Year on year the World Carp Classic continues to increase in its appeal and global popularity, with further evidence of this to be seen within the 2009 entrants list. This year, among the 260 carp anglers representing 24 nations, Norio Shishido, a 42-year-old Store development manager, and his fishing partner Shuhei Someya, a 31-year-old carpenter, will be taking the 12-hour flight from Japan to France to take part in the Tournament.
A self-confessed carp lover, Norio tells us that in Japanese the words “carp” and “love” are both pronounced “Koi”. Norio started carp fishing when he was 11, inspired by a very famous Japanese fishing animation “Tsuri-kichi Sampei” (Fishing Boy Sampei). Norio now appears in carp magazines and TV programs under his fishing name “Excellent Shishido”.
Shuhei has been carp fishing for the past six years, chasing his dream of catching big fish since moving on from bass fishing. The first three years Shuhei spent fishing for carp in the traditional Japanese style, adapting to European style carp fishing over the latter years. Japan has a traditional style carp fishing culture where a 5m rod and a large bait-casting reel are used. Live bait, shellfish and cut sweet potatoes are used as bait. There are many anglers and competitions of the traditional style nationwide and European style carp fishing is still a minor type of fishing in the Japanese market. European carp fishing tackle is not sold in general fishing shops in Japan yet.
Shuhei informs us that Common carp are the main species in Japan and also, that when reference is made to any fish that they catch, that length and body shape are prioritized over weight. That is to say, in Japan, we say we have caught a 1 meter carp instead of saying a 30 lb carp!
Norio cites Mr. Yoshihide Fukuyasu as being the pioneer of the European style carp fishing in Japan. Norio tells us that he also takes inspiration from Mr. Yukio Wakabayashi who is referred to as a “carp professor” in Japan and studies carp behaviour, compiling lots of data.
Neither of the anglers has ever fished outside of Japan, but as there are lots of natural carp fishing venues in Japan such as rivers, swamps, dams and lakes therefore it shouldn’t be too unfamiliar for them on Lac de Madine. Whilst Norio has participated in local carp fishing competitions (mainly traditional type carp fishing) this will be Shuhei’s first ever attempt at competitive Carp angling. The pair readily accepts that Japanese carp fishing is far behind its European counterpart and have suggested that they hope to say hello to some French carp, more than fight for the prize, but of course finish as high as possible. This point was endorsed by Shuhei as he told us “I’m so thrilled and excited about my first fishing trip to Europe and the international competition. I am not sure how well we can do with what we have in us now, but I will try my utmost to catch as much carp as possible!”
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