You can listen to the interview by tapping the image. (Japanese only)
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OGAWA Nobuhide
Born in 1956 in the Konakayama area. His father was also a fisherman, and he started out on a merchant ship.He has been a fisherman for about 30 years. In a district known for clam fishing and seaweed farming, he is one of the few focused on catching fish. His favorite food is Niboshi(dried sardines).
I became a fisherman because I can work at my own pace. If I don't feel like it, I just don't go out to fish (laughs).
When I was a child, life was tough. We even ate wild plants from the fields. In the summer, I would spear fish and "borrow" watermelons (laughs), eating them by the sea. I didn't like going home back then because I’d be made to help dry seaweed. It was winter work, so my hands would get painfully cold.
I became a fisherman because I can work at my own pace. If I don't feel like it, I just don't go out to fish (laughs). It pays better than working on a merchant ship. But I can't encourage my son to follow in my footsteps. The natural environment is deteriorating, and the future feels uncertain. Still, I hope fishing can continue in some form.
I became a fisherman because I can work at my own pace. If I don't feel like it, I just don't go out to fish (laughs). It pays better than working on a merchant ship. But I can't encourage my son to follow in my footsteps. The natural environment is deteriorating, and the future feels uncertain. Still, I hope fishing can continue in some form.
