Aharen Beach and Bonito Fishing

阿波連ビーチと鰹漁

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Life & Culture Spot

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Photographed by Chris Martz, June 22, 2025

1. Aharen Beach and Bonito Fishing Marker

渡嘉敷村の鰹漁は明治36年から始まり、阿波連集落においても盛んに行われていました。このレンガ構造物は、鰹節製造工場の煙突の一部が残されたものです。鰹が水揚げされ、加工された後に、煮たり、蒸気を当てて水分をとったり、薪の煙で乾燥させたりする製造過程に火力が必要で、煙突が設置されました。獲れたカツオは砂浜に直接投げて、浜で待っている人が拾い上げては、工場に運んだそうです。

戦後の阿波連集落では1日に2~3回、漁に出ていた時期もあり、さらに鰹節製造工場も2箇所ありました。 鰹漁が盛んになり大型船で操業するようになると、村民の生活もしだいに豊かになっていきました。明治の中頃までは、茅葺きの家が多かったそうですが、鰹漁による収益が増えるにつれて瓦葺きの家が多くなり、鰹漁とともに豊かになっていった歴史があります。

English:
Bonito

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fishing started in the village of Tokashiki in 1903 and was prosperous industry in the hamlet of Aharen. This brick structure is a part of the chimney of a factory that made blocks of cured bonito (katsuobushi). The catch was dumped directly onto the beach for waiting workers to pick up and carry to the factory. The blocks were manufactured by gutting, filleting and boiling the fish, and then steaming it to reduce the water content. It was then dried over firewood, using the chimney to disperse the smoke.

There was a time after World War II when the boats from Aharen would go out two or three times a day to supply the two katsuobushi factories. As bonito fishing expanded with the use of bigger fishing vessels, the lives of the villagers became more comfortable. Until the middle of the Meiji era (1868-1912), many of the houses in Aharen had thatched roofs, but as the profits increased, more and more tile roofs appeared, showing how the village's fortunes rose hand in hand with the industry.
 
Erected by Ministry of the Environment.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.
 
Location. 26° 10.259′ N,

Photographed by Chris Martz, June 22, 2025

2. Aharen Beach and Bonito Fishing Marker

127° 20.709′ E. Marker is in Tokashiki, Okinawa, in Shimajiri District. It is in Aharen. It can be reached from Path to beach. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tokashiki, Okinawa 901-3502, Japan. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Asia, specifically in East Asia, in the Pacific Ocean, in North Pacific, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, and in the Western World.

Other nearby markers. At least one other marker is within walking distance of this marker: 獅子がいる家 / House of the Lion (about 180 meters away, measured in a direct line).

 

 
Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2025, by Chris Martz of Warrenton, Virginia. This page has been viewed 116 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2025, by Chris Martz of Warrenton, Virginia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.