heritage of salmon
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Shibetsu’s life began with salmon.
A Heritage of Salmon: A Ten-Thousand Year Journey in Nemuro StraitNemuro strait’s salmon have fascinated people through time.
For ten thousand years, people have lived here, experiencing cultural exchange, and conflict.Its history was woven by the rich natural resource of salmon.
During the Edo period, our salmon were presented as tribute to the shogun.
In the last days of the shoguns, this resource gained the attention of a samurai from Aizu domain, who began planting the seeds of the fishing industry.
Those seeds have since grown into a major industry that reaches kitchen tables across Japan.
Nemuro Strait, the eastern seaboard of Hokkaido, full of pride, culture, and history, of people who rejoiced and cried over salmon. This is the heritage of salmon.
From Kesa no Sake to Japan Heritage
A Heritage of Salmon:
A Ten-Thousand Year Journey
in Nemuro Strait
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Shibetsu is the origin of a heritage of salmon. This history has been ongoing for 10,000 years.
Hokkaido’s eastern seaboard, Nemuro strait.People have made their lives here continuously from as far back as 10,000 years ago.
Salmon, constantly traveling between land and sea, becomes food for all things, and serves as the foundation of this life. According to the natural cycle, in which salmon make their upstream journey every autumn, this land has experienced the struggle between humankind and nature, and between cultures. Out of these stories were born the roads that connect Nemuro Strait region: sea routes, land routes, railroads, and autoways.
Around Nemuro Strait, through ten thousand years of joy and sorrow for salmon, man and nature are all connected by this heritage even now. 
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“A Heritage of Salmon” was certified as Japan Heritage in June 2020.
“Japan Heritage” tells the story of Japanese culture through the unique characteristics of its local regions, and includes both tangible and intangible cultural assets.
As of March 2021, 104 sites throughout Japan have been certified as Japan Heritage by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. These heritage sites serve as the faces of Japan’s efforts to revitalize local regions and promote development and tourism.
- About Japan Heritage
“Japan Heritage” refers to sites whose unique local characteristics tell the story of our country’s culture and traditions, and have been certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
It includes both tangible and intangible cultural assets. These heritage sites serve as the faces of Japan’s efforts to revitalize local regions and promote development and tourism, not just to Japan but to all the world.
When you eat salmon, you may not think much about it, but it is full of the history of Shibetsu.
You can get to know the history better on the “A Heritage of Salmon:
A Ten-Thousand Year Journey in Nemuro Strait” website. Why not find out more?
Know the heritage of salmon
with Kesa no Sake
Heritage of salmon sightseeing spots
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