JNDA# 07-9
| Material | Silver |
| Composition | Pure Silver |
| Weight | 31.1grams=1.09oz |
| Diameter | 40mm=1.57in |
| Year of Production | 2010(Heisei 22 year) |
These silver coins were issued to commemorate the enforcement of Japan’s Local Autonomy Law.
Each of the 47 prefectures has its own unique design.
The coins of Gifu Prefecture feature a depiction of ukai.
Ukai is a traditional fishing method in which a ukai master controls a cormorant, a type of water bird, to catch fish. It is particularly well known for ayu fishing, and the sight of cormorants being controlled by bonfires is a beloved summer tradition.
The ukaishi attaches a rope to the cormorant’s neck, submerges it in the water, and has it catch fish. The caught fish are temporarily stored in the cormorant’s throat, and the ukaishi retrieves them after returning to the boat.
The cormorants used in cormorant fishing are mainly of the sea cormorant species, which are large in size, have excellent diving abilities, and are relatively docile in nature.
Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method with a history of over 1,300 years, and the Nagara River cormorant fishing in Gifu Prefecture is particularly famous.
The sight of cormorants being guided by bonfires is a summer night tradition that delights spectators from sightseeing boats.
