Sunday, November 21, 2010

Shimoda Salmon Festival

A week ago we attended the Shimoda Salmon Festival, which was only about 15 minutes from our house. They hold it every year, but last year they didn't have one because the Salmon were sick. So we were glad they were able to have one this year, we had a great time.
They had a little baby pool of salmon for the kids to come up and touch. Chase was loving it.

So the main attraction of the festival is the catch. The Japanese had created a huge pool filled with lots of salmon, and everyone who bought a ticket is given 10 minutes to grab a salmon with their hands. So about 100 people or so are in this pool trying to catch a Salmon, it was pretty comical. Plus we had to watch this long drawn out demonstration before they were allowed to start of the proper way to catch a Salmon by some Japanese professionals. Cole and Brad, pictured above, are in the search for the perfect Salmon. If don't catch one in 10 minutes they still give you a Salmon, but I don't think they were as big as the ones in the pool.
Great Catch. Cole looked for a big Salmon and grabbed it within two minutes of searching. I think he was nervous that he wasn't going to catch one, so he moved fast.
Wow. Hold on to it Cole. You are bigger than the Salmon.

Chase talking to the Salmon his dad caught.
This was the cleaning station. The Japanese charged a couple hundred yen to clean and gut the Salmon. Cole caught a huge Salmon that we grilled up the next night. It was pretty good, but Cole and I love the Salmon we buy weekly at the Japanese grocery store. It is so cheap and just melts in your mouth. This Salmon must be more of a local Salmon, so the meat was white and more steak like. We will have to make a good salsa for it next time, since we have plenty left over in the freezer.
Salmon races below.

3 comments:

DeLana said...

So I take it Tig will be fixing Salmon for dinner when I come. Oh boy!!! Can hardly wait. My favorite. This is one whopper of a fish story!

Mom

Mom/Grandma Smith said...

Great story of the salmon catching...interesting about the difference in taste and texture.
You two are having such a phenom. cultural experience over there! Good for you to take advantage of everything.
I know your mom is looking forward to coming over. We lovd seeing most of your fam. while we were in SLC just before Thanksgiving!
Good luck with these last weeks waiting for your little one to arrive. Eager to hear all good news!

Grandma T. said...

Does that jacket say Olympus Football?