Elementary school students in Shimoda City, Shizuoka Prefecture, learned about traditional eel fishing from local elderly people.
This class was held for two days until the 31st at Shimoda Municipal Inazusa Elementary School to let children know about the local ecosystem and culture.
On the first day, the 30th, eight fourth-year students gathered at the Inozawa River, which flows near the school, and a group of elderly people working on regional revitalization was invited as lecturers.
The children first learned about a device called “mojiri,” which is made of woven bamboo and used to catch eels.
Next, we put earthworms to feed on the "mojiri", then went into the river, and placed a total of 12 stones on the bottom of the river.
After 8:00 in the morning of the 31st, when the children pulled up the "mojiri", a total of 9 eels were hanging on them, and the children gave a big shout of joy.
At elementary schools, five small ones are released into the river, and four are grilled and eaten at school lunches.
Shuzo Ishikawa, a homeroom teacher at the elementary school, said, "It was great that the children could actually see eels and experience traditional fishing."