鷹匠:FALCONER

When I’m interviewed for a TV program or something, I’m always asked about my income. I always tell the truth. Then, every time, the interviewer stares at me in surprise.The income I can get by falconry is very small. Game in the mountains and demand for the fur are both decreasing. I can not make a living only by falconry. Of course, if the fees for lectures and manuscripts on falconry are included, it is not impossible to live as a falconer. But falconry itself does not make enough money to live.

From late autumn to early spring, I spend most time with my hawk (or eagle). I train him (or her) and go deep into the mountains for hunting. Therefore, I don’t have much time to do other things at this time. But in other time, I earn money by guiding mountain climbers and teaching children how to enjoy nature at summer camping school. And occasionally, I’m asked for a lecture or a manuscript on falconry. I can earn a little more than before, but my annual income is one million yen at most. Though my wife has been helping the family finances by working part-time since my son Kohei was born, city people think of us like a magic family.

The most important thing for me is to live as a falconer in nature. If I have much money, of course it gives us more easy life. But I’m not in such a condition now, so all I have to do is being patient.

My family lives on about 100,000 yen a month. As for clothes, we get used ones from our relatives or secondhand stores. Food for my hawks and eagles, some people give us rabbits and chickens by favor. And we can pick wild plants in the mountains as much as we like. So I don’t think we live a hard life. However, to live in nature, you have to know you’d be always in great danger and you need knowledge and experience to receive the blessings of nature. And I want to tell you that you could not get along without favor of the others in nature as well. Wherever you live, I think it’s the same.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Matsubara Hidetoshi