This Weekend Event “Hama no Ittoku” — Learn Toyama Fishing and Sea Stories Over Fishermen’s Meals

At the share kitchen, Minato Kitchen, located in the Shinminato district of Imizu City, Toyama Prefecture, an interactive talk show called “Hama no Ittoku” will be held on Saturday, May 31, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy freshly caught fish prepared as fishermen’s meals while learning about Toyama’s fishing methods and fish.

The event is hosted by Mr. Ittoku Hamada, who was born in Uozu City, Toyama, and has experience working as a fisheries cooperative staff member and as a part-time worker in set-net fishing, together with Sora to Hako Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Imizu City, Toyama), a company aiming to solve social issues in Toyama through private-sector initiatives.

The participation fee, including the fishermen’s meal, is 3,000 yen (cash only), and prior application through the inquiry form is required.

The program schedule starts with a talk about fishing methods, followed by participants enjoying freshly caught sashimi together, and then moves into an interactive session sharing behind-the-scenes sea stories.

The contents of these sea stories are confidential and decided on the day of the event. It is said that participants will quietly learn quite deep and valuable stories through dialogue.

(Editorial comments: When talking about the charm of Toyama, the sea and fish are essential. However, surprisingly few people have the chance to learn about them in depth. Opportunities to hear directly from those involved in the fishing industry are especially rare. Why not join us casually over lunch? Takahashi, editor

The Hokuriku region is blessed with rich fishing grounds, and Toyama Bay in particular is known for its dynamic topography, with a difference in elevation of over 4,000 meters from mountaintops to the ocean floor. It is a prime fishing area where over 500 species of fish can be caught. Aren’t you curious to know how these fish make their way to our tables? This is a rare opportunity to learn clearly about a world that even many Toyama residents don’t know much about! Akashi, producer

Toyama has recently been branded as a sushi destination, but to be honest, it should be known simply as the place for fish. The variety of fish here is that rich. Still, fish consumption has been declining year by year. This event is highly recommended as a chance to rediscover the culture of eating fish in Toyama. I learned a lot when I joined before, so I hope you’ll take part too! Takei, development producer)

Story and translation: Masayoshi Sakamoto