Welcome to
Namerikawa！

Thank you for coming on board today.
The firefly squid boat tour is the only sightseeing tour in the world that represents
Namerikawa City.
There, you will have exclusive experience not only viewing mysteriously glowing sea
surface and light of firefly squids but also observing how fishermen actually work.
As a result, it is a very popular tourist destination and gets booked up quickly.
On the other hand, due to strong winds and high waves, ships are often canceled, andthe chance of being able to leave the port is about 50%.
You are very lucky to be able to get a reservation and depart.
Let's all hope for a bountiful catch of firefly squid.

1

Please take a look if you are interested.
１

Firefly squid fishing2

The secret of firefly squid

3

Firefly squid andNamerikawa City

This time, we will explain "1) Firefly squid fishing," "2) The secret of firefly squid," and "3)Firefly squid and Namerikawa City."
When you return home, brag to your family and friends about what you learned and saw
today.
By the way, Namerikawa City's local mascot is shown in the lower right corner of thescreen.
The light blue one is "Kirarin" and the pink one is "Pikka".
As you can see, the motif is a firefly squid.

2

１．Firefly squid fishingFirst of all, "1) Firefly squid fishing".
This is what firefly squid fishing looks like.
The fishing season opens on March 1st, and fishermen go fishing almost every day until
around June.
During firefly squid boat tours, fishermen start fishing early or turn off the lights so thatthey can see the firefly squid's lights better.
This tourism project has been successful due to the cooperation of fishermen.

3

①

②

Firefly squid fishing in Toyama Prefecture is carried out using set net fishing.
This is only true in Toyama prefecture in Japan.
There are 11 fixed nets off Namerikawa.
When fishing for firefly squid, two boats are used to raise the nets.
Today, we will observe one of the four fishing groups in Namerikawa.

4

Spawning

箱網This is an image of set net fishing.
Firefly squid, which live in the deep sea, surface near the coast to spawn at night during
the spawning season.
After spawning, they return to the deep sea.
Set net fishing is a fishing method that takes advantage of this habit and captures fireflysquid by guiding them to the net as they attempt to return to the deep sea.
This is a sustainable fishing method that does not deplete resources as it only captures
female firefly squids that have finished spawning.

5箱網

A net stretched from shore to offshore acts as a wall.
This net is called “kakiami” and is made of straw.
Fish, squid, etc. have a habit of escaping offshore when they encounter obstacles.
This is used to guide them to a large net called a “hakoami”.
Finally, the firefly squid in the net is carefully caught by the fishermen.

6This is how fishermen catch firefly squid.

7

OK, here's the question.
In which prefecture is
the most firefly squidcaught?

8

The correct answer is Hyogo Prefecture.
Toyama prefecture is in second place.
In Hyogo Prefecture, bottom trawling is used to catch all the fish, male or female.
Although it is possible to reliably catch large quantities at once, firefly squid are easily
injured and their bodies are small.

9Toyama's firefly squid...

Nutrient richFreshGood
condition

On the other hand, Toyama Prefecture uses fixed net fishing.
The catch is not stable, but only females during spawning season can be caught.
Therefore, fishermen can catch delicious firefly squid that are larger and more nutritious
than in other prefectures.
Additionally, the firefly squid's flesh is rarely damaged, and the fishing grounds are close
to the coast, less than 1.5km offshore, making it possible to bring it to market in a freshstate.

10Hotaruika Museum
Namerikawa
fishing port

In addition, Namerikawa City pumps deep ocean water.
This is the deep seawater where firefly squids live.
Deep ocean water is stable at a low temperature of around 2 degrees Celsius, is rich innutrients, has little dirt and bacteria, and is clean.
Fishermen use deep ocean water to transport the firefly squid to the fishing port, whichkeeps the firefly squid the freshest in Toyama Prefecture.

11Although Toyama Prefecture ranks second in catch, it ranks first in quality.
That's why firefly squid from Toyama Prefecture is so delicious.
Today's reception area has a souvenir shop open from 9am, where you can purchase
firefly squid.
There is also a restaurant on the second floor where you can eat a variety of firefly squiddishes.
If you have a chance, please come visit us.

12

２．The secret of firefly squid

・A body length of 7 centimeters anda weight of about 10 grams.
・It lives in the deep sea.
・It has light emitters all over its body.
・They live throughout the Sea of Japan.
・There are no established breeding or breeding methods.

Next is about the "2) The secret of firefly squid".
The firefly squid is a small squid with a body length of 7 centimeters and a weight ofabout 10 grams.
They live in the deep sea and have light-emitting organs all over their bodies.
They live throughout the Sea of ​Japan, and there are various species all over the world.
There are no established breeding or breeding methods.

13

腕発光器(３個ずつ)

皮膚発光器(約1,000個)

眼発光器(５個ずつ)

There are three light-emitting organs on the firefly squid's body.
The light emitters on the arms emit the most intense light.
Since it emits light when stimulated, it is thought to be an action to protect itself frompredators.
There are also five light emitters around each eye.
The skin has the largest number of light-emitting organs, with approximately 1000
throughout the body.
Since the light-emitting organs are concentrated on the ventral side, it is thought thatthey shine to hide the body.

14

The firefly squid reacts to the light from the sun and moon, causing its seabed side toemit light with the same brightness.
Then, the shaded part of the firefly squid's body blends into the brightness of itssurroundings.
It is believed that by hiding, they reduce the risk of being attacked by predators from theocean floor.

15

Before emitting light

After emitting light

This is an image of a firefly squid looking up from the ocean floor.
This process of brightening areas that are in shadow or darkening areas that becomebright when exposed to sunlight is called countershading.

16

The firefly squid drowning themselves

Occasionally, many firefly squid wash up onto the beach from the central to the easternpart of Toyama bay in the spring season from March to April.
Local people call this phenomenon "the firefly squid drowning themselves".
The phenomenon of firefly squid losing their sense of direction has not been scientificallyexplained.
It is said that it frequently happens on days which meet the following conditions;＊A fine day with little moonlight around a new moon
＊A southern wind blows＊The sea is not muddy because it didn’t rain the previous day

17

３．Firefly squid and NamerikawaCity

江戸

明治

大正1736

1905

加ホ賀タ藩ルのイ産
カ物の調
最べ
古の記録

標が準
採和
用名さ「れホ、タ広ル
くイ普カ及」

1922「
国ほ天た然る記い念か物群に遊指地定」

昭和

1947
「国ホ特タ別ル天イ
カ然群記遊
念海物面に」
指へ定改
名

平成

1979

1987

1998

2015

ほ桟た橋る
かい
らか地陸
引上
網観を光見
学

ほ
現た
在るとい同かじ海
ス上タ観
イ光ル

ほ
たる
いかミ
ュ
ー
ジアム
開館

観
光遊
覧船
「キラリン」
購入

Lastly, about "3) Firefly squid and Namerikawa City".
The earliest confirmed record of firefly squid being caught in Namerikawa dates back to1736 AD.
Firefly squid marine tourism also has a history of over 100 years.
The area centered around the coast of Namerikawa City has been designated as anational special natural monument as the "Firefly Squid Sea Shoal Area".
In 1998, we opened the "Hotaruika Museum", where you can easily see the firefly squid's
luminescence.

18

Firefly Squid Sea
Shoal AreaNamerikawa
CityAmong natural monuments, those that are particularly important and have high value
worldwide are designated as special natural monuments.
One of only 75 designated National Natural Monuments in Japan is located here inNamerikawa City.
A swarm of hundreds of thousands of firefly squids is a phenomenon unique to ToyamaBay.
It can be said to be a national treasure-class sea that cannot be seen anywhere else inthe world.

19Topography of Toyama Bay

The reason why such a rare phenomenon can be seen in Toyama Prefecture is due to thetopography of Toyama Bay.
Toyama Bay is characterized by its sudden depth from the coast.
This steep slope makes it easy for firefly squid, which live in the deep sea, to move when
they surface to shallow water to spawn.
In particular, the area off the coast of Namerikawa City has a topography that allows you
to quickly rise to shallow water without any obstacles on the ocean floor.

20

Ｑ．Is it okay to eat firefly squid,
which is a special natural monument?

A．The firefly squid itself is not a
special natural monument.
Since the sea surface is designated as a
special natural monument, there is nopenalty for eating firefly squid.

21

Hotaruika Museum▶

VR Hotaruika▶

▲Spring Firefly Squid Festival

Hotaruika Marathon▶

Firefly squid are the most important tourist resource for Namerikawa City.
There is a "Hotaruika Museum'' where you can have fun learning about firefly squid.
At the "Hotaruika Museum,'' you can experience "VR Hotaruika'' using the latesttechnology.
In late April, the "Spring Firefly Squid Festival'' will be held, with unique contests such as
firefly squid scooping and firefly squid eyeball popping.
In the fall, the "Hotaruika Marathon'' will be held.
If you have a chance, please try participating in various events in the city.

22Please enjoy the fireflysquid boat tour to yourheart's content.

23

出演
キラリン：滑川市イメージアップキャラクター（姉）ピッカ：滑川市イメージアップキャラクター（弟）協力㈱ウェーブ滑川製作
滑川市水産観光課

24