Vol 4, Part 2
…continued from Part 1, Vol 4 “My fishing Modus Operandi“
Takuya Kozuka: (Part 2) —
Unforgettable feeling of cruelty.
Unforgettable feeling of cruelty.A Pirarucu died in my arms…
In Papua New Guinea, while in the throes of catching some of the most mysterious fish in the world, Kozuka suddenly received a baptism which he thought was malaria. “I felt a tremendous chill and feverish shaking. For two nights, local villagers kindly took care of me and fed me wild bird soup until I was able to walk again. I still don’t know, however, if it was, indeed malaria. Based on the joint pain I had, maybe it was malaria. I still wonder about it. But there was no hospital to diagnose it because it was too remote,” he laughs.
Despite this brief setback, Kozuka refused to give up. He kept fishing for new types of unencountered, freshwater fish in Papua New Guinea. He wanted to catch mysterious fish that he had never seen before. One successful experience calls for another. Kozuka was driven by an urge, and obsession for monster fish.
In 2008, while fishing on the Amazon River, a turning point came for Kozuka. He had caught a Pirarucu (Arapaima), well over 2 meters in length. Reeled it in. And as soon as he embraced it in his arms, it died. “It happened so quickly. I still can’t forget the feeling that I killed a fish bigger than myself. I realized I was doing something extremely cruel. At that moment, because of the guilt I felt, I set a personal policy to only chase the same fish once, never twice. And never to keep searching for a larger size.”
Remarkably, Kozuka’s record never stopped shining, either.
The following year, he traveled to Congo where he caught a monster Mbenga (Giant Tigerfish) – a fish that became synonymous with Kozuka. In 2012, in Papua New Guinea, he caught a Dindy (Sawfish) which has a huge horn like a saw. In 2013, while in Suriname, he caught a Piraiba, said to be the strongest freshwater fish in the world. After numerous successful experiences and achievements, Kozuka became known as Japan’s “Monster Fish Hunter”
The end of fishing “Monster Fish” —
The end of fishing “Monster Fish” —His current goal of filling in the blank areas of his life.
Kozuka himself did not like his earned title “Monster Fish Hunter.” He is reluctant to be labeled a rare beast hunter, “The thing that bothers me is the violent sound of the word ‘Hunter.’ Also, my desire and passion (seeking monster fish) reached a peak in 2013 when I caught the Piraiba. My quest for ‘monster fish’ and ‘giant fish’ ended then because of the guilt mentioned above.”
What? Kozuka not searching for monster fish?
“Well, of course, I still want to catch a fish I have never caught before, but it does not have to be a monster or giant freshwater fish. The small Gibachi or Japanese Cut-tailed bullhead I caught today, is also valuable to me (see story in Vol 3, Part 1). I’m now more interested in the evolution of fish. Freshwater fish have evolved uniquely in each river, and it is often not yet known what fish live in which river. I want to go and personally feel the earth, through my own experience. If you just want to do ‘research,’ you can go to the fish market, but I prefer to actively and interactively feel nature. Let me say, my current lifework is to fulfill the blank areas of evolution.”
Kozuka explains further, “For example, why isn’t Thunderfish found in rivers in the Middle East, when it’s in India, Asia, and Africa? Actually, 150 million years ago, India has connected to the island of Madagascar and to Africa. These landmasses moved to their current position over 100 million years. Thunderfish, in other words, arrived on the Indian subcontinent and spread to Asia. Yet, it is said to inhabit regions west of India. The Middle East, in other words, is a blank area with no sea bream. So what kind of freshwater fish are there? In recent years, because it is the war-torn danger zone with many conflicts, fishing, and even traveling are difficult. “Ironically, one might say that unknown fish in the Middle East were protected by Saddam Hussein,” Kozuka points out. “So I’m thinking of going to the Middle East to fish the Tigris Euphrates River this summer (2014) to catch and see for yourself.”
Bicycling 1,000 km in the Middle East;
Add a bit of challenge to my 20’s with Mangar
The journey to the Tigris Euphrates River was a unique one for Kozuka. First, upon arriving in Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, he bought a bicycle. The distance from there to the target river basin was roughly 1000 km. He aimed to do a road trip by bicycle from Istanbul to the Tigris Euphrates River. If one considers the time, it would have been faster to fly by airplane. And if one is concerned about expenses, traveling by bicycle requires more days, so using a night bus would have been cheaper. “But what if I want more satisfaction? I’m greedy,” Kozuka chuckles. Overcoming a harsh journey and catching the prey will double the sense of accomplishment. For me, it’s more than just fishing. The story of the pathway and journey is a very important element.” This is Kozuka’s own way of achieving maximum satisfaction with the least amount of exploitation.
