his calling and secured a full-time job and his future Your family must always be sleeping at this time huh what time does your wife usually wake up she works as a nutritionist as well as a chef so her day also starts quite early as she has to get herself and the kids ready for school As part of his everyday morning routine he checks the weather forecast and the wave conditions to ensure he and his team will be safe in the waters Also he inspects his team’s monitoring system to get a sense of how many fish are waiting in the ocean How’s the weather today great Do you go fishing on rainy days too how about snow i’m sure it is He also mentions that he checks their monitoring system even on the weekends just in case there’s an issue that arises requiring his urgent attention as his job is always at the mercy of mother nature and nothing in the ocean is ever completely predictable [Music] Kyoske drives to work every day which is about a 20 to 30 minute commute On his way he stopped by several local shrines a daily ritual to pray for a large catch and most importantly a safe journey out to sea Apparently fishermen in Japan have the third highest fatality rate at 6.8% just behind forestry and then mining For Kyoske this quiet time also helps him reset and focus his mind so that he makes safe decisions on the water And paying respects to multiple shrines ensures that all of the local gods will be watching over him and his team throughout the day Good morning everyone I’m back with another day in the life and this one is probably the earliest I’ve ever had to wake up but I’m super excited for this one because we are going into the ocean I can’t wait All we had to do is wait for Kyoske to arrive Good morning Did you sleep well it [Music] wow Another shrine on the beach He’s not messing around So Kyoske is a commercial fishing boat captain at Haida Oshiki a fishing company founded in 1907 leading a passionate and hardworking crew of 14 local fishermen Together they operate in seamless coordination bringing freshly caught fish directly to the local people of Aas City What are you going to do now [Music] so how’s it looking [Music] nice During the meeting the team go over important matters and review the prices of fish sold the day before Seeing the results of their hard work really boosts their morale and helps reinforce teamwork keeping everyone motivated towards a shared goal [Music] Finally the crew have boarded the ship But before they depart for sea they need to get ice from the nearby port Apparently half of the crew members came from outside of Mia Prefecture and aging people and ongoing depopulation have become major challenges for fishing villages like Haida City and for rural communities across Japan However Kyoske has been actively recruiting even relying heavily on social media to attract the younger generation all throughout Japan Successfully recruiting enough fishermen to keep their fishing business afloat Ultimately he hopes to inspire more young people to become fishermen and to also help support other areas facing the same challenges [Music] Nice I think the crew has arrived at the nets So how does it work hey do you ever accidentally catch rare fish fishing company focuses on Okata Teichi Amiio also known as setnet fishing In Japan coastal fishing like this is more common than deep sea fishing because it allows a fisherman to return home on the same day In Kyoske’s situation the setnet is located just about 10 minutes from the shore and his crew typically spends around 3 hours out at sea It’s a more sustainable and community-based approach to fishing one that aligns naturally with Japan’s way of life So it looks like Kyoske is over there doing his thing So while he’s doing that let’s see what we can catch This is pretty crazy Let’s go walk around This right here is all the ice that they brought in the trip They’ve got some cool knives down here Right here it looks like they even have a fire pit Hi Have you always been a fisherman respect So was it tougher than you thought i’m glad you followed your dream Thanks Hi How long have you been working here nice Why did you decide to become a fisherman so why did you become one then ah I see What did you do before this oh crazy Thanks It takes two boats working in utison to haul in the net One small boat with two fishermen and the rest of the crew aboard the larger vessel Each fisherman has a specific role and the entire process relies on their seamless teamwork Oh it looks like the net is ready to pull up now The crew works swiftly and with precision to bring up all of the fish onto the boat one net at a time the payoff for all of their effort to set out the nets In fact Japan is known to be one of the world’s leading maritime nations With a combined area of Japan’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone it’s about 12 times the size of its land mass The first net is full of mackerel and once on the ship the crew quickly and carefully worked to sort them So they’re catching the fish right now I just got like one of those fish just like flew in my face Once a cat starts to get loaded on the boat designated fishermen begin to perform EKG on the larger fish a traditional Japanese method to humanely and ethically kill the fish quickly and with precision to minimize its stress which is also known to help best preserve the fish’s flavor and texture It’s a technique that Japanese fishermen have passed down from generation to generation to maintain the freshness of their fish while also raising the value of their catch Good catch today huh how much did you get oh wow So does the amount you catch affect your salary that makes sense What’s a fisherman’s bonus like good for you So what’ you say is the best part about your job got it Although Kyoske is now a seasoned captain with his crew confident in his skills it wasn’t always like this When he first made his way into the fishing world it was just him and a crew of older stubborn fishermen who didn’t take kindly to outsiders The work was grueling the atmosphere unforgiving and the words directed towards him weren’t always kind He says he came close to quitting more than once But he endured and pushed through And now years later those tough beginnings help fuel his purpose As the captain he’s made it his mission to create a better environment for the next generation hoping not just to pass on the trade but to help grow the industry So Japan was once the world’s top fishing nation accounting for around 17% of the global catch But since the 1980s that number has been in steady decline now down to just 3% Despite being surrounded by ocean Japan’s fishing industry is shrinking impacted by warmer oceans stricter international fishing regulations and a rapidly aging dwindling workforce Now that the fishermen have loaded their entire catch onto the ship they make their way to another fishing port where there’s a live fish market Okay so it looks like we’re moving on to the next spot They’ve actually started to clean up a little bit and looks like they even started a fire over there Oh what’s happening now for sure On special days like today when the crew brings in a massive hall and