At Yawatahama Port in Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture, which has one of the largest catches in western Japan, a traditional event called ``Toka Ebisu'' was held to pray for a bountiful catch this year and safe navigation.
``Toka Ebisu'' is a traditional event held at Yawatahama Port in the early morning of January 10th according to the lunar calendar, and around 20 people, including those involved in the fishing industry, gathered at the fish market from around 7 a.m. on the 19th.
First, we prayed for a bountiful year's catch and safe voyages in front of a 30cm tall carved wooden Ebisu statue that was lined up with offerings on the altar.
After this, the chief priest of the local shrine boarded a trawler anchored at the quay of the fish market and threw the Ebisu statue into the sea.
Then, a man wearing a red loincloth jumped into the sea, picked up the Ebisu statue, and held it up to the assembled crowd, eliciting loud cheers.
When the man returned to the ship, he returned the Ebisu statue to the priest, shivering from the cold, and concluded the event.
Yuya Ito (24), a sailor on the trawler who picked up the Ebisu statue, said, ``It was colder than I've ever experienced, but I jumped in hoping for a good catch this year and a safe voyage.''