"Koi-age," or carp catching, one of the December sights in Kyoto, began on December 5 at Hirosawa-no-Ike pond in Saga, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto. In the cold rain, buyers gazed intently at the sight of carp farmers vigorously catching well-grown carp from the pond.

In April, Kenichi Hiraoka, from Shimogyo Ward, released approximately 800 carp fry, which were about 15 centimeters long, and cultivated them. When carp farmers lowered the pond's water level to corral the fish, carp grown to approximately 40 centimeters in length were visible from the surface. Immersed in water up to their thighs, five carp farmers, including Hiraoka, caught splashing carp with nets and lifted them onto the boat.

Regular customers lined up as the carp farmers were also selling "Funa," or crucian carp, "Moroko," or minnow, and "Moebi," or green tail prawn. Cultivated to the usual size, Hiraoka guaranteed the delicious, winter flavor of the fish, saying, "They are delicious both as "arai," or slices of carp rinsed in cold water, or "tsukeyaki," or fresh fish broiled with sauce." It will continue until around the end of this month when the fish are sold out.