the weather permits they briefly enjoy the fruits of their labor right on the ship With about an hour before reaching port they take a short breather sharing a small snack together and enjoying a moment of camaraderie How’s the food it looks unbelievable So who’s the youngest around here oh no So how old are you oh and why did you want to become a fisherman that’s cool So what’s been the most challenging so far he says that the technique required to set up their massive fishnetss have been tough How do you like it so far thanks Hi Can I bother you so how long have you been doing this impressive And what did you do before this nice What brought you here i see Thank you Hi Have you been fishing for a long time so did you have to study to drive the ship hey just as long as we get there safely And for those of you wondering yes there is one of these Okay so we finally docked and now they’re going to unload all of the fish This is the AAS fish market where fishermen like Kyoske and his crew sell to wholesalers It’s the first stage of Japan’s fish distribution In Japan when fishermen bring in their catch they usually pay a landing fee to the local fisheries association These associations manage the ports and run the auctions And the fee is a percentage of the total sales typically between 2% to 10% The auction happens right after the landing so the fisherman must work quickly to get the fish onto the dock a process where little time is wasted It seems like Kyoske’s crew caught a boatload of mackerel yellow tail as well as other fish In fact Japan’s top three most caught seafood are Japanese sardines mackerel and scallops staples you’ll find on dinner tables across the country This isn’t just a random day’s catch but it represents the very foundation of Japanese seafood culture [Music] While Ky let’s go see the auction The city aka auction starts with a buzzing frenzy Wooden plates are briskly raised to place bids by Nakagai middlemen wholesale their winnings characterized by their fast-paced nononsense demeanor They waste no time to haul away their prize so they can move it on to their customers Hi Did you buy a lot today where are you going to sell them restaurant Dope How many days worth of fish you buy wow This much crazy So what’s the best fish you got today great I’ll have to visit your shop someday Now that the auction is finished it looks like they’re going to start cleaning the boat What’s next eating again Awesome Hagatsu striped bonito Apparently today the fishermen were blessed with what they call tyo A big catch It means the auction sales for the day surpass 1 million yen or roughly over $7,000 In such an occasion and even times when it’s slightly below this crew gets to treat themselves Free lunch bento fresh fish to take home and even sashimi served right on the boat So one of the quiet joys of a fisherman’s life is mishi Literally fisherman’s meal It’s as simple as it is special Freshly caught fish sliced right on the deck and shared among the crew It’s a reward reserved for those who brave the sea together earned through hard work trust and the bond forged out on the water On the way back to hide a port they stop at their net pen to release smaller yellow tail into it After spawning the fish lose weight making them less valuable or sometimes unsellable at the market So instead they’re kept here to regain their size and quality So when are you going to sell them [Music] wow Crazy [Music] All right so we just made it back We’re unloading the boat and I am so happy because I actually didn’t get motion sickness this entire time I took some medicine I had these bracelets Yeah all good No motion sickness With the crews work on the water complete all that’s left is to unload their gear dock the boat and store away nets that have been drying in the sun And although the day is nearly done it’s important to note that everyone made it back safely and without injury including me You all don’t even know how much I was sweating this one Now the crew gathered to discuss the day’s work and upcoming events Apparently they’re rebuilding the shed next month so the crew must do some extra prep before the construction can begin [Music] After a long day out at sea Kyoske joins a few of the crew for a meal at a local restaurant It’s not something they do often but after a big catch like today they’ve decided to pause unwind and celebrate everything that they’ve accomplished together over the past few months For Japanese fishermen every day on the water is a gamble Always at the mercy of nature So when the tides turn in their favor it doesn’t hurt to savor the moment So you guys must love what you do Any complaints though oh like what that’s good So is there a hierarchy in the company in Japan the fishing industry has long been defined by a strict hierarchy where seniority often matters more than skill Newcomers are expected to do the grunt work and keep their heads down But as mentioned earlier Kyoske is working to shift that culture by fostering a more open and easygoing atmosphere among his crew creating a space where the younger generation feels welcome and heard So it looks like Yoske is going to be hanging out here with his friends for just a little bit longer and then after that he’ll probably go home relax and then I think his kids will be there so he’ll hang out with them for the rest of the day until which time he goes to sleep at 10:00 tonight then starts the whole thing all over again But that’s pretty like always help me out and hit that like button If you guys want to help to see more videos like this or anything really Japan hit that subscribe button and the bell button I’ll catch you guys in the next

A day in the life of a Fisherman in Japan working in the countryside. This his typical workday from early morning until he finishes his day showing what Life in Japan’s countryside is really like. Working in Japan as fisherman is hard but rewarding work. This fishing company focuses on ōgata teichi-ami-ryō (大型定置網漁) also known as Set Net Fishing. In Japan, coastal fishing like this is more common than deep sea fishing because it allows the fisherman to return home on the same day. It takes two boats working in unison to haul in the net—one small boat with two fisherman, and the rest of the crew aboard the larger vessel. Each fisherman has a specific role, and the entire process relies on their seamless teamwork. The team must always work vigilantly though, as fishermen in Japan have the 3rd highest fatality rate at 6.8% just behind forestry and then mining so it’s one of the more dangerous job in the country. Japan was once the world’s top fishing nation, accounting for around 17% of the global catch. But since the 1980s, that number has been in steady decline—now down to just 3%. Despite being surrounded by ocean, Japan’s fishing industry is shrinking, impacted by warmer oceans, stricter international fishing regulations, and a rapidly aging, dwindling workforce. As the captain, Kyosuke has made it his mission to create a better environment for the next generation—hoping to not just pass on the trade, but to help grow the industry.

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