A fish memorial service to blessing the waters of Lake Ashi with gratitude/Hakone

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1212150010/

December 16, 2012

People within the fishing industry release rainbow trout into the waters of Lake Ashi.

On the 15th, the "gratitude for the water" fish memorial service was held on the side of the Lake Ashi in Motohakone, Hakone.

The event is conducted each year by the Ashinoko Fishery Cooperative Union (Japanese site). This year, union president Nozaki Shigenori began the ceremony, along with 9 others from the lake's fishing industry.

Near the lake, a Shinto ritual was performed at the Hirukawa Fish Breeding area, after which the participants proceeded to the lake's edge. At the fish breeding area, eggs were incubated until rainbow trout measuring 7-8 centimeters hatched. As the participants prayed for their full growth, a thousand immature trout were released into the lake, making the water appear like mist.


Original text:
水の恵みに感謝、芦ノ湖で「魚供養」／箱根
2012年12月16日

芦ノ湖にニジマスを放流する漁業関係者ら

水の恵みに感謝し、魚の魂を供養する「芦ノ湖魚供養　水恩感謝祭」が１５日、箱根町元箱根の芦ノ湖畔で執り行われた。

芦之湖漁業協同組合が、毎年行っている。今年は野崎茂則組合長をはじめ、芦ノ湖の漁業関係者ら約１０人が参加した。

湖近くの蛭川養魚場で神事を行い、一同は湖畔へ。養魚場でふ化した体長７～８センチのニジマス約千匹を霧がかかった芦ノ湖に放流し、その成長を祈っていた。