Sandfish is an indispensable part of Akita cuisine. Naturally, when the Namahage comes to visit, he is welcomed with a festive tray that includes this staple fish. The sandfish normally lives at a depth of 250 meters, and they only approach shallow rocky strands in the winter, during their spawning season. A good midwinter catch would have fed a family for a year. Because huge catches were practically guaranteed, Oga locals of yore thought of them as “presents” from the fishermen rather than commodities to be bought. The region boasted around 20,000 tons of fish caught in its heyday. However, in 1991, that number plummeted to a mere 70 tons. A three-year fishing ban was implemented, and nowadays fishing has resumed, albeit under strict quotas and alongside fishery preservation efforts.

Oga is a region rich with seafood, ranging from snow crab and salmon to Botan shrimp and monkfish. However, many people living in Akita Prefecture are unaware of how bountiful it actually is. It may be that the locals are so accustomed to their rich marine resources that it hasn’t occurred to them to spread that knowledge. The freshest seafood lines the storefront of Ogare, a market that deals primarily in local ingredients. It created a whole new market for fishermen; some of whom earn between 2 to 5 million yen per year in sales thanks to it. A short time before Ogare opened, fishermen’s yearly sales were estimated to be between 1.5 to 2.5 million yen. Perhaps the young people who left Oga to find employment will now be tempted to return to their hometowns and earn their living by plying the fishing trade.