To SSF Forum members,

I would like to announce the publication of a new book on Japanese crafts, The Cormorant Fishing Boat; A Japanese Craftsman's Methods, Floating World Editions, 83 pages, paperback, full-color with an introduction on the history of this fishery by Dr. Richard King. In 2017 I apprenticed with Mr. Seiichi Nasu, then age 85 and one of the last builders of cormorant boats in Japan. He built boats for the cormorant fishermen on the Nagara River in Gifu, the only cormorant fishermen (from among about a dozen locales in Japan) sponsored by the Imperial Household Agency. He had trained just one apprentice nearly forty years ago but both craftspeople work entirely from memory with no drawings, using patterns only they understand. Over the course of two months working with several volunteers I built a forty-two foot ubune under Nasu san's direction, and in the process documented his design secrets and techniques, which I detail in the book. This project was funded by the Freeman Foundation along with private donors.

I was assisted by researchers from Tobunken, who had my manuscript translated into Japanese. They offer a free download of the Japanese version here, along with their research page and recently edited video:

My English version of this book, which also includes a survey of the other types of cormorant fishing boats found in Japan and China, part of research I did in 2018 with a grant from the Asian Cultural Council of New York. The book is available from Amazon and signed copies can be purchased directly from me, though note that overseas postal rates from the US are prohibitive. If you are in the US and interested in buying from the author please contact me at the address above.

I would also be grateful to learn of suggestions of other venues to publicize this new book.

Thank you for your consideration,