# Gyotaku (DD-671)

> Gyotaku (from gyo, 'fish', and taku, 'impression') is the Japanese practice of printing fish. The oldest known gyotaku, Kinshibori no funa ('Crucian Carp from the Kinshibori Canal'), is dated to 1839. It records a crucian carp caught in Edo (now Tokyo) by Sakai Tadaaki, ninth lord of the Shōnai domain, and is kept at the Tsuruoka City Museum of Local History. Nippon.com reports that the Shōnai region around Tsuruoka in Yamagata Prefecture is considered gyotaku's birthplace. The domain encouraged its samurai to fish from the rocky shore as training, and they used prints to record their big catches. There are two main methods. In the direct method (chokusetsuhō), ink or paint goes on the fish and paper is pressed over it, which gives a mirror image. In the indirect method (kansetsuhō), thin damp washi paper is molded onto the fish and color is dabbed on with a silk-wrapped pad called a tanpo, like a rubbing. After photography spread in the postwar period, colorful 'art gyotaku' grew into a style of its own. Researchers have also used old gyotaku as historical records of fish sizes and species. The footage shows the technique on an octopus, which is inked, printed on paper and finished with a red seal stamped on the print. Gyotaku is traditionally done with fish, and octopus and squid prints are also common.

- Department: History (also People)
- First published: 2025-11-11
- Last updated: 2025-11-11
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/gyotaku/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **1839**: The oldest known gyotaku, a crucian carp caught by Lord Sakai Tadaaki, is dated to this year

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=gyotaku

## Quick facts

- **DD-671-F01**: The oldest known gyotaku is dated to 1839. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (The oldest print))_
- **DD-671-F02**: Gyotaku has direct and indirect methods. _(Write-up · Exhibit C (Two methods))_

## Write-up

Proof of the catch, in ink. Japan's fish prints began as anglers' records.

1. **The oldest print**: The oldest known gyotaku, a crucian carp caught by Lord Sakai Tadaaki, is dated to 1839.
2. **Samurai anglers**: In the Shōnai domain, samurai fished as training and used prints to record big catches.
3. **Two methods**: Ink goes on the fish (direct), or damp paper goes on first and ink is dabbed over it (indirect).
4. **Into art**: After photography spread in the postwar period, colorful art gyotaku became a style of its own.
5. **Data from art**: Researchers use old gyotaku as historical records of fish species and sizes.

## Related case files

- [Fish Fattening (DD-723)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/fish-fattening/): Another case about fish and Japan
- [Yonshakudama (DD-680)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/yonshakudama/): Another Japanese tradition
- [Octopus Robo-Grip (DD-601)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/octopus-robo-grip/): Another case featuring octopus arms

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: 'Mid 19th century': the oldest known gyotaku is dated to 1839, in the late Edo period, so 'mid-19th century' is about right.
- **Note**: 'Fishermen to record their catches': the early prints were records made by samurai anglers in the Shōnai domain, where fishing was encouraged as training, not by commercial fishermen.
- **Note**: 'Covering a freshly caught fish with ink... then pressing paper': that's the direct method. In the indirect method, damp washi is molded onto the fish first and color is dabbed on with a tanpo.
- **Missing**: researchers have used historical gyotaku as records of fish species and sizes.

## Video: Gyotaku: Proof of the Catch, in Ink

- Duration: 25.3 s · Published: 2025-11-11
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DQ7n4oKkj_C.mp4

### Transcript

DID YOU KNOW? Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form that involves creating prints of fish, originally developed in the mid 19th century as a way for fishermen to record their catches. The process typically involves covering a freshly caught fish with ink or paint, then pressing rice paper or fabric onto its surface to capture a detailed, lifelike impression of its scales, fins, and body shape. Over time Gyotaku evolved from a practical recording method into a respected artistic technique. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What does 'gyotaku' mean?**  
A: Gyo = fish, taku = impression. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The oldest print) · Nippon.com (Sep 17, 2026): Experiencing the art of gyotaku fish prints; Japan Records Certification Association: Japan's oldest gyotaku (日本最古の魚拓))_

**Q: When is the oldest known gyotaku dated?**  
A: Kinshibori no funa. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The oldest print) · Nippon.com (Sep 17, 2026): Experiencing the art of gyotaku fish prints; Japan Records Certification Association: Japan's oldest gyotaku (日本最古の魚拓))_

**Q: What fish is on the oldest known gyotaku?**  
A: Caught by Lord Sakai Tadaaki. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The oldest print) · Nippon.com (Sep 17, 2026): Experiencing the art of gyotaku fish prints; Japan Records Certification Association: Japan's oldest gyotaku (日本最古の魚拓))_

**Q: Which region is considered gyotaku's birthplace?**  
A: Around Tsuruoka. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (The oldest print) · Nippon.com (Sep 17, 2026): Experiencing the art of gyotaku fish prints; Japan Records Certification Association: Japan's oldest gyotaku (日本最古の魚拓))_

**Q: What is the silk-wrapped dabbing pad called?**  
A: Used in the indirect method. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Samurai anglers) · Nippon.com (Sep 17, 2026): Experiencing the art of gyotaku fish prints)_

## Sources

- [Nippon.com (Sep 17, 2026): Experiencing the art of gyotaku fish prints](https://www.nippon.com/en/guide-to-japan/g02636/)
- [Japan Records Certification Association: Japan's oldest gyotaku (日本最古の魚拓)](https://japaneserecords.org/japanese-records/17844/)
- [Fish rubbings, 'gyotaku', as a source of historical biodiversity data (PMC)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6983646/)
- [Hyperallergic: Historic prints made by Japanese fishermen help track endangered species](https://hyperallergic.com/gyotaku/)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Gyotaku." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-671, last updated Nov 11, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/gyotaku/