Maguro Hunting and Fishing in Japan
Maguro Hunting and Fishing in Japan
Overview
In this livestream episode of Only in Japan Go, John Daub takes viewers to the northernmost tip of Honshu Island in Ōma, Aomori Prefecture. Known globally for producing some of the highest quality maguro (tuna) in Japan, Ōma is a pilgrimage site for seafood lovers. John joins a fishing boat tour, venturing 800 meters out to sea in search of wild tuna, sharing the experience via a surprising 4G signal found in the countryside.
The video captures the excitement of "maguro hunting," where multiple boats scan the waters between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. John is joined by travel journalist Tanara Sanji and a local companion named Soma. While they don't catch tuna on this specific trip, John provides historical context on why Ōma became famous following a record-breaking $200,000 tuna sale at Tsukiji Market in 2001. The episode concludes with anticipation for a fresh maguro lunch, highlighting the connection between the harsh sea conditions and the quality of the food.
Highlights
- 00:05:00 John manages to livestream from 800 meters out at sea thanks to a strong 4G signal.
- 00:06:27 Explanation of Ōma's reputation: saying "Ōma" automatically implies "maguro" to locals.
- 00:08:57 Close-up look at fishing boat equipment, including radar and squid attracting lights.
- 00:10:30 Introduction of guest Tanara Sanji, a travel journalist joining the trip.
- 00:11:45 John describes the thrill of seawater splashing in his face during the rough ride.
- 00:12:25 Discussion on the economics of tuna fishing, with single fish valued up to $70,000.
- 00:12:40 Historical note on the 2001 $200,000 tuna sale that put Ōma on the map.
- 00:13:09 Geography lesson on the water pass between Hokkaido and Honshu where tuna migrate.
- 00:13:31 Wrap-up of the sea segment before heading to lunch.
- 00:14:09 John explains the difference between his main channel and the Only in Japan Go livestream channel.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:04:41 Intro & Location: John establishes location off Ōma coast and 4G connectivity.
- 00:06:27 Ōma Reputation: Discussing the fame of Ōma tuna.
- 00:07:21 Adventure Setting: John reflects on the unique content opportunity.
- 00:08:57 Boat Tech: Explanation of squid fishing lights and radar.
- 00:10:30 Guests: Meeting Tanara Sanji and discussing the rough waves.
- 00:11:19 Seasickness: Banter about medicine and enjoying the rough water.
- 00:12:25 Tuna Economics: Value of the catch and other boats hunting.
- 00:12:40 History: The 2001 record-breaking sale.
- 00:13:09 Migration Path: Tuna movement between seas.
- 00:14:09 Outro: Channel info and sign-off.
Japan Travel Tips
- Getting to Ōma: It is about a 90-minute drive from Aomori City. Public transport is limited, so renting a car is highly recommended.
- Best Time to Visit: Summer (August) offers good chances to see tuna migration and coincides with the famous Nebuta Festival in Aomori.
- Boat Tours: Look for "maguro watching" or fishing charters. Be prepared for rough seas (1–2 meter waves) and consider taking seasickness medicine beforehand.
- Food: Expect high-quality maguro lunches after tours. The taste is enhanced by knowing the origin and effort involved.
- Connectivity: Surprisingly, 4G signal can be found even 800 meters offshore in this region, allowing for livestreaming.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Maguro (まぐろ): Bluefin tuna. In Ōma, this is the primary cultural export and identity of the town.
- Ōma (大間): A town in Aomori Prefecture synonymous with premium tuna.
- Kaiten Sushi (回転寿司): Conveyor belt sushi. John contrasts the generic experience with the specialized experience of eating tuna at its source.
- Zan-nen (残念): Means "too bad" or "regrettable." Used here when discussing not catching a lion (shishi - likely a mishearing or joke about seeing something else) or not catching tuna.
- Nebuta Festival: A major summer festival in Aomori featuring large illuminated floats. John mentions attending this the night before.
- Fishing Lights: Squid are attracted to light. Boats use specialized lighting rigs to lure them to the surface at night.
Food & Drink Guide
- Maguro (Tuna)
- Description: Premium bluefin tuna caught in the waters between Honshu and Hokkaido.
- Where: Ōma Port restaurants (lunch after boat tour).
- John's Reaction: Anticipates a "really special feeling" eating it after seeing the fishing conditions.
- Timestamp: 00:09:54
- Squid
- Description: Caught using light attraction methods at night.
- Where: Off the coast of Ōma.
- Timestamp: 00:08:57
People
- John Daub: Host. Enthusiastic about experiencing the fishing process firsthand. Narrates the geography and history of the region.
- Tanara Sanji: Guest. Identified as a travel journalist. Joins John on the boat and shares in the experience.
- Soma: Guest/Local. Appears to be a companion or guide on the boat. Engages in banter about seasickness medicine.
Key Takeaways
- Ōma is globally recognized for its tuna; the town's name is synonymous with maguro.
- The high value of tuna (up to $200,000 historically) drives significant tourism and fishing interest in the region.
- The geography of the Tsugaru Strait between Honshu and Hokkaido creates a migration path for tuna, making it a prime fishing spot.
- Experiencing the rough sea conditions adds depth and appreciation to the final meal.
- Only in Japan Go serves as a platform for raw, live content compared to John's main edited channel.
Notable Quotes
- 00:06:27 "If you say Ōma, people automatically assume you're talking about maguro. That's how famous it is here."
- 00:07:21 "This is the kind of stuff that we all, as YouTubers, dream about being able to make videos out here like this, in an adventure setting."
- 00:10:45 "If you ever go to the kaiten sushi or the sushi restaurant and you eat maguro and you haven't been out here, I'm gonna have a really special feeling now when I eat the maguro."
- 00:11:45 "The best part though is when the boat hits the wave and you get a stream of water into your face. That's what I live for!"
- 00:12:40 "Ōma became famous in 2001 because they had one maguro sell for $200,000. And that put this place on the map."
Related Topics
- Aomori Travel Guide
- Tsukiji Toyosu Market Tuna Auctions
- Japanese Fishing Techniques
- Nebuta Festival Coverage
- Seafood Tourism in Tohoku
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tokyo #travel #oma #aomori #maguro #tuna #fishing #japan-travel #john-daub #seafood #honshu #nebuta-festival #livestream #boat-tour #squid #kaiten-sushi
Full Transcript
00:04:41 John Daub: I'm glad I could start this livestream out in the sea. I was about 800 meters out there and got this 4G signal and said I gotta livestream. Which is a testament, we're out here in the countryside of Japan, you'd wonder 4G signal out here. I'll put a link in the description to the map of where I am located right now. It's hard to find Ōma (oh-mah), but it's about an hour and a half drive from Aomori, so you definitely need a car to get out here.
00:06:27 John Daub: This is the very tip of Honshu Island and they have the best maguro (tuna) in all of Japan. If you say Ōma, people automatically assume you're talking about maguro. That's how famous it is here. Yeah we didn't catch anything, but I'm coming back tomorrow and hopefully we'll be able to find some maguro. I really want to see them in their natural habitat jumping out of the water, which would be totally cool.
00:07:21 John Daub: This is the kind of stuff that we all, as YouTubers, dream about being able to make videos out here like this, in an adventure setting, and that's exactly what I've been doing for the last two hours and what I'll be doing for the next couple of days before I go back to Tokyo. It's a really special treat to be able to come out here and just be in a boat. It's really cool just to be on a boat. This is the boat that I was just on.
00:08:57 John Daub: He's having an interview with the TV right now. That's the radar. He's got a lot of antennas. And here are the lights. These are for squid fishing. You put the lights over the water and the squid come out. I explained this a little bit earlier, but you might not have been able to hear me because of the wind, but these lights go out over the water and the squid come up to the surface to see the lights and that's when the fishermen catch them. They're attracted to light.
00:09:54 John Daub: Maguro for lunch. It's kind of a short journey.
00:10:30 Tanara Sanji: This is Tanara Sanji. She's a travel journalist. Hi. Hi. Zan-nen (too bad). Zan-nen. But… No shishi (lion)? It's not really.
00:10:45 John Daub: I mean if I got to see the tuna that's an added bonus, but to go out there in the middle of the sea where the waves are like this. It was absolutely intense. And that's part of the fun. And then after you have this tour you go and you eat the maguro. My gosh. If you ever go to the kaiten sushi (conveyor belt sushi) or the sushi restaurant and you eat maguro and you haven't been out here, I'm gonna have a really special feeling now when I eat the maguro. Thank you so much.
00:11:19 John Daub: Lunch? Tuna lunch? Soma, did you have fun?
00:11:30 Soma: It was fun. You didn't need any medicine, did you? I did! No.
00:11:45 John Daub: Everybody before we got on the boat, everybody was taking a seasickness pill. They offered me one, but yeah. I think puking over the side of the boat would be a pretty cool scene to take actually. But it wasn't that rough! The waves were like 1 or 2 meters. It was okay. The best part though is when the boat hits the wave and you get a stream of water into your face. That's what I live for! The seawater is so good! Water in my face! Maguro in the distance!
00:12:25 John Daub: Really is, you know, they call this maguro watching. But you see all the other boats. There were about 15 other boats around. They're pretty much like maguro hunting. And everyone is trying to get that catch. Because one maguro they said is like $70,000.
00:12:40 John Daub: And this place Ōma became famous in 2001. I'm gonna have a video on this, I'll give you all the information then. Ōma became famous in 2001 because they had one maguro sell for $200,000. And that put this place on the map. And that was 16 years ago, right? And from that experience, from that sale at Tsukiji Market, a lot of people have been coming here for maguro fishing.
00:13:09 John Daub: And if you look at the map, you'll see that between Hokkaido and Honshu there's a pass of water. The sea goes between the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. And the maguro at this time of year, they're making the trip through that pass. And that's when the fishermen go out there and try to catch them. But it's a pretty big sea, so it's not that easy to catch the maguro.
00:13:31 John Daub: So here are the last scenes of the seaside for the last 20 seconds looking at these awesome boats. We're gonna go and eat some maguro lunch. I gotta film that. But if there's a chance after I film everything to go live streaming again, I'm always gonna be on the Only Japan Go channel. So I can fill in the blanks with content live from location like this. This is such a cool experience. Thanks everybody for joining me. It was great to be able to share this with you after last night's Nebuta Festival, which is crazy. But what a couple of days it's already been.
00:14:09 John Daub: Here's some of the other boats. So thanks everybody, we're gonna keep this one short at 15 minutes. Stay tuned, again if you haven't subscribed to the Only Japan Go channel, please do, this is the second channel that I do. The other one is the main channel, which is all edited content, this is all live streams. Just whenever I feel like it, push the live streaming button and we get stuff like this. I didn't expect to live stream today because who knew that there was gonna be 4G signal out here right? Yeah, awesome. So thanks everybody, I'm gonna turn the camera around. Last 20 seconds looking at the boats. Have a great day, night, wherever you are in the world. Thanks for watching.