The Last Sakura

道北の朱鞠内湖　北海道で1番冬が長くて日本の桜前線がここで終わると言われる朱鞠内湖のチシマザクラ　毎年見ている桜の木はイトウが潜む湖畔に静かに立っています　桜が満開を迎えると水温も上がってウグイたちの産卵が活発になって　透明度が上がった湖岸にイトウの姿が見え隠れします。イトウの賢さも上がりますが、釣り人とイトウの知恵比べを和ませるように桜の花びらが水面を流れていきます

In northern Hokkaido, Lake Shumarinai is known as one of the places where winter lasts the longest, and where Japan’s cherry blossom front finally comes to an end.
The Chishima cherry trees I visit every year stand quietly along the lakeshore where Japanese huchen lie hidden beneath the water.

As the cherry blossoms reach full bloom, the water temperature begins to rise. Ugui start their spawning runs, and along the now crystal-clear shoreline, the silhouettes of huchen appear and disappear in the shallows.

The huchen grow wiser at this season as well, turning each encounter into a true battle of wits between angler and fish. Yet drifting across the surface, cherry blossom petals gently soften the tension of the moment.

この桜の下で毎年会う釣り仲間　イトウの夢を追う　幾つになってもチャレンジをやめない　そんな釣り人がかっこいい　　それに応えてくれるイトウたちもとてもかっこいい　　5月も終わります　これでサクラもイトウのガイドもまた来年に会いましょう　ですね

Every year beneath these cherry trees, I spend time with fellow anglers who continue chasing their dreams of Japanese huchen.
No matter their age, they never stop challenging themselves—and that spirit is truly admirable.

And the huchen that answer those challenges are just as magnificent.

Now May is coming to an end.
Until next year, farewell to the cherry blossoms, and farewell to another season of huchen guiding.