Ayu: Treasures of the River

• Documentary

Episode overview

When summer arrives, there is a fish that causes the hearts of fishermen to race with anticipation. It is the "Ayu", or "sweetfish" - little known outside Asia, but a key part of summer in Japan. Its scent has led people to call it "the fragrant fish", and the soft flavor of its meat holds a delicate sweetness. Japanese people have been captivated by Ayu. In the spring, the fish swims upstream from the ocean, and in the summer it stays near rocks, eating algae and growing larger. In the fall, it goes downstream to lay eggs, and its short life then comes to a close. Its birth and death both happen in the space of just 4 seasons. Ayu is in the hearts of the Japanese together with river memories. We travel Japan to learn more about it.