Fish in their various forms and aspects occupy a special place in the culture of Japan.
My first acquaintance with fish - and something of a surprise - was seeing big colorful carp in a small brook at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. Later I learnt that those carp or ‘koi’ in Japanese are regarded as sacred fish. Koi are an artificially bred variety of carp which unlike the usual gray carp have bright or gold colors. Koi swim against the current and are often seen as a symbol of perseverance and strength. The symbol of koi can also refer to struggles, willpower, overcoming difficulties and achieving goals. It is also perceived in Japan as a male symbol. May 5 in Japan is a ‘boys holiday’ called Kodomo-no-hi and about a month before the holiday you can see cloth carp streamers known as koinobori hung all over the country. The streamers are hung with the intention of boys growing to be strong and successful.
My second deep impression of fish in Japan was visiting aquariums in Osaka, Miyajima and Sendai, which are filled with great collections of the ocean’s inhabitants. Not everyone can dive deep and watch fish and other sea life in their natural surroundings, and in the case of big sea animals it can be dangerous. I was fascinated (and still I am) to watch huge stingrays, piranha, lionfish and hundreds of other kinds of fish!
My next surprise was visiting an amazing exhibition called the ‘Art Aquarium-2019’ in Tokyo. All of the aquariums and installations with gold fish were just fantastic! I learnt that during the Edo period, watching gold fish or kingyo was an important part of the common people's culture. Along with soft music and colorful lighting, the ‘dance’ of thousands of kingyo was a really mesmerizing vision…
Both koi and kingyo are often pictured in Japanese traditional paintings. Japan is comprised of many islands and is surrounded by various seas and the Pacific Ocean. For centuries, fish were important as a food source and ultimately as a source of survival.
Ebisu is one of the most respected and beloved of the Shichi-fuku-jin, or seven lucky Gods. Being a protector of fishermen, he holds a large fish and is said to bring luck for a good catch.
In Japan there are thousands of restaurants serving sushi, sashimi and all kinds of fish dishes. There are also numerous fish markets all over the country, including the famous Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo!
