Have you ever tried to catch a fish with paper?
This was one of the booths at the Hanazono Shrine. "Kingyo Sukui (金魚すくい)," as we call it in Japan, means "scoop goldfish," and that is what we literally do...with a paper scooper-upper (not the official name, obviously).
The point of this game is to cleverly use the paper scooper-upper (which is actually called Poi (ポイ) in Japanese) and scoop the tiny goldfish into your bowl. When the paper breaks and you no longer can use it, that's when the game is over.
You can see the little boy going for a fish in the photo...but this is a pretty hard game and not very many people at these festivals can scoop the goldfish. The little boy didn't have any luck either and the paper on the Poi broke when he enthusiastically tried to scoop a goldfish out of the water. But they gave him one goldfish anyways, just for trying!
If you're interested, there is actually a National Goldfish Scooping Tournament every year in Japan. I know, it's practically a national sport! haha.
This year over 1800 people participated and the person with the record scooped a total of 87 goldfish in just 3 minutes! How about that!
How fun! Way better than bobbing for apples! - And I absolutely LOVE that first photo. So colorful with interesting patterns. It's art!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this tradition. It sounds fun and I guess the goldfish don't get hurt by it. I wonder what the boy named his fishie. :)
ReplyDeleteNope, can't say I've ever tried to scoop little goldfish with a paper scooper-upper! Fun for the kids... :-)
ReplyDeleteWell i just love that top picture.
ReplyDeleteI won't be able to do this, but it looks like fun...
ReplyDeleteFor some odd reason, I don't want to try!
ReplyDeleteOh my! A national goldfish scooping tournament! I'd love to try :D
ReplyDeleteYour top photo is such a beautiful pattern. One can imagine it as stationary or handkerchiefs; or maybe a fan in the summer; or a kimono obi. What a delicious design. It looks almost good enough to eat.
ReplyDeleteIf you have difficulty using a poi there is another way you can get your hands in some goldfish.
I was thinking that cornering the goldfish in the corner, (of all places!) or even the edge, would help but I think that might be against the rules. Besides, bending the poi certainly results in the paper rupturing. However, we might all take some lessons from this extraordinary talent.
What fun - I'd love one to take home.
ReplyDeleteWhat about a scoop of goldfish ice cream!
ReplyDeleteI've tried this game, but failed miserably. What are those little black thingummies that look like miniature hammerhead sharks? ^^ Also fish?
ReplyDeleteWow Kaori, he was a 'super scooper' haha!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of that game , it's fun ;)
ReplyDelete@流浪者：
ReplyDeleteI did a “hammerhead goldfish” Google search and came up with Black Moors. What do you think?
As far as I can tell they are also no relation to piranhas so your hands are not likely to go missing digits if you give kingyo sukui a try again. 頑張ってください。
Beautiful pics and funny game, Kaori. I saw it in Osaka a few years ago...
ReplyDeleteOh, it reminds me of my childhood days, I did not have good luck in scooping goldfish. But really I loved it!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
keiko
That first photo is just gorgeous. Why is it I am not surprised that Japan has a National Goldfish Scooping Tournament. Amazing.
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