It is said that hunting with hawks originated among nomads
in the middle of Asia.
According to the Japanese ancient documents,
the tradition was introduced into Japan in the 4th century.
And it seems to have widely spread throughout Japan
in the 7th or 8th century,
for there are some traditional Japanese poems about it.
Afterwards, it became a pleasure for nobles and warriors.
Sometimes it was shown as an official event.
Hunting with hawks had been very popular in Japan
until the 19th century.
But it gradually declined as shotguns spread.
He starts training of his hawk late in autumn every year.
Although he and his hawk are living together like a family,
pre-season training is essential for hunting.
First of all, he teaches his hawk to perch on his arm in the darkness.
(At the start, hawks are not controllable in the light.)
Then light a candle in the corner of a room,
he keeps still with his hawk on his arm.
When his hawk has calmed down in the candlelight,
they go outdoors into the dim light of dawn
and then into daylight.
Next he teaches to return to his arm from far away
only by his calling, and at the final stage,
he trains his hawk to attack game using fake stuff.
The tradition of the falconry inherited in the
northeastern district of Japan is going to dying out.
Times have changed. It is hardly possible to make
a living by hunting with hawks any more.
Matsubara Hidetoshi has become the last professional falconer.
On the other hand, there is another history in the mountains of the northeastern
district
of Japan.
There had been hunting people in the mountains who chased game with hawks
until
recently.
They ate the meat or sold the fur to live.
Their hunting was practiced only in winter when the mountains got snow.
The game had no place to hide in the mountains when the trees were covered
with snow.
And the hunter could walk any place there was no path.
Kumataka (hawk eagle), the biggest kind of hawk, was their partner.
Kumataka caught wild rabbits mainly, but occasionally attacked foxes or
raccoon dogs.
Mr.Matsubara is the last man who inherits their skills and cultural legacies.
