Looking for Herring

　Once upon a time, at western coasts of Hokkaido, there was a phenomenon called “Oi-nishin”, which literally means “chasing herrings”: seasonal workers moved to this northern island, looking for herrings. Herring fishing was so big a business that it made enormous employment and brought a vast fortune. For example, a house built by those who made a fortune in his lifetime by fishing herrings was called “Herring Palace.” However, in 1950s, herrings suddenly ceased to show themselves on the coasts of Hokkaido, and then prosperity was gone. Today, herring symbolizes “past prosperous industry.” But a company is carrying out a project of hatching herrings and releasing them to the ocean. Since theirs birth, herrings grow up in the perfect condition such as very comfortable quality water with good food and without predators. In around 100 days, herrings are moved from the laboratory to the outside pool. Despite of such a perfect condition, one million fry lose their lives before seeing the ocean. In the pool, there are enormous young fragile fry. They represent vitality, which reminds us a kind of “prosperity” other than the one enjoyed by the past herring fishing industry.