Teach me, Mr./Mr. XX!

On being a dandy, a long-distance tuna fisherman

Teach me, Mr. XX 2021/06/02

In this corner, we will have a Kesennuma citizen appear as a teacher. This time, the teacher is a fisherman who always stops by"Tsurukame Restaurant" "Tsurukame no Yu"Emma, who works at Kesennuma Fishing, says, "I moved to Kesennuma because I was attracted to the way fishermen live." This time, she will be teaching us about the theme of "Why long-distance tuna fishermen are dandy."

So thank you, Emma!

On being a dandy, a long-distance tuna fisherman

My name is Emma, and I'm 29 years old and the biggest supporter of fishermen in Japan!
Kesennuma is my favorite place.
Morning fish market.
The departure pier where fishing boats are lined up.
Suddenly, you hear a ship's whistle coming from the sea.
Fishermen in rubber boots walking through the fishing port.

There are many moments in my daily life when I feel, "Ah, this is it! This is so Kesennuma-like," and there are always fishermen there.

A lot of ships come into Kesennuma port.
Tuna boats, bonito boats, pacific saury boats, swordfish harpoon boats...
Among the many ships,Welcome back, Mone”The ocean-going tuna boat on which the protagonist Monet's grandfather once served as a “legendary fisherman.”

The days when fishermen were "dandy and popular" are long gone, but now they are considered "uncool."

No, no, no, that's not the case!
Let me say it out loud!
The fishermen are cool!

Did you know that Kesennuma is a special port?

What makes it special is that it's the perfect port for ship docking (repairing) ships, with shipyards, ship electricians, machinery shops, ironworks, and more.

Ships are specialized in everything, from electricity to engines. Kesennuma has everything you need for such specialized ship repairs and ship docking! There are very few other ports like it.
So not only Kesennuma ships, but also ocean-going tuna boats registered outside the prefecture go to Kesennuma for repairs and then depart from the prefecture.

Ocean-going tuna boats are large ships that mainly catch tuna in oceans around the world. Off the coast of Fremantle, the southern Indian Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. They really are as the name suggests, "pursuing tuna to the oceans of the world."
Many ships go on a 10-month voyage and then take a little over a month off when they return.
Fishermen, who spend most of the year on the sea, are truly men among men! They're really cool!

Dandy Point 01: Naturally Macho

The guys who work on ocean-going tuna boats are really "naturally muscular." Those who go to the gym and work out are sure to be envious. You can get ripped arms, a broad chest, and strong grip without spending money on going to the gym. It's irresistible for muscle lovers!

And their thick fingers, thick palms, and rough skin. They have the sturdy hands of a true professional. If you meet a fisherman, be sure to shake his hand! Those rough hands are so cute!

To finish it off, tanned skin! And laugh lines at the corners of the eyes when laughing! Ahhhh! So cool!
Ah, are you following along? It's still the first one!

Dandy Point 02: The world they live in is worldwide and the stories are interesting.

Men who work on the world's oceans know the various ports of the world.
"The food in Las Palmas was delicious" or "I once had a crush on someone in Cape Town". They also speak Spanish, have brandy from all over the world at home, and live in a truly worldwide world. Perhaps it's because they often dock in overseas ports. They are attentive to detail, have smart manners, and a ladies-first mentality. They have that overseas sensibility too. It's enchanting.

The more I listen to the stories of the ocean-going tuna fishermen, the more I realize that although Kesennuma is difficult to access from land, it is connected to the world through the sea.

Dandy Point 03: He cares about people above all else.

Since the same members spend about a year on the boat, maintaining harmony on board is also an important job. When I asked them, "What is the most important thing when fishing?" they all answered in unison, "Human relationships."

Among them, the boatman (fishing chief), who manages the 25 crew members, places great importance on human relationships and communication on board, and is a true man of great character.

Every year when a friendly boat returns home, we hold a "Welcome Home BBQ" with the crew and we are invited to join in. Even there, the boatman himself takes the initiative in everything from preparations to starting the fire and even grilling, and he is always making sure that everyone is having fun.

When you hear the word "boatman," you might imagine a leader-like, bossy person, but I've never met a bossy boatman before! Haha
Everyone is so kind and super dandy.

Dandy Point 04: Strength that is not shaken by small things and kindness as deep as the ocean

There are no convenience stores or hospitals on the sea. Even if someone gets injured on the boat or the machinery breaks down, the boat cannot immediately enter port. They have to figure things out on their own.
Of course, before setting sail, they predict everything that may happen at sea and make preparations, but unexpected things do happen. Deep-sea fishermen have the ability to deal with things with what is on board and to act flexibly.
They are not easily shaken by small things, but first assess the situation and make a calm decision. They are strong to the core. They are truly encouraging people!

And yet, he is extremely kind.
Recently, the captain of a ship that returned from the Atlantic fishing grounds said, "I bought your favorite wine," and brought back a bottle of wine from Las Palmas, Spain.
The boatswain on our friendly boat brought us soap and coffee from Bali, Indonesia.
Just knowing that he was shopping for us at the local port while remembering us little girls made my heart melt! How kind of him...! Tears

Dandy Point 05: The attitude of working quietly against the forces of nature that are beyond human control

A world on the open sea where you can see nothing but the sea in 360 degrees. A world where you don't know what tomorrow will bring. A world that only those who have experienced it can understand. The people who live in such a world have truly deep eyes. Even though they cannot see their families or friends, they face the sea and catch fish every day.
Since this is a job that involves dealing with nature, when there is no fishing, they do not blame others, but still set up ropes in the sea every day and work quietly. From their attitude, we can learn how to approach our work.

And most of you are very shy people.
When you first start talking to them, they may seem a little cold.
But don't give up, just smile and talk to them. Little by little, they'll start to open up.

Are you starting to feel like meeting this dandy fisherman and hearing his story? Lol

Perfect for those people!
Introducing "Departure Fune Okuri" ~

The "departure ceremony" to see off the ocean-going tuna fishermen is a sight unique to Kesennuma. In the past, it was only families and businessmen who saw them off, but as the number of Japanese crew members steadily decreased, it became a lonely departure, and so the Kesennuma Tsubaki Association, a group of female proprietresses, was formed. After the earthquake, they distributed Fukurai flags with the idea that all citizens should see off the ocean-going tuna fishing boats that are the pride of Kesennuma as they set off on their one-year voyage, and citizens and tourists can now easily participate.

On the morning of a lucky day, if you see a big fishing flag hoisted on a boat in port, it is a sign that the boat is about to depart.
It's impossible to watch the men depart with their whistles blowing without shedding tears.

"Remembering the scene of the boats setting sail from the shore gives us the strength to persevere throughout the year."
Some sailors say so.

"Come on!"
"Take care of yourself!"
"Catch lots of fish!"

As they head out to sea, please join your families and contractors in sending them off with big smiles and cheers.
Praying for a good catch and a safe voyage.

We will have Kesennuma citizens appear as teachers.
You can view the "Teach me, Mr./Ms. XX!" series here.

https://kesennuma-kanko.jp/category/marumarusensei/

Person who wrote this article

Emma

Born and raised in Tokyo, she first came to Kesennuma as a student volunteer after the disaster. She was attracted by the strength of the fishermen she met for the first time in her life, and their way of life, and wanted to work alongside such cool adults! She moved there after graduating from university. She now works to support fishermen from the land while sharing a house with other women who have relocated to the Karakuwa Peninsula.

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