High School Girl Shares the Joys of Clam Gathering in Tokyo Bay
‘Like digging treasures’:
In Japan, clam gathering is known as one of the most famous outdoor leisure activities, and from spring to summer, families, friends, and couples enjoy gathering a wide variety of different clams. In Japanese, this activity is called “Shiyohigari”. Clam gathering has existed since the Heian period, which occurred more than a thousand years before. The location we used for clam gathering was “Ushigome” seacoast, “Kisarazu”, in the Chiba prefecture. The reason why we chose the Chiba prefecture is because Chiba is known as the Mecca of clam gathering in Japan.
The clam-gathering process is not so difficult. All you need is a Kumade”, which is similar to a shovel, a “Net”, a couple of towels and a bucket. Make sure that you are wearing something comfortable and if you don’t have “Kumade”, you can use a shovel instead, to dig into the sea.
This was my very first time experiencing clam gathering and it was surprising for me in a way, that the sea water in Tokyo Bay is so clear that I could see everything under the sea in the Shoaling beach. I was also able to see other species like crabs and fish. Overall, it was like digging treasures and the fact that it was natural and not man-made treasures. You are able to fulfil your peaceful mind and your starvation at the same time.
Why don’t you try it out? The clam gathering season has just started!
Haru Naito is a high school student from Fujimigaoka High School in Tokyo
Music: (The first video’s opening music) -Life of Riley Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence ( Source: Artist: