Jibiki ami

The literal translation is something like "pulling the net by yourself", but that really doesn't help much does it?

Every year around this time a unique event is held on the beaches of Enoshima and certain departments at my school get involved. Last year we were invited to this event as well. One of the main sponsors is the construction/architectural firm responsible for the buildings on my campus. Let me try to explain in a few sentences:

Starting around 6 or 7am a group of "for-hire" net-fisherman motor away from the beach in a large boat for a couple hundred yards and drop a massive net overboard. The net strings are anchored to the beach via a rusty, make-shift, gas-powered pulley. Once the fisherman have returned they begin to very slowly wind the net in, inches at a time, pausing every now and again to snare more fish. Around 8am another group arrives and proceeds to set up large tarps and a beach-front kitchen/BBQ. By 9:30 food is being cooked, folks start arriving and beer is being consumed. Parents eat (and drink), kids run around and frolic in the waves and this pattern continues until about 1pm: the main event.

The mechanical winch is shut down and everyone is called down to the water's edge to help haul in the day's catch. Basically a game of tug-a-war with the net, fish & ocean. When the "belly" of the net is finally dragged onto the beach everyone gathers around to see what the ocean has provided. Last year the highlight was a small shark (eventually released). This year, in addition to hundreds of small & medium-sized sardines and mackerel, were 2 squids, a long salt water eel and 2 poisonous blowfish. Not released.

Guests of course are allowed to take home whatever they wish but we didn't bother. No time to clean them and honestly, I don't want to carry a smelly bag full of cold, dead fish home on the train with me.

Anyway, last year it was too hot (in my opinion) and this year it was too cold. Threatening rain all day but lucky for us nothing until we started to pack up and make our way to the train station.

It was great fun, Miki and Sam loved it. Looking forward to next year.