But, there is more behind Kozuka’s reason to travel by bicycle. While in high school, Kozuka and a classmate decided to take a 800 km bicycle road trip to Toyama and Kobe, using just their simple utility bicycles for commuting to school. The essence of this transformational experience is what Kozuka associates with the word ‘travel.’ Fishing in the Tigris Euphrates River, in other words, is about the journey and transformation. “To be more precise, I want to experience the adventure and thrill of that transformational experience again. I know I can’t replicate it completely, but I want to do something big!
Kozuka has his eyes set on catching a huge fish called a Mangar or King Barbus. “For me, the Mangar is a ghost of the Japanese dace, the fish I used to catch every day as a schoolboy in the irrigation canal behind my parents’ home. It’s probably the most number of fish I ever caught with lures. Mangar fish is one of the largest and most powerful species of fish in the world. I feel as if I’m at my peak as an angler and am ready for the Mangar.”
“If I come across a small river in the middle of the trip, I’ll stop my bicycle to put my rod in. I have no experience catching the main European catfish, other than a similar species in Kazakhstan, so I will try it. However, I know I’ll have reached the pinnacle of my ‘monster’ fishing days while in my 20s, when I hold a Mangar in my hand,” explains Kozuka.
The new goal is “depth” – a journey back in time
The new goal is “depth” – a journey back in timeWhere does Kozuka go from here? Is he ending his search for those ’monster fish’ he dreamed of during his youth?
The call of the deep sea is one answer. Kozuka plans to seek out Angry Rockfish, said to be the ultimate deep-sea fish in Hokkaido. He feels creative by using lures instead of the usual bait fishing. “Bait fishing for Angry Rockfish with guides and charter boats is already well known. My zeal for fishing is no longer satisfied when led by a guide. I’ve caught Black Cod with a lure at 400 m. Therefore, I’m ready to go much deeper–say a lure at depths of 700 m – 900 m. When I asked a Hokkaido Angry Rockfish guide and fisherman,” he said, “Nobody that I know of has even tried. No. No, it’s probably not possible.” Since no one has caught an Angry Rockfish using a lure, alone without a guide in Hokkaido, I have a burning desire. I’ll make and prep the rod and jig myself, and use a hand-cranked reel. I’ll be just me and the fish. Caught solely by me. That is the current stage I’m in.”
After Angry Rockfish, then it’ll be Giant Cusk-Eel (Spectrunculus grandis) that lives at a depth of more than 1500 m. “Fishing with handmade lures and hand cranked rods. It’s about overcoming and pursuit of methodology. I’m ready for this stage of adventure fishing.”
As for what’s next, Kozuka has his eye on the 9000m Ogasawara deep sea trench. “Yominoashiro fish (Abyssobrotula galatheae) have been confirmed to inhabit the 8372 m trench off the coast of America. Thus, some kind fish are bound to be in the Ogasawara trench. Although it’ll take a huge amount of fishing line, it IS possible to physically reel in the line from that depth. I often call it ‘kissing the earth,’ which I plan to do in the Japanese trench. I’m not particular about needing to fish ‘in Japan,’ but the deep ocean is inevitably vaster than freshwater. If my boyhood giant ‘monster’ freshwater fish was an individual game, then deep ocean is a team game. It’s not possible to fish that deep alone. Because of the necessary equipment and permissions required, preparing for overseas deep sea fishing is bound to be more troublesome. The ocean is connected all over the world; which is different from freshwater fishing. Outside of the polar regions, the features of the deep sea are similar to the other oceans of the world. For the ultimate adventure angler the thrill comes from setting your sight on catching that undiscovered fish, combined with the challenging factor of depth.
Although he says he’s interested in the Ogasawara trench, Kozuka isn’t interested in fishing for the infamous Giant Squid which became an international sensation in 2006 when NHK TV aired the first broadcast images of it.
“Sure, I’d be happy if I could catch it, but since it’s already been caught by others and famously broadcast on TV, I don’t want to be the next guy. Furthermore, while I feel that fishing freshwaters for the BIG one–the ‘Monster’ Fish– satisfies the soul of the lone individual angler, I no longer want to be that person. I no longer want to be labelled the ‘monster’ fish guy.
Maybe it’s because of my age, but lately I‘ve been enjoying the team spirit required for deep ocean fishing. Because I increasingly have more friends now who share my same values, I’m now able to undertake such a challenge of fishing the deep ocean. Or, maybe, it’s because I brainwashed them,” Kozuka smiles.
Seeking another direction: The axis of time and the ambition for Coelacanth
Kozuka’s other direction is to try tackling historical fishing, “Parallel to water depth, I aim for a deeper disposition.” An example he gives is, in the old days in Japan, fishing line was made from silkworm fiber called Tegususan. Thus we have the name Tegus line. It is all about the fishing experience. “Fishing is a journey along the axis of time,” explains Kozuka. “Since this is an interview with a line manufacturer, dare I say you can surely catch ABC fish with XYZ line? I don’t find much creativity in that. I have a burning desire for the unknown. Isn’t fishing fun and challenging because of the subtle ‘boundary’ of whether you can catch or not?”
The other day Kozuka flew to the United States and took on the challenge of ‘Noodling,’ a primitive fishing method using bare hands practiced by Native Americans for centuries. Kozuka caught a 16 kg (35 lb) giant catfish. One can journey back in time, however, in Japan, and wander around in all directions trying anything. “I don’t have any reason to stick to fishing abroad anymore. I don’t need to be bound by the label of ‘Monster Fish Hunter.’ If I have a reason to go abroad though, I’ll go,” he says.
Another lifelong goal of Kozuka is to discover new regions inhabited by Coelacanths. “Finding new habitat, such as finding Coelacanth in the waters of a country that is not currently identified, is important. In other words, fishing for Coelacanths in identified countries and known regions is unrealistic. Coelacanth is a protected species at the same level as gorilla and panda. Stick to new habitats. No one can complain if you are fishing in an unknown place, right? The result of combining the challenge of deep ocean fishing with the geographical challenge of ‘monster’ fishing, is to catch an unknown fish that doesn’t fit anywhere in the current classification system. It doesn’t have to be Coelacanth. This may not be possible for one generation alone. I envision teaming up with my own child or grandchildren. In a sense, if you form your own team,” Kozuka laughs, “you’ll be one with a higher proportion of value. And, if I fulfill my ambition of discovering a new fish habitat, I’ll be happy. Worldwide researchers will be happy. The region will be happy. We’ll have happiness in all directions.”
Longing for an ordinary life.
Longing for an ordinary life.A 30-somthething’s challenge: the adventure of becoming a daddy
Having travelled across the surface of the earth and sought monster fish, Kozuka now seeks to elevate his career in the deep ocean or with traveling back in time. As an angler, he stands alone, completely different from others. Kozuka’s thoughts are unpredictable. That’s part of his charm.
When life is good, however, Kozuka, sometimes doubts himself, “Honestly, I often admire a man my age who is married and has a child. I wonder if I would be happy with a ‘normal’ life, not spent with too much fishing. I have a nagging feeling all the time. I know if I go with my emotions, I will obviously get too far from the norm of society. I’m always trying hard to get back to the norm. But some days,” he laughs, “I’m suddenly called by the wilderness to go out with my rod. It’s a mistake I’d like to fix. I know I can do it. I’d like to fix this problem soon.”
Lastly, I asked Kozuka about his goal now that he’s in his 30s.
“I spent my 20s monster fishing, but in my 30s, I’d like to adventure into daddyhood. I cannot think of anything more interesting than being a daddy, other than fishing monsters. Having a family and children will enable me to see a different world. I only have an ordinary level of interest in eating fish, but if I have a family and children, I may find a deeper aspect of eating, than I have now.”
The end of one adventure is also the beginning of another. Throughout his 20s Kozuka has undertaken countless adventures, now in his 30s, he will evolve and deepen beyond the boundaries of ‘monster’ fish.
If you missed Part 1, read it from here…
The original article was published in Japanese by Morris Company, Ltd., July 18th, 2014. True Voice Vol. 04, Part 1
