This ancient art has been practiced along the Nagara River in Gifu for more than 1,300 years. It has a very long history in Japan and is mentioned in many ancient chronicles. The samurai warlord, Oda Nobunaga took the ukai fisherman under his patronage and created the official position and title of usho (Cormorant Fishing Master). The shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu enjoyed watching ukai when he visited Gifu City and also gave his patronage and protection to the art. He was so fond of the sweet fish that he had it delivered to Edo Castle in modern day Tokyo. The haiku poet, Matsuo Basho famously wrote a haiku about ukai when he visited Gifu to watch the cormorant fishing: “Exciting to see / but soon after, comes sadness / the cormorant boats”.  Today, the usho fishing masters are the official Imperial fisherman of the emperor of Japan, with the sweet fish sent to the Imperial family several times a year.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#1513
Title	Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu Prefecture Scene 2   岐阜長良川鵜飼 その二 Gifu Nagaragawa ukai sono ni
Series
Artist	Hiyoshi Mamoru (1885-?)
Signature	not signed
Seal	Mamoru 守
Date	August 1953 昭和二十八年八月 Showa 23rd year, 8th month
Edition	later edition; first editions are marked and are dated to 1951
Publisher	Kyoto Hangain 版元 京都版画院
Carver	彫 池田兼 hori Ikeda ken [Ikeda Kanekichi]
Printer	刷 伊藤虎 suri Itō Tora [Itō Toraji]
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	good - light overall toning; printers mark lower left margin; three tape remnants from previous mounting top margin; slightly trimmed right margin
Genre	shin hanga
Miscellaneous
Format	oban yoko-e
H x W Paper	11 3/8 x 16 in. (28.9 x 40.6 cm)
H x W Image	9 3/8 x 14 1/4 in. (23.8 x 36.2 cm)